איוב 39

1 הידעת--עת לדת יעלי-סלע חלל אילות תשמר

“Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?

2 תספר ירחים תמלאנה וידעת עת לדתנה

Can you count the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?

3 תכרענה ילדיהן תפלחנה חבליהם תשלחנה

They bow themselves. They bear their young. They end their labor pains.

4 יחלמו בניהם ירבו בבר יצאו ולא-שבו למו

Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and do not return again.

5 מי-שלח פרא חפשי ומסרות ערוד מי פתח

“Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,

6 אשר-שמתי ערבה ביתו ומשכנותיו מלחה

whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?

7 ישחק להמון קריה תשאות נגש לא ישמע

He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.

8 יתור הרים מרעהו ואחר כל-ירוק ידרוש

The range of the mountains is his pasture. He searches after every green thing.

9 היאבה רים עבדך אם-ילין על-אבוסך

“Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?

10 התקשר-רים בתלם עבתו אם-ישדד עמקים אחריך

Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?

11 התבטח-בו כי-רב כחו ותעזב אליו יגיעך

Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?

12 התאמין בו כי-ישוב (ישיב) זרעך וגרנך יאסף

Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor?

13 כנף-רננים נעלסה אם-אברה חסידה ונצה

“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the feathers and plumage of love?

14 כי-תעזב לארץ בציה ועל-עפר תחמם

For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,

15 ותשכח כי-רגל תזורה וחית השדה תדושה

and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them.

16 הקשיח בניה ללא-לה לריק יגיעה בלי-פחד

She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,

17 כי-השה אלוה חכמה ולא-חלק לה בבינה

because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.

18 כעת במרום תמריא תשחק לסוס ולרכבו

When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.

19 התתן לסוס גבורה התלביש צוארו רעמה

“Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?

20 התרעישנו כארבה הוד נחרו אימה

Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.

21 יחפרו בעמק וישיש בכח יצא לקראת-נשק

He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.

22 ישחק לפחד ולא יחת ולא-ישוב מפני-חרב

He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.

23 עליו תרנה אשפה להב חנית וכידון

The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.

24 ברעש ורגז יגמא-ארץ ולא-יאמין כי-קול שופר

He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.

25 בדי שפר יאמר האח-- ומרחוק יריח מלחמה רעם שרים ותרועה

As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 המבינתך יאבר-נץ יפרש כנפו לתימן

“Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?

27 אם-על-פיך יגביה נשר וכי ירים קנו

Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?

28 סלע ישכן ויתלנן-- על שן-סלע ומצודה

On the cliff he dwells and makes his home, on the point of the cliff and the stronghold.

29 משם חפר-אכל למרחוק עיניו יביטו

From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.

30 ואפרחו יעלעו-דם ובאשר חללים שם הוא

His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”