1 ¶ Canst thou draw out leviathan1 with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which2 thou lettest down?
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2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
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3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
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4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
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5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
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6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
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7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
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8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
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9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
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10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
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11 ¶ Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
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12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
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13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with3 his double bridle?
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14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
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15 His scales4 are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
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16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
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17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
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18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
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19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
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20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
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21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
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22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy5 before him.
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23 The flakes6 of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
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24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
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25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
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26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.7
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27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
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28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
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29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
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30 Sharp stones8 are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
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31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
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32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
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33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.9
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34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
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