1 None is so fearce that dare stirre him vp. Who is he then that can stand before me? 2 Who hath preuented mee that I shoulde make an ende? Al vnder heauen is mine. 3 I will not keepe silence concerning his partes, nor his power nor his comely proportion. 4 Who can discouer the face of his garmet? or who shall come to him with a double bridle? 5 Who shall open the doores of his face? his teeth are fearefull round about. 6 The maiestie of his scales is like strog shields, and are sure sealed. 7 One is set to another, that no winde can come betweene them. 8 One is ioyned to another: they sticke together, that they cannot be sundered. 9 His niesings make the light to shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 10 Out of his mouth go lampes, and sparkes of fire leape out. 11 Out of his nostrels commeth out smoke, as out of a boyling pot or caldron. 12 His breath maketh the coales burne: for a flame goeth out of his mouth. 13 In his necke remayneth strength, and labour is reiected before his face. 14 The members of his bodie are ioyned: they are strong in themselues, and cannot be mooued. 15 His heart is as strong as a stone, and as hard as the nether milstone. 16 The mightie are afrayd of his maiestie, and for feare they faint in themselues. 17 When the sword doeth touch him, he will not rise vp, nor for the speare, dart nor habergeon. 18 He esteemeth yron as strawe, and brasse as rotten wood. 19 The archer canot make him flee: ye stones of the sling are turned into stubble vnto him: 20 The dartes are counted as strawe: and hee laugheth at the shaking of the speare. 21 Sharpe stones are vnder him, and he spreadeth sharpe things vpon the myre. 22 He maketh the depth to boyle like a pot, and maketh the sea like a pot of oyntment. 23 He maketh a path to shine after him: one would thinke the depth as an hoare head. 24 In the earth there is none like him: hee is made without feare. 25 He beholdeth al hie things: he is a King ouer all the children of pride.
1 Can you catch Leviathan with a fishhook
or tie his tongue down with a rope?
2 Can you put a rope through his snout
or put a hook through his jaws?
3 Will he beg you to let him go?
Will he plead with you for mercy?
4 Will he make an agreement with you
and promise to serve you forever?
5 Will you tie him like a pet bird,
like something to amuse your servant women?
6 Will fishermen bargain over him?
Will merchants cut him up to sell?
7 Can you fill his hide with fishing spears
or pierce his head with a harpoon?
8 Touch him once and you'll never try it again;
you'll never forget the fight!
9 Anyone who sees Leviathan
loses courage and falls to the ground.
10 When he is aroused, he is fierce;
no one would dare to stand before him.
11 Who can attack him and still be safe?
No one in all the world can do it.
12 Let me tell you about Leviathan's legs
and describe how great and strong he is.
13 No one can tear off his outer coat
or pierce the armor he wears.
14 Who can make him open his jaws,
ringed with those terrifying teeth?
15 His back is made of rows of shields,
fastened together and hard as stone.
16 Each one is joined so tight to the next,
not even a breath can come between.
17 They all are fastened so firmly together
that nothing can ever pull them apart.
18 Light flashes when he sneezes,
and his eyes glow like the rising sun.
19 Flames blaze from his mouth,
and streams of sparks fly out.
20 Smoke comes pouring out of his nose,
like smoke from weeds burning under a pot.
21 His breath starts fires burning;
flames leap out of his mouth.
22 His neck is so powerful
that all who meet him are terrified.
23 There is not a weak spot in his skin;
it is as hard and unyielding as iron.
24 His stony heart is without fear,
as unyielding and hard as a millstone.
25 When he rises up, even the strongest are frightened;
they are helpless with fear.
26 There is no sword that can wound him;
no spear or arrow or lance that can harm him.
27 For him iron is as flimsy as straw,
and bronze as soft as rotten wood.
28 There is no arrow that can make him run;
rocks thrown at him are like bits of straw.
29 To him a club is a piece of straw,
and he laughs when men throw spears.
30 The scales on his belly are like jagged pieces of pottery;
they tear up the muddy ground like a threshing sledge.
31 He churns up the sea like boiling water
and makes it bubble like a pot of oil.
32 He leaves a shining path behind him
and turns the sea to white foam.
33 There is nothing on earth to compare with him;
he is a creature that has no fear.
34 He looks down on even the proudest animals;
he is king of all wild beasts.