| Chapter 41 |
1 |
Is it possible for Leviathan to be pulled out with a fish-hook, or for a hook to be put through the bone of his mouth?
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2 |
Will you put a cord into his nose, or take him away with a cord round his tongue?
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3 |
Will he make prayers to you, or say soft words to you?
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4 |
Will he make an agreement with you, so that you may take him as a servant for ever?
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5 |
Will you make sport with him, as with a bird? or put him in chains for your young women?
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6 |
Will the fishermen make profit out of him? will they have him cut up for the traders?
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7 |
Will you put sharp-pointed irons into his skin, or fish-spears into his head?
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8 |
Only put your hand on him, and see what a fight you will have; you will not do it again!
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9 |
Truly, the hope of his attacker is false; he is overcome even on seeing him!
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10 |
He is so cruel that no one is ready to go against him. Who then is able to keep his place before me?
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11 |
Who ever went against me, and got the better of me? There is no one under heaven!
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12 |
I will not keep quiet about the parts of his body, or about his power, and the strength of his frame.
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13 |
Who has ever taken off his outer skin? who may come inside his inner coat of iron?
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14 |
Who has made open the doors of his face? Fear is round about his teeth.
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15 |
His back is made of lines of plates, joined tight together, one against the other, like a stamp.
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16 |
One is so near to the other that no air may come between them.
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17 |
They take a grip of one another; they are joined together, so that they may not be parted.
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18 |
His sneezings give out flames, and his eyes are like the eyes of the dawn.
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19 |
Out of his mouth go burning lights, and flames of fire are jumping up.
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20 |
Smoke comes out of his nose, like a pot boiling on the fire.
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21 |
His breath puts fire to coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.
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22 |
Strength is in his neck, and fear goes dancing before him.
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23 |
The plates of his flesh are joined together, fixed, and not to be moved.
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24 |
His heart is as strong as a stone, hard as the lower crushing-stone.
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25 |
When he gets ready for the fight, the strong are overcome with fear.
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26 |
The sword may come near him but is not able to go through him; the spear, or the arrow, or the sharp-pointed iron.
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27 |
Iron is to him as dry grass, and brass as soft wood.
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28 |
The arrow is not able to put him to flight: stones are no more to him than dry stems.
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29 |
A thick stick is no better than a leaf of grass, and he makes sport of the onrush of the spear.
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30 |
Under him are sharp edges of broken pots: as if he was pulling a grain-crushing instrument over the wet earth.
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31 |
The deep is boiling like a pot of spices, and the sea like a perfume-vessel.
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32 |
After him his way is shining, so that the deep seems white.
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33 |
On earth there is not another like him, who is made without fear.
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34 |
Everything which is high goes in fear of him; he is king over all the sons of pride.
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