The Book of Job Paraphrased, Chapter 41
CHAP. XLI.
ARGUMENT.
In this Chapter another Creature of vaſt bigneſs and ſtrength is deſcribed, called in the Arabian language LEVIATHAN. By which we are not, in this place, to underſtand the Whale; becauſe that Fiſh is not armed with ſuch Scales as Leviathan is here ſaid to have, v. 15. nor is impenetrable, as every-body knows; and, to ſay no more, never creeps upon the Earth, which is part of the deſcription of this Leviathan, v. 33. Whereby we are therefore to underſtand the Crocodile, (to whom every part of this deſcription exactly belongs,) a Creature as big again as a Man of the greateſt ſtature, and in ſome places vaſtly greater: there having been Crocodiles ſeen of twenty, nay forty foot long; and in ſome places of an hundred. To this fierce and untameable Creature God ſends Job, that he might learn more Humility, then to contend with his Majeſty; when he ſaw how unable he was to ſtand before one of his Creatures. That uſe He himſelf teaches Job to make of this deſcription, v. 10, 11, 12.
1. CANST thou draw out leviathan with an book? or his tongue with a cord which thou letteſt down?1. THERE is another Creature alſo in the ſame River, which I would have thee conſider; and behold therein the Divine Power, and humane Weakneſs. Canſt thou catch *Crocodile. the Leviathan * as you do other fiſhes? canſt thou let down a line, and draw him out by the tongue with a hook?
2. Canſt thou put an hook into his noſe? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?2. When thou haſt made a cord of the ruſhes of the river, canſt thou put it about his noſe; or ſtrike an iron, as ſharp as a thorn, into his jaw?
3. Will he make many ſupplications unto thee? will he ſpeak ſoft words unto thee?3. Will he importune thy favour, and with many prayers beſeech thee to ſpare him? will he ſue for his liberty with ſubmiſſive words, and ſpeak thee fair to let him goe?
4. Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a ſervant for ever?4. Will he enter into bonds, and make a ſolemn covenant with thee, never to doe thee hurt; but to be thy ſlave, and doe thee ſervice for ever?
5. Wilt thou play with him, as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?5. Wilt thou adventure to play with him, as with a Sparrow? or tie him by the leg, for the ſport and paſtime of thy Daughters?
6. Shall the companions make a banquet of him? ſhall they part him among the merchants?6. Shall the ſociety of Fiſhermen make a feaſt for joy they have taken him? and ſell their ſhare in him among the Merchants?
7. Canſt thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fiſh-ſpears?7. Where is the dart wherewith thou canſt hope to penetrate his Skin? or the fiſh-ſpear that is able to wound his Head?
8. Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battel, doe no more.8. Go, and touch him if thou dareſt: the battel will be ſoon ended, for thou ſhalt not doe it the ſecond time.
9. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: ſhall not one be caſt down even at the ſight of him?9. Mark what I ſay; he will be ſorely diſappointed that thinks to take him: for he will be ready to ſink down with fear at the very ſight of him.
10. None is ſo fierce that dare ſtir him up: who then is able to ſtand before me?10. Though he lie aſleep on the ſhore, there is none ſo hardy, as to dare to awake him. Who is he then that takes upon him to contend with Me? If one of my Creatures be ſo terrible, how dangerous is it to provoke my Majeſty?
11. Who hath prevented me, that I ſhould repay him? whatſoever is under the whole heaven is mine.11. And where is the man to whom I am a Debtour? How came I, that made the whole World, to be obliged to thee, or any one elſe? Did you firſt begin to doe me kindneſſes, that I ſhould owe you a requital?
12. I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.12. What Inſolence is this, to diſpute with Me, when thou art not able to ſtand before this ſingle work of my hands? none of whoſe lims or joints I will conceal; nor forbear to ſpeak of his ſtrength, and of the comely diſpoſition of all his parts.
13. Who can diſcover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?13. And firſt take a view of his ſcaly Skin, wherewith he is covered: who hath ever ſtript him of that upper garment? or who dare come within his doubled Snout?
14. Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.14. Who will venture to open his wide Jaws, and ſo much as look into his Mouth? in which his long rows of Teeth are very dreadfull.
15. His ſcales are his pride, ſhut up together as with a cloſe ſeal.15. The Scales of his back are like the plates of a ſhield, which I have provided for his defence: every one of them is cloſely compacted, and ſtrictly ſealed to the next.
