Chapter 41

Canst thou draw out⁴ leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord [which] thou lettest down?⁵⁵

Canst thou put⁴ an hook into his nose? or bore⁴ his jaw through with a thorn?

Will he make many⁵⁵ supplications unto thee? will he speak¹⁷ soft [words] unto thee?

Will he make⁴ a covenant with thee? wilt thou take⁴ him for a servant for ever?

Wilt thou play¹⁷ with him as [with] a bird? or wilt thou bind⁴ him for thy maidens?

Shall the companions make a banquet⁴ of him? shall they part⁴ him among the merchants?

Canst thou fill¹⁷ his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

Lay³ thine hand upon him, remember³ the battle, do no more.⁵⁵

Behold, the hope of him is in vain:⁸ shall not [one] be cast down⁹³ even at the sight of him?

None [is so] fierce that dare stir him up:^{4 5782 55} who then is able to stand¹⁰¹ before me?

Who hath prevented⁵² me, that I should repay¹⁷ [him? whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.

I will not conceal⁵⁵ his parts, nor his power, ¹⁶⁹⁷ nor his comely proportion.

Who can discover¹⁴ the face of his garment? [or] who can come⁴ [to him] with his double bridle?

Who can open¹⁴ the doors of his face? his teeth [are] terrible round about.

[His] scales ⁶⁵⁰ [are his] pride, shut up together⁷ [as with] a close seal.

One is so near⁴ to another, that no air can come⁴ between them.

They are joined²⁹ one to another, they stick together,¹⁰¹ that they cannot be sundered.¹⁰¹

By his neesings a light doth shine,⁵⁵ and his eyes [are] like the eyelids of the morning.

Out of his mouth go⁴ burning lamps, [and] sparks of fire leap out.¹⁰¹

Out of his nostrils goeth⁴ smoke, as [out] of a seething⁷ pot or caldron.

His breath kindleth¹⁷ coals, and a flame goeth out⁴ of his mouth.

In his neck remaineth⁴ strength, and sorrow is turned into joy⁴ before him.

The flakes of his flesh are joined together:¹ they are firm⁷ in themselves; they cannot be moved.¹¹

His heart is as firm⁷ as a stone; yea, as hard⁷ as a piece of the nether [millstone].

When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid:⁴ by reason of breakings they purify¹⁰¹ themselves.

The sword of him that layeth⁵⁶ at him cannot hold:⁴ the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.

He esteemeth⁴ iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood.

The arrow ⁷¹⁹⁸ cannot make him flee:⁵⁵ slingstones ⁷⁰⁵⁰ are turned⁸ with him into stubble.

Darts are counted⁸ as stubble: he laugheth⁴ at the shaking of a spear.

Sharp stones [are] under him: he spreadeth⁴ sharp pointed things upon the mire.

He maketh the deep to boil⁵⁵ like a pot: he maketh⁴ the sea like a pot of ointment.

He maketh a path to shine⁵⁵ after him; [one] would think⁴ the deep [to be] hoary.

Upon earth there is not his like, who is made⁷ without fear.

He beholdeth⁴ all high [things]: he [is] a king over all the children of pride.