Job 39
1 Numquid nosti tempus partus ibicum in petris, vel parturientes cervas observasti?
“Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?
2 Dinumerasti menses conceptus earum, et scisti tempus partus earum?
Can you count the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?
3 Incurvantur ad foetum, et pariunt, et rugitus emittunt.
They bow themselves. They bear their young. They end their labor pains.
4 Separantur filii earum, et pergunt ad pastum: egrediuntur, et non revertuntur ad eas.
Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and do not return again.
5 Quis dimisit onagrum liberum, et vincula eius quis solvit?
“Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 Cui dedi in solitudine domum, et tabernacula eius in terra salsuginis.
whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?
7 Contemnit multitudinem civitatis, clamorem exactoris non audit.
He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.
8 Circumspicit montes pascuae suae, et virentia quaeque perquirit.
The range of the mountains is his pasture. He searches after every green thing.
9 Numquid volet rhinoceros servire tibi, aut morabitur ad praesepe tuum?
“Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?
10 Numquid alligabis rhinocerota ad arandum loro tuo? aut confringet glebas vallium post te?
Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?
11 Numquid fiduciam habebis in magna fortitudine eius, et derelinques ei labores tuos?
Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?
12 Numquid credes illi quod sementem reddat tibi, et aream tuam congreget?
Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor?
13 Penna struthionis similis est pennis herodii, et accipitris.
“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the feathers and plumage of love?
14 Quando derelinquit ova sua in terra, tu forsitan in pulvere calefacies ea?
For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,
15 Obliviscitur quod pes conculcet ea, aut bestia agri conterat.
and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them.
16 Duratur ad filios suos quasi non sint sui, frustra laboravit nullo timore cogente.
She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,
17 Privavit enim eam Deus sapientia, nec dedit illi intelligentiam.
because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.
18 Cum tempus fuerit, in altum alas erigit: deridet equum et ascensorem eius.
When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
19 Numquid praebebis equo fortitudinem, aut circumdabis collo eius hinnitum?
“Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?
20 Numquid suscitabis eum quasi locustas? gloria narium eius terror.
Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.
21 Terram ungula fodit, exultat audacter: in occursum pergit armatis.
He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.
22 Contemnit pavorem, nec cedit gladio.
He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.
23 Super ipsum sonabit pharetra, vibrabit hasta et clypeus.
The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.
24 Fervens et fremens sorbet terram, nec reputat tubae sonare clangorem.
He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
25 Ubi audierit buccinam, dicit: Vah, procul odoratur bellum, exhortationem ducum, et ululatum exercitus.
As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Numquid per sapientiam tuam plumescit accipiter, expandens alas suas ad Austrum?
“Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?
27 Numquid ad praeceptum tuum elevabitur aquila, et in arduis ponet nidum suum?
Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?
28 In petris manet, et in praeruptis silicibus commoratur, atque inaccessis rupibus.
On the cliff he dwells and makes his home, on the point of the cliff and the stronghold.
29 Inde contemplatur escam, et de longe oculi eius prospiciunt,
From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.
30 Pulli eius lambent sanguinem: et ubicumque cadaver fuerit, statim adest.
His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”