16. One is ſo near to another, that no air can come between them.16. They are knit ſo cloſe, that the air, which preſſes into all things elſe, cannot come between them.
17. They are joyned one to another, they ſtick together, that they cannot be ſundred.17. They cleave one to another, they hold ſo faſt together, that no art or violence can make a ſeparation.
18. By his neezings a light doth ſhine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.18. When he ſneezeth, as he lies gaping in the Sun, the Spirits break forth with ſuch a force, that they ſeem to ſparkle: and when he riſeth up out of the river, his Eyes appear before the reſt of his body, as the morning light before the Sun.
19. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and ſparks of fire leap out.19. The Steam alſo which then comes out of his mouth is as vehement as if it were full of burning torches; or there were a fire in him, that ſends forth ſparks.
20. Out of his noſtrils goeth ſmoak, as out of a ſeething pot or caldron.20. Out of his Noſtrils goes a Smoak like the reek of a ſeething pot, or a boiling caldron.
21. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.21. His Breath is ſo hot, though he come out of the water, that it is ſufficient to kindle coals; and may be called a flame, which iſſues out of his mouth.
22. In his neck remaineth ſtrength, and ſorrow is turned into joy before him.22. His Neck is exceeding ſtrong, as if it were the very ſeat of ſtrength: ſadneſs and terrour marches before him, and ſeizes on all thoſe that meet him.
23. The flakes of his fleſh are, joyned together: they are firm in themſelves, they cannot be moved.23. The Muſcles of his fleſh are glewed together; every one of them is compact and ſolid; they are not eaſily moved.
24. His heart is as firm as a ſtone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether milſtone.24. He is as far from Fear, as he is from Pity: for his heart is as firm as a ſtone; as hard as an anvil, or a piece of the nether milſtone.
25. When he raiſeth up himſelf, the mighty are afraid: by reaſon of breakings they purify themſelves.25. But the ſtouteſt hearts tremble when he lifts up himſelf above the water: they are ſeized with ſuch a fright, that they are at their wits end, and know not which way to turn themſelves.
26. The ſword of him that layeth at him cannot hold; the ſpear, the dart, nor the habergeon.26. Though they aſſault him with the ſword, it will doe them no ſervice; for the hardneſs of his Skin will break it in pieces: the Spear, alſo the Dart and the Javelin are altogether as feeble, and cannot enter into him.
27. He eſteemeth iron as ſtraw, and braſs as rotten wood.27. All the other Weapons of iron (which the wit of man can deviſe) he values no more then a ſtraw; and thoſe of braſs, no more then rotten wood.
28. The arrow cannot make him flee: ſling-ſtones are turned with him into ſtubble.28. The Arrow ſhot out of the ſtrongeſt bow cannot make him flee: and thoſe Stones, which are thrown out of a Sling with ſo much force, move him no more then a little chaff.
29. Darts are counted as ſtubble: he laugheth at the ſhaking of a ſpear.29. Lay at him with heavy Clubs, and he regards them no more then if they were ſtubble: ſhake the Launce at him, and he contemns its moſt violent thruſts.
30. Sharp ſtones are under him: he ſpreadeth ſharp-pointed things upon the mire.30. For in ſtead of him, it meets onelyonly with the rough Shells wherewith he is armed: which are ſo hard, that he beats back the ſharpeſt Weapon, and throws it into the mire.
31. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the ſea like a pot of ointment.31. When he tumbles about in the bottom of the River, he raiſes bubbles on the top; and the water of the Lake is ſo troubled, with the ſlimy mud which he ſtirreth up, that it looks like a Pot of ointment.
32. He maketh a path to ſhine after him: one would think the deep to be hoary.32. When he ſwims, he makes furrows in the face of the Deep; and leaves a path behind him ſo covered with froth and foam, that it looks as if it were grown old, and were full of gray hairs.
33. Ʋpon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.33. His fellow is not to be found upon the earth; where he creeps indeed in the duſt, but is ſo made that he cannot be trodden under foot and bruiſed.
34. He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.34. No, though he lie ſo low, yet he deſpiſes the talleſt Beaſts; and reigns over the Oxen and Camels, and all thoſe creatures whoſe long legs raiſe them to the loftieſt height: whom he maſters and rends in pieces at his pleaſure.