Job 39
1 Numquid nosti tempus partus ibicum in petris, vel parturientes cervas observasti?
Do you know at what time the wild goats have given birth among the rocks, or do you observe the deer when they go into labor?
2 Dinumerasti menses conceptus earum, et scisti tempus partus earum?
Have you numbered the months since their conception, and do you know at what time they gave birth?
3 Incurvantur ad foetum, et pariunt, et rugitus emittunt.
They bend themselves for their offspring, and they give birth, and they emit roars.
4 Separantur filii earum, et pergunt ad pastum: egrediuntur, et non revertuntur ad eas.
Their young are weaned and go out to feed; they depart and do not return to them.
5 Quis dimisit onagrum liberum, et vincula eius quis solvit?
Who has set the wild ass free, and who has released his bonds?
6 Cui dedi in solitudine domum, et tabernacula eius in terra salsuginis.
I have given a house in solitude to him, and his tabernacle is in the salted land.
7 Contemnit multitudinem civitatis, clamorem exactoris non audit.
He despises the crowded city; he does not pay attention to the bellow of the tax collector.
8 Circumspicit montes pascuae suae, et virentia quaeque perquirit.
He looks around the mountains of his pasture, and he searches everywhere for green plants.
9 Numquid volet rhinoceros servire tibi, aut morabitur ad praesepe tuum?
Will the rhinoceros be willing to serve you, and will he remain in your stall?
10 Numquid alligabis rhinocerota ad arandum loro tuo? aut confringet glebas vallium post te?
Can you detain the rhinoceros with your harness to plough for you, and will he loosen the soil of the furrows behind you?
11 Numquid fiduciam habebis in magna fortitudine eius, et derelinques ei labores tuos?
Will you put your faith in his great strength, and delegate your labors to him?
12 Numquid credes illi quod sementem reddat tibi, et aream tuam congreget?
Will you trust him to return to you the seed, and to gather it on your drying floor?
13 Penna struthionis similis est pennis herodii, et accipitris.
The wing of the ostrich is like the wings of the heron, and of the hawk.
14 Quando derelinquit ova sua in terra, tu forsitan in pulvere calefacies ea?
When she leaves eggs behind in the earth, will you perhaps warm them in the dust?
15 Obliviscitur quod pes conculcet ea, aut bestia agri conterat.
She forgets that feet may trample them, or that the beasts of the field may shatter them.
16 Duratur ad filios suos quasi non sint sui, frustra laboravit nullo timore cogente.
She is hardened against her young, as if they were not hers; she has labored in vain, with no fear compelling her.
17 Privavit enim eam Deus sapientia, nec dedit illi intelligentiam.
For God has deprived her of wisdom; neither has he given her understanding.
18 Cum tempus fuerit, in altum alas erigit: deridet equum et ascensorem eius.
Yet, when the time is right, she raises her wings on high; she ridicules the horse and his rider.
19 Numquid praebebis equo fortitudinem, aut circumdabis collo eius hinnitum?
Will you supply strength to the horse, or envelope his throat with neighing?
20 Numquid suscitabis eum quasi locustas? gloria narium eius terror.
Will you alarm him as the locusts do? His panic is revealed by the display of his nostrils.
21 Terram ungula fodit, exultat audacter: in occursum pergit armatis.
He digs at the earth with his hoof; he jumps around boldly; he advances to meet armed men.
22 Contemnit pavorem, nec cedit gladio.
He despises fear; he does not turn away from the sword.
23 Super ipsum sonabit pharetra, vibrabit hasta et clypeus.
Above him, the quiver rattles, the spear and the shield shake.
24 Fervens et fremens sorbet terram, nec reputat tubae sonare clangorem.
Seething and raging, he drinks up the earth; neither does he pause when the blast of the trumpet sounds.
25 Ubi audierit buccinam, dicit: Vah, procul odoratur bellum, exhortationem ducum, et ululatum exercitus.
When he hears the bugle, he says, “Ha!” He smells the battle from a distance, the exhortation of the officers, and the battle cry of the soldiers.
26 Numquid per sapientiam tuam plumescit accipiter, expandens alas suas ad Austrum?
Does the hawk grow feathers by means of your wisdom, spreading her wings towards the south?
27 Numquid ad praeceptum tuum elevabitur aquila, et in arduis ponet nidum suum?
Will the eagle lift herself up at your command and make her nest in steep places?
28 In petris manet, et in praeruptis silicibus commoratur, atque inaccessis rupibus.
She dwells among the rocks, and she lingers among broken boulders and inaccessible cliffs.
29 Inde contemplatur escam, et de longe oculi eius prospiciunt,
From there, she looks for food, and her eyes catch sight of it from far away.
30 Pulli eius lambent sanguinem: et ubicumque cadaver fuerit, statim adest.
Her young will drink blood, and wherever the carcass will be, she is there immediately.
