[1] "Can you draw out Levi'athan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue
with a cord? [2] Can you put a rope in his nose, or pierce his jaw with a
hook? [3] Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak to you soft
words? [4] Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant
for ever? [5] Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on
leash for your maidens? [6] Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide
him up among the merchants? [7] Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his
head with fishing spears? [8] Lay hands on him; think of the battle; you
will not do it again! [9] Behold, the hope of a man is disappointed; he is
laid low even at the sight of him. [10] No one is so fierce that he dares
to stir him up. Who then is he that can stand before me? [11] Who has given
to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.
[12] "I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength,
or his goodly frame. [13] Who can strip off his outer garment? Who can
penetrate his double coat of mail? [14] Who can open the doors of his face?
Round about his teeth is terror. [15] His back is made of rows of shields,
shut up closely as with a seal. [16] One is so near to another that no air
can come between them. [17] They are joined one to another; they clasp each
other and cannot be separated. [18] His sneezings flash forth light, and
his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn. [19] Out of his mouth go flaming
torches; sparks of fire leap forth. [20] Out of his nostrils comes forth
smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. [21] His breath kindles
coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth. [22] In his neck abides
strength, and terror dances before him. [23] The folds of his flesh cleave
together, firmly cast upon him and immovable. [24] His heart is hard as a
stone, hard as the nether millstone. [25] When he raises himself up the
mighty are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves. [26] Though
the sword reaches him, it does not avail; nor the spear, the dart, or the
javelin. [27] He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood. [28] The
arrow cannot make him flee; for him slingstones are turned to stubble. [29]
Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins. [30] His
underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing
sledge on the mire. [31] He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the
sea like a pot of ointment. [32] Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one
would think the deep to be hoary. [33] Upon earth there is not his like, a
creature without fear. [34] He beholds everything that is high; he is king
over all the sons of pride."
