English Standard Version

King James Bible

1“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?

1Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

2Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?

2Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

3Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?

3Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?

4Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever?

4Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?

5Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?

5Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

6Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?

6Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?

7Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

7Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

8Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!

8Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.

9Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.

9Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?

10No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?

10None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

11Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

11Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

12“I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.

12I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.

13Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle?

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? Around his teeth is terror.

14Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.

15His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal.

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.

16One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.

17They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.

17They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

18His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.

18By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

19Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth.

19Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.

20Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

20Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

21His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.

21His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

22In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him.

22In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.

23The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable.

23The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.

24His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone.

24His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.

25When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves.

25When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.

26Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.

26The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.

27He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.

27He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.

28The arrow cannot make him flee; for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.

28The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.

29Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins.

29Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.

30His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.

30Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.

31He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

31He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

32Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired.

32He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.

33On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.

33Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

34He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.”

34He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.