Job 39
1 Numquid nosti tempus partus ibicum in petris, vel parturientes cervas observasti?
“Do you know when mountain goats give birth? Have you watched the doe bear her fawn?
2 Dinumerasti menses conceptus earum, et scisti tempus partus earum?
Can you count the months they are pregnant? Do you know the time they give birth?
3 Incurvantur ad fœtum, et pariunt, et rugitus emittunt.
They crouch down and bring forth their young; they deliver their newborn.
4 Separantur filii earum, et pergunt ad pastum: egrediuntur, et non revertuntur ad eas.
Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field; they leave and do not return.
5 Quis dimisit onagrum liberum, et vincula ejus quis solvit?
Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?
6 cui dedi in solitudine domum, et tabernacula ejus in terra salsuginis.
I made the wilderness his home and the salt flats his dwelling.
7 Contemnit multitudinem civitatis: clamorem exactoris non audit.
He scorns the tumult of the city and never hears the shouts of a driver.
8 Circumspicit montes pascuæ suæ, et virentia quæque perquirit.
He roams the mountains for pasture, searching for any green thing.
9 Numquid volet rhinoceros servire tibi, aut morabitur ad præsepe tuum?
Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night?
10 Numquid alligabis rhinocerota ad arandum loro tuo, aut confringet glebas vallium post te?
Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Numquid fiduciam habebis in magna fortitudine ejus, et derelinques ei labores tuos?
Can you rely on his great strength? Will you leave your hard work to him?
12 Numquid credes illi quod sementem reddat tibi, et aream tuam congreget?
Can you trust him to bring in your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?
13 Penna struthionis similis est pennis herodii et accipitris.
The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but cannot match the pinions and feathers of the stork.
14 Quando derelinquit ova sua in terra, tu forsitan in pulvere calefacies ea?
For she leaves her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand.
15 Obliviscitur quod pes conculcet ea, aut bestia agri conterat.
She forgets that a foot may crush them, or a wild animal may trample them.
16 Duratur ad filios suos, quasi non sint sui: frustra laboravit, nullo timore cogente.
She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.
17 Privavit enim eam Deus sapientia, nec dedit illi intelligentiam.
For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.
18 Cum tempus fuerit, in altum alas erigit: deridet equum et ascensorem ejus.
Yet when she proudly spreads her wings, she laughs at the horse and its rider.
19 Numquid præbebis equo fortitudinem, aut circumdabis collo ejus hinnitum?
Do you give strength to the horse or adorn his neck with a mane?
20 Numquid suscitabis eum quasi locustas? gloria narium ejus terror.
Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
21 Terram ungula fodit; exultat audacter: in occursum pergit armatis.
He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength; he charges into battle.
22 Contemnit pavorem, nec cedit gladio.
He laughs at fear, frightened of nothing; he does not turn back from the sword.
23 Super ipsum sonabit pharetra; vibrabit hasta et clypeus:
A quiver rattles at his side, along with a flashing spear and lance.
24 fervens et fremens sorbet terram, nec reputat tubæ sonare clangorem.
Trembling with excitement, he devours the distance; he cannot stand still when the ram’s horn sounds.
25 Ubi audierit buccinam, dicit: Vah! procul odoratur bellum: exhortationem ducum, et ululatum exercitus.
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 Numquid per sapientiam tuam plumescit accipiter, expandens alas suas ad austrum?
Does the hawk take flight by your understanding and spread his wings toward the south?
27 Numquid ad præceptum tuum elevabitur aquila, et in arduis ponet nidum suum?
Does the eagle soar at your command and make his nest on high?
28 In petris manet, et in præruptis silicibus commoratur, atque inaccessis rupibus.
He dwells on a cliff and lodges there; his stronghold is on a rocky crag.
29 Inde contemplatur escam, et de longe oculi ejus prospiciunt.
From there he spies out food; his eyes see it from afar.
30 Pulli ejus lambent sanguinem: et ubicumque cadaver fuerit, statim adest.
His young ones feast on blood; and where the slain are, there he is.”
