1 | Wilt thou draw out the leviathan with the hook, and press down his tongue with a cord? |
2 | Wilt thou put a rush-rope into his nose, and pierce his jaw with a spike? |
3 | Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak softly unto thee? |
4 | Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him as a bondman for ever? |
5 | Wilt thou play with him as with a bird, and wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? |
6 | Shall partners make traffic of him, will they divide him among merchants? |
7 | Wilt thou fill his skin with darts, and his head with fish-spears? |
8 | Lay thy hand upon him; remember the battle, -- do no more! |
9 | Lo, hope as to him is belied: is not one cast down even at the sight of him? |
10 | None is so bold as to stir him up; and who is he that will stand before me? |
11 | Who hath first given to me, that I should repay [him]? [Whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine. |
12 | I will not be silent as to his parts, the story of his power, and the beauty of his structure. |
13 | Who can uncover the surface of his garment? who can come within his double jaws? |
14 | Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror. |
15 | The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal. |
16 | One is so near to another that no air can come between them; |
17 | They are joined each to its fellow; they stick together, and cannot be sundered. |
18 | His sneezings flash light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. |
19 | Out of his mouth go forth flames; sparks of fire leap out: |
20 | Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a boiling pot and cauldron. |
21 | His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. |
22 | In his neck lodgeth strength, and terror danceth before him. |
23 | The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are fused upon him, they cannot be moved. |
24 | His heart is firm as a stone, yea, firm as the nether [millstone]. |
25 | When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: they are beside themselves with consternation. |
26 | If any reach him with a sword, it cannot hold; neither spear, nor dart, nor harpoon. |
27 | He esteemeth iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood. |
28 | The arrow will not make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble. |
29 | Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin. |
30 | His under parts are sharp potsherds: he spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire. |
31 | He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment; |
32 | He maketh the path to shine after him: one would think the deep to be hoary. |
33 | Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. |
34 | He beholdeth all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts. |