1 1 (40.25) »No puedes pescar un cocodrilo
con un simple anzuelo,
ni atarle la lengua con una cuerda.
2 2 (40.26) No puedes perforarle la quijada
ni atarle el hocico.
3 3 (40.27) ¡Un cocodrilo no va a rogarte
que le tengas compasión,
4 4 (40.28) ni va a servirte como esclavo
por el resto de su vida!
5 5 (40.29) Tampoco podrás jugar con él
como juegas con los pájaros,
y atarle una cuerda a una pata
para que jueguen tus hijas.
6 6 (40.30) No se despedaza un cocodrilo
para venderlo en el mercado;
7 7 (40.31) ¡las lanzas no le atraviesan
la piel ni la cabeza!
8 8 (40.32) Si quieres sujetarlo,
acabarás peleando con él,
y te arrepentirás de hacerlo.
9 9 (1) No tiene caso que pienses
en llegar a dominarlo;
¡con solo verlo, caerás desmayado!
10 10 (2) Si nadie puede con él,
¿quién va a poder conmigo,
que soy el Dios todopoderoso?
11 11 (3) ¡Mío es todo lo que hay
debajo del cielo!
¿Quién me puede pedir cuentas?
12-13 12-13 (4-5) »No olvides que el cocodrilo
tiene patas muy fuertes
una piel impenetrable,
y un cuerpo enorme
que nadie puede dominar.
14 14 (6) No hay quien se atreva
a abrirle el enorme hocico
para ver sus filosos colmillos.
15-17 15-17 (7-9) Su cuerpo está cubierto
con hileras de pequeños escudos,
que ni el aire dejan pasar.
18 18 (10) Cuando el cocodrilo resopla,
sus ojos brillan más que el rayo
y que el sol del nuevo día;
19 19 (11) de su hocico salen
chispas de lumbre y llamas de fuego;
20-21 20-21 (12-13) lanza humo por la nariz
y fuego por la boca;
¡parece una olla puesta al fuego!
¡Un soplo suyo enciende la leña!
22 22 (14) Es tan fuerte su cuello
que solo de verlo da miedo;
23 23 (15) la piel más blanda de su cuerpo
es impenetrable;
24 24 (16) su pecho es firme como roca
y duro como piedra de molino.
25 25 (17) Cuando el cocodrilo se sacude,
hasta los más poderosos
tiemblan y echan a correr.
26-29 26-29 (18-21) No hay arma capaz de herirlo,
pues rompe el hierro como paja,
y el bronce como madera podrida;
las flechas no lo penetran,
y las piedras de las hondas
tan solo le hacen cosquillas;
golpearlo con un martillo
es como golpearlo con una pluma.
30 30 (22) Cuando se arrastra por el lodo,
abre surcos como el arado;
31 31 (23) cuando se lanza al fondo del lago,
el agua parece una olla hirviendo,
32 32 (24) y a su paso va dejando
una estela blanca y brillante.
33 33 (25) El cocodrilo a nadie le teme,
y no hay animal que se le parezca.
34 34 (26) Desprecia a los poderosos,
pues es el rey de los monstruos».
1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? 2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? 8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? 14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. 16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone . 25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. 27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. 31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. 33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. 34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.