[1] The LORD Continues Can you catch a sea monster by using a fishhook? Can you tie its mouth shut with a rope? [2] Can it be led around by a ring in its nose or a hook in its jaw? [3] Will it beg for mercy? [4] Will it surrender as a slave for life? [5] Can it be tied by the leg like a pet bird for little girls? [6] Is it ever chopped up and its pieces bargained for in the fish-market? [7] Can it be killed with harpoons or spears? [8] Wrestle it just once- that will be the end. [9] Merely a glimpse of this monster makes all courage melt. [10] And if it is too fierce for anyone to attack, who would dare oppose me? [11] I am in command of the world and in debt to no one. [12] What powerful legs, what a stout body this monster possesses! [13] Who could strip off its armor or bring it under control with a harness? [14] Who would try to open its jaws, full of fearsome teeth? [15] Its back is covered with shield after shield, [16] firmly bound and closer together [17] than breath to breath. [18] When this monster sneezes, lightning flashes, and its eyes glow like the dawn. [19] Sparks and fiery flames explode from its mouth. [20] And smoke spews from its nose like steam from a boiling pot, [21] while its blazing breath scorches everything in sight. [22] Its neck is so tremendous that everyone trembles, [23] the weakest parts of its body are harder than iron, [24] and its heart is stone. [25] When this noisy monster appears, even the most powerful turn and run in fear. [26] No sword or spear can harm it, [27] and weapons of bronze or iron are as useless as straw or rotten wood. [28] Rocks thrown from a sling cause it no more harm than husks of grain. This monster fears no arrows, [29] it simply smiles at spears, and striking it with a stick is like slapping it with straw. [30] As it crawls through the mud, its sharp and spiny hide tears the ground apart. [31] And when it swims down deep, the sea starts churning like boiling oil, [32] and it leaves behind a trail of shining white foam. [33] No other creature on earth is so fearless. [34] It is king of all proud creatures, and it looks upon the others as nothing.
