1»¿Puedes pescar a Leviatán con un anzuelo
o atarle la lengua con una cuerda?
2¿Puedes ponerle un cordel en la nariz
o perforarle la quijada con un gancho?
3¿Acaso amablemente va a pedirte
o suplicarte que le tengas compasión?
4¿Acaso va a comprometerse
a ser tu esclavo de por vida?
5¿Podrás jugar con él como juegas con los pájaros
o atarlo para que tus niñas se entretengan?
6¿Podrán los mercaderes ofrecerlo como mercancía41:6 como mercancía. Alt. en un banquete.
o cortarlo en pedazos para venderlo?
7¿Puedes atravesarle la piel con lanzas
o la cabeza con arpones?
8Si llegas a ponerle la mano encima,
¡jamás te olvidarás de esa batalla
y no querrás repetir la experiencia!
9Vana es la pretensión de llegar a someterlo;
basta con verlo para desmayarse.
10No hay quien se atreva siquiera a provocarlo.
¿Quién, pues, podría hacerme frente?
11¿Y quién tiene alguna cuenta que cobrarme?
¡Mío es todo cuanto hay bajo los cielos!
12»No puedo dejar de mencionar sus extremidades,
su fuerza y su elegante apariencia.
13¿Quién puede despojarlo de su coraza?
¿Quién puede acercarse a él y ponerle un freno?
14¿Quién se atreve a abrir el abismo de sus fauces,
coronadas de terribles colmillos?
15Tiene el lomo41:15 lomo (véanse LXX y Vulgata); orgullo (TM). recubierto de hileras de escudos,
todos ellos unidos en cerrado tejido;
16tan juntos están uno al otro
que no dejan pasar ni el aire;
17tan prendidos están uno del otro,
tan unidos entre sí, que no pueden separarse.
18Resopla y lanza deslumbrantes relámpagos;
sus ojos se parecen a los rayos de la aurora.
19Ascuas de fuego brotan de su hocico;
chispas de lumbre salen disparadas.
20Lanza humo por la nariz,
como olla hirviendo sobre un fuego de juncos.
21Con su aliento enciende los carbones
y lanza fuego por la boca.
22En su cuello radica su fuerza;
ante él, todo el mundo pierde el ánimo.
23Los pliegues de su piel son un tejido apretado;
firmes son e inconmovibles.
24Duro es su pecho, como una roca;
sólido, cual piedra de molino.
25Cuando se yergue, los poderosos tiemblan;
cuando se sacude, emprenden la huida.
26La espada, aunque lo alcance, no lo hiere;
tampoco lo hieren los dardos
ni las lanzas y las jabalinas.
27Al hierro lo trata como a paja
y al bronce como a madera podrida.
28No lo hacen huir las flechas;
ve como paja las piedras de las hondas.
29Al mazo lo considera paja;
se burla del silbido de la jabalina.
30Sus costados son dentados tiestos
que en el fango van dejando huellas de rastrillos.
31Hace hervir las profundidades como un caldero;
agita los mares como un frasco de ungüento.
32Una estela brillante va dejando tras de sí,
cual si fuera la blanca cabellera del abismo.
33Es un monstruo que a nada teme;
nada hay en el mundo que se le parezca.
34Mira con desdén a todos los poderosos;
¡él es rey de todos los soberbios!».
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.
