< Job 39 >

1 Knowest thou the time when the chamois of the rock bring forth? or markest thou when the hinds do calve?
Knowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth among the rocks, or hast thou observed the hinds when they fawn?
2 Numberest thou the months of gestation which they complete and knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
Hast thou numbered the months of their conceiving, or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 They bend themselves: they drop their young ones; throw off their pains.
They bow themselves to bring forth young, and they cast them, and send forth roarings.
4 Their little ones become strong; they grow up in the open field; they go forth, and return not unto them.
Their young are weaned and go to feed: they go forth, and return not to them.
5 Who sent out the wild ass free? or who loosened the bonds of the forest-ass?
Who hath sent out the wild ass free, and who hath loosed his bonds?
6 To whom I assigned the wilderness as his house, and the salty land as his dwellings.
To whom I have given a house in the wilderness, and his dwellings in the barren land.
7 He laugheth at the noise of a town, and the shoutings of the driver he heareth not.
He scorneth the multitude of the city, he heareth not the cry of the driver.
8 What he espieth on the mountains is his pasture, and after every green thing doth he search.
He looketh round about the mountains of his pasture, and seeketh for every green thing.
9 Will the forest-ox be willing to serve thee, or will he stay over night at thy crib?
Shall the rhinoceros be willing to serve thee, or will he stay at thy crib?
10 Canst thou bind the forest-ox with a rope [to labor] in the furrow? or will he harrow valleys, following after thee?
Canst thou bind the rhinoceros with thy thong to plough, or will he break the clods of the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou leave to him thy labor?
Wilt thou have confidence in his great strength, and leave thy labours to him?
12 Wilt thou confide in him, that he should bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy threshing-floor?—
Wilt thou trust him that he will render thee the seed, and gather it into thy barnfloor?
13 The wing of the ostrich moveth joyfully: hath she the pinions and plumage of the careful stork?
The wing of the ostrich is like the wings of the heron, and of the hawk.
14 [No, ] for she intrusteth her eggs to the earth, and letteth them be hatched out on the dust:
When she leaveth her eggs on the earth, thou perhaps wilt warm them in the dust.
15 And she forgetteth that a foot may crush them, or that the beast of the field may stamp them down.
She forgetteth that the foot may tread upon them, or that the beasts of the field may break them.
16 He hath made her callous against her young, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain, [but she feeleth] no dread;
She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers, she hath laboured in vain, no fear constraining her.
17 Because God hath denied her wisdom, and he hath not imparted to her understanding.
For God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he given her understanding.
18 At the time she raiseth herself up on high, she laugheth at the horse and his rider.
When time shall be, she setteth up her wings on high: she scorneth the horse and his rider.
19 Dost thou give the horse strength? dost thou clothe his neck with the rolling mane?
Wilt thou give strength to the horse, or clothe his neck with neighing?
20 Canst thou make him jump like a locust? his majestic snort is terrible.
Wilt thou lift him up like the locusts? the glory of his nostrils is terror.
21 Men spy about in the valley, and he rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth forth to meet the armed array.
He breaketh up the earth with his hoof, he pranceth boldly, he goeth forward to meet armed men.
22 He laugheth at fear, and is not dismayed; and turneth not back from before the sword.
He despiseth fear, he turneth not his back to the sword,
23 Over him rattle the quiver, the glittering spear and the lance.
Above him shall the quiver rattle, the spear and shield shall glitter.
24 With impatient noise and rage he holloweth [with his hoof] the ground, and keepeth not quiet when the cornet's voice [is heard].
Chasing and raging he swalloweth the ground, neither doth he make account when the noise of the trumpet soundeth.
25 Midst the sound of the cornet he uttereth his joyful neigh; and from afar he perceiveth the battle, the loud call of the captains, and the battle-cry.—
When he heareth the trumpet he saith: Ha, ha: he smelleth the battle afar off, the encouraging of the captains, and the shouting of the army.
26 Is it through thy understanding that the hawk flieth along, and spreadeth out his wings toward the south?
Doth the hawk wax feathered by thy wisdom, spreading her wings to the south?
27 Or is it by your order that the eagle doth mount upward, and buildeth high up his nest?
Will the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest in high places?
28 On a rock he dwelleth, and spendeth his nights, on a rocky crag and mountain fastness.
She abideth among the rocks, and dwelleth among cragged flints, and stony hills, where there is no access.
29 From there he espieth his food, from afar can his eyes behold.
From thence she looketh for the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
30 His young ones, also, sip up blood: and where the slain be, there is he.
Her young ones shall suck up blood: and wheresoever the carcass shall be, she is immediately there.

< Job 39 >