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.
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.
