O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full
of thy riches.
So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great
beasts.
There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest
give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return
to their dust.Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? Will he make many
supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? Will he make a covenant with thee?
wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind
him for thy maidens? Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among
the merchants? Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? Lay thine
hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one
be cast down even at the sight of him? None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to
stand before me? Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole
heaven is mine. I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. Who can
discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? Who can open
the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. His scales are his pride, shut up together
as with a close seal. One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. They are joined
one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. By his neesings a light doth shine,
and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks
of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath
kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is
turned into joy before him. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves;
they cannot be moved. His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
561
Anonymous KJV
When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. He esteemeth
iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned
with him into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. Sharp
stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. He maketh the deep to boil
like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. He maketh a path to shine after him; one would
think the deep to be hoary. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. He beholdeth
all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength
is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews
of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars
of iron. He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto
him. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. He lieth
under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. The shady trees cover him with their
shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth
not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. He taketh it with his eyes: his nose
pierceth through snares.
