1Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?41.1 leviathan: probably an extinct animal of some kind41.1 which…: Heb. which thou drownest? 2Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? 8Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
11Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 13Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?41.13 with: or, within 14Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.41.15 scales: Heb. strong pieces of shields 16One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 18By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.41.22 is turned into joy: Heb. rejoiceth 23The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.41.23 flakes: Heb. fallings 24His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. 25When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.41.26 habergeon: or, breastplate 27He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.41.30 Sharp stones: Heb. Sharp pieces of potsherd 31He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. 33Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.41.33 is made without fear: or, behave themselves without fear 34He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
1Det er håbløst at forsøge at fange den.
Synet af den er nok til, at modet forsvinder.
2Når ingen tør kæmpe mod dette mægtige dyr,
hvem tør da kæmpe imod mig?
3Hvem tør sige, at jeg skylder dem noget?
Alt i hele verden tilhører mig.
4Lad mig beskrive Livjatans krop.
Den er velformet med enorme lemmer og vældig styrke.
5Hvem kan flå huden af den
eller trænge ind under dens panser?
6Hvem kan åbne munden på den,
så man ser de frygtindgydende tænder?
7Ryggen er dækket af rækker af plader,
der beskytter den fuldstændigt som skjolde.
8Pladerne sidder så tæt,
at intet kan trænge ind imellem dem.
9De overlapper hinanden,
og det er umuligt at skille dem ad.
10Når den fnyser, er det som lysglimt,
øjnene gløder som en solopgang.
11Flammer står ud af munden på den,
et fyrværkeri af gnister.
12Damp kommer ud ad dens næsebor
som fra en kedel med kogende vand.
13Dens ånde får kul til at gløde,
fra gabet spruder den ild.
14Halsmusklerne er utroligt stærke,
den skaber rædsel overalt, hvor den kommer.
15Dens bug er hård og fast,
den kan modstå ethvert angreb.
16Dens hjerte er hårdt som sten,
urokkeligt som en møllesten.
17Går den til angreb, gyser de stærkeste helte,
de løber rædselsslagne deres vej.
18Det er nytteløst at kæmpe imod den med sværd,
hverken spyd, pil eller lanse kan bruges.
19Den bøjer jernstænger, som var det strå,
bronze splintrer den som råddent træ.
20Pile kan ikke jage den på flugt,
og sten preller af som ingenting.
21Stridskøller har ingen virkning,
og kastespyd ler den blot ad.
22Dens bug er dækket af skarpe skæl,
som sætter dybe spor i jorden.
23Flodvandet pisker den i kog,
det bobler som i en gryde.
24Kølvandet er som en glinsende sti,
en stribe af sølvhvidt skum.
25Der findes ingen skabning på jorden,
der er så frygtløs som den.
26Den har intet at være bange for,
den er det stolteste dyr på jorden.”
