Chapter 40
| Collection: | The Book of Job and 42 Paintings |
| Author: | Fr. Antonio Oteiza |
| Type: | Painting |
| Location: | Cataloguing Room |
| Characteristics: | Acrylic paint on cardboard |
| Artwork: |
Click to enlarge |
| Description: |
The Lord continued speaking to Job: “Does the critic wish to contend with the Almighty? Let the one who criticizes God answer.” Job answered the Lord: “I am insignificant; what can I reply? I will put my hand over my mouth. I have spoken once and will not insist; twice, but I will add nothing more.” The Lord answered Job out of the storm: “If you are a man, gird up your loins; I will question you, and you shall answer me: Do you dare violate my justice or condemn me so that you may be acquitted? If you have an arm like God’s and your voice can thunder like his, then clothe yourself in glory and majesty; cover yourself with splendour and magnificence. Pour out the torrent of your anger and bring down the proud with a glance. Humble the proud with a glance and crush the wicked. Bury them all together in the dust and bind their faces in the grave. Then I too will proclaim your praise: ‘Your own arm has given you victory.’ Look at Behemoth, whom I created just as I created you; it eats grass like cattle. Look at the strength of its loins, the power of its muscular belly. It raises its tail like a cedar, the sinews of its thighs tightly interwoven. Its bones are tubes of bronze, its frame bars of iron. It is God’s masterpiece; only its Maker can approach it with the sword. The mountains bring it their tribute, while the wild animals frolic beside it. It lies beneath the lotus plants and hides among the reeds of the marsh. The lotus plants cover it with their shade, and the willows of the stream surround it. Though the river rages, it is not afraid; it remains calm even if the Jordan foams against its muzzle. Who can seize it by the eyes or pierce its nose with a hook? Can you catch Leviathan with a fishhook or tame its tongue with a rope? Can you put a reed through its nostrils or pierce its jaw with a hook? Will it come to you with many pleas or speak flattering words to you? Will it make a covenant with you so that you may take it as your slave for life? Will you play with it as with a bird or tie it up like a sparrow? Will fishermen trade in it or divide it among the merchants? Can you riddle its hide with darts or its head with harpoons? Lay your hand upon it: you will remember the battle and never try it again.” |
