Job 39
1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
“Do you know when mountain goats give birth? Have you watched the doe bear her fawn?
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
Can you count the months they are pregnant? Do you know the time they give birth?
3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, they cast out their fruit.
They crouch down and bring forth their young; they deliver their newborn.
4 Their young ones wax strong, they grow up in the open field; they go forth, and return not again.
Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field; they leave and do not return.
5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?
6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling-place.
I made the wilderness his home and the salt flats his dwelling.
7 He scorneth the tumult of the city, neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver.
He scorns the tumult of the city and never hears the shouts of a driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
He roams the mountains for pasture, searching for any green thing.
9 Will the wild-ox be willing to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?
Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night?
10 Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
Can you rely on his great strength? Will you leave your hard work to him?
12 Wilt thou rely on him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather the corn of thy threshing-floor?
Can you trust him to bring in your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?
13 The wing of the ostrich beateth joyously; but are her pinions and feathers the kindly stork's?
The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but cannot match the pinions and feathers of the stork.
14 For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
For she leaves her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand.
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may trample them.
She forgets that a foot may crush them, or a wild animal may trample them.
16 She is hardened against her young ones, as if they were not hers; though her labour be in vain, she is without fear;
She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.
17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath He imparted to her understanding.
For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.
18 When the time cometh, she raiseth her wings on high, and scorneth the horse and his rider.
Yet when she proudly spreads her wings, she laughs at the horse and its rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse his strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with fierceness?
Do you give strength to the horse or adorn his neck with a mane?
20 Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible.
Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength; he goeth out to meet the clash of arms.
He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength; he charges into battle.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
He laughs at fear, frightened of nothing; he does not turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth upon him, the glittering spear and the javelin.
A quiver rattles at his side, along with a flashing spear and lance.
24 He swalloweth the ground with storm and rage; neither believeth he that it is the voice of the horn.
Trembling with excitement, he devours the distance; he cannot stand still when the ram’s horn sounds.
25 As oft as he heareth the horn he saith: 'Ha, ha!' and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
At the blast of the horn, he snorts with fervor. He catches the scent of battle from afar— the shouts of captains and the cry of war.
26 Doth the hawk soar by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
Does the hawk take flight by your understanding and spread his wings toward the south?
27 Doth the vulture mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
Does the eagle soar at your command and make his nest on high?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the stronghold.
He dwells on a cliff and lodges there; his stronghold is on a rocky crag.
29 From thence she spieth out the prey; her eyes behold it afar off.
From there he spies out food; his eyes see it from afar.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood; and where the slain are, there is she.
His young ones feast on blood; and where the slain are, there he is.”
