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The Lord continued, 2 ‘I am the Mighty One.
Will the man who argues with me correct me?
Let him who brings charges against me answer me!’
3 Job replied to the Lord,
4 ‘I'm not worthy. How can I reply to you?
I'm putting my hand over my mouth. I'll stop talking.
5 I spoke once. But I really don't have any answer.
I spoke twice. But I won't say anything else.’
38:1–40:5 Job thought that God wouldn't listen to him. Earlier Job had said he thought that God would send a storm to crush him. Job thought God would do this if he called out to God. Instead, God listened very closely. God listened to everything that Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Elihu said. Instead of crushing Job with a storm, God spoke to Job from a storm. God didn't answer the questions Job had asked. He didn't explain to Job why people suffer. God didn't explain that Satan had suggested a test for Job. Instead, God asked Job many questions. God asked what things Job was able to do. Then God explained many of the things that he can do. God created everything in heaven and on the earth. He makes sure that what he created works the way he wants it to. This includes the land, the water, the sky, the stars and the animals. God takes care of all animals. This includes animals that aren't livestock raised by human beings. God talked a lot about the sky, the earth and the animals. The way he talked about them showed Job something important. Human beings are only one part of what God created. As a human being, Job couldn't understand everything about God's creation. Job couldn't understand everything that was needed to take care of creation. Job couldn't understand God's plans. Job couldn't understand the reasons why God did what he did. And Job couldn't do God's work better than God did it. Job's first answer to God was to remain silent.
6 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said,
7 ‘Get ready to stand up for yourself.
I will ask you some more questions.
Then I want you to answer me.
8 ‘Would you dare to claim that I am not being fair?
Would you judge me in order to make yourself seem right?
9 Is your arm as powerful as mine is?
Can your voice thunder as mine does?
10 Then put on glory and beauty as if they were your clothes.
Also put on honour and majesty.
11 Let loose your great anger.
Look at those who are proud and bring them low.
12 Look at proud people and make them humble.
Crush evil people right where they are.
13 Bury their bodies together in the dust.
Cover their faces in the grave.
14 Then I myself will admit to you
that your own right hand can save you.
15 ‘Look at Behemoth. It is a huge animal.
I made both of you.
It eats grass like an ox.
16 Look at the strength it has in its hips!
What power it has in the muscles of its stomach!
17 Its tail sways to and fro like a cedar tree.
The tendons of its thighs are close together.
18 Its bones are like tubes made out of bronze.
Its legs are like rods made out of iron.
19 It ranks first among my works.
I made it. I can approach it with my sword.
20 The hills produce food for it.
All the other wild animals play near it.
21 It lies under lotus plants.
It hides in tall grass in the swamps.
22 The lotus plants hide it in their shade.
Poplar trees near streams surround it.
23 It is not afraid when the river roars.
It is secure even when the River Jordan rushes against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by its eyes?
Can anyone trap it and poke a hole through its nose?