1Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook ? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down ? 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?
The Unconquerable Nature of Leviathan
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 ? 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 . 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 .
Leviathan as a Symbol of God's Power
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. 23The flakes of his flesh are joined together : they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved . 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 . 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 . 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 . 34He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride .