Job 39
1 Numquid nosti tempus partus ibicum in petris, vel parturientes cervas observasti?
Knowest thou the time when the chamois of the rock bring forth? or markest thou when the hinds do calve?
2 Dinumerasti menses conceptus earum, et scisti tempus partus earum?
Numberest thou the months of gestation which they complete and knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 Incurvantur ad foetum, et pariunt, et rugitus emittunt.
They bend themselves: they drop their young ones; throw off their pains.
4 Separantur filii earum, et pergunt ad pastum: egrediuntur, et non revertuntur ad eas.
Their little ones become strong; they grow up in the open field; they go forth, and return not unto them.
5 Quis dimisit onagrum liberum, et vincula eius quis solvit?
Who sent out the wild ass free? or who loosened the bonds of the forest-ass?
6 Cui dedi in solitudine domum, et tabernacula eius in terra salsuginis.
To whom I assigned the wilderness as his house, and the salty land as his dwellings.
7 Contemnit multitudinem civitatis, clamorem exactoris non audit.
He laugheth at the noise of a town, and the shoutings of the driver he heareth not.
8 Circumspicit montes pascuae suae, et virentia quaeque perquirit.
What he espieth on the mountains is his pasture, and after every green thing doth he search.
9 Numquid volet rhinoceros servire tibi, aut morabitur ad praesepe tuum?
Will the forest-ox be willing to serve thee, or will he stay over night at thy crib?
10 Numquid alligabis rhinocerota ad arandum loro tuo? aut confringet glebas vallium post te?
Canst thou bind the forest-ox with a rope [to labor] in the furrow? or will he harrow valleys, following after thee?
11 Numquid fiduciam habebis in magna fortitudine eius, et derelinques ei labores tuos?
Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou leave to him thy labor?
12 Numquid credes illi quod sementem reddat tibi, et aream tuam congreget?
Wilt thou confide in him, that he should bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy threshing-floor?—
13 Penna struthionis similis est pennis herodii, et accipitris.
The wing of the ostrich moveth joyfully: hath she the pinions and plumage of the careful stork?
14 Quando derelinquit ova sua in terra, tu forsitan in pulvere calefacies ea?
[No, ] for she intrusteth her eggs to the earth, and letteth them be hatched out on the dust:
15 Obliviscitur quod pes conculcet ea, aut bestia agri conterat.
And she forgetteth that a foot may crush them, or that the beast of the field may stamp them down.
16 Duratur ad filios suos quasi non sint sui, frustra laboravit nullo timore cogente.
He hath made her callous against her young, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain, [but she feeleth] no dread;
17 Privavit enim eam Deus sapientia, nec dedit illi intelligentiam.
Because God hath denied her wisdom, and he hath not imparted to her understanding.
18 Cum tempus fuerit, in altum alas erigit: deridet equum et ascensorem eius.
At the time she raiseth herself up on high, she laugheth at the horse and his rider.
19 Numquid praebebis equo fortitudinem, aut circumdabis collo eius hinnitum?
Dost thou give the horse strength? dost thou clothe his neck with the rolling mane?
20 Numquid suscitabis eum quasi locustas? gloria narium eius terror.
Canst thou make him jump like a locust? his majestic snort is terrible.
21 Terram ungula fodit, exultat audacter: in occursum pergit armatis.
Men spy about in the valley, and he rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth forth to meet the armed array.
22 Contemnit pavorem, nec cedit gladio.
He laugheth at fear, and is not dismayed; and turneth not back from before the sword.
23 Super ipsum sonabit pharetra, vibrabit hasta et clypeus.
Over him rattle the quiver, the glittering spear and the lance.
24 Fervens et fremens sorbet terram, nec reputat tubae sonare clangorem.
With impatient noise and rage he holloweth [with his hoof] the ground, and keepeth not quiet when the cornet's voice [is heard].
25 Ubi audierit buccinam, dicit: Vah, procul odoratur bellum, exhortationem ducum, et ululatum exercitus.
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.—
26 Numquid per sapientiam tuam plumescit accipiter, expandens alas suas ad Austrum?
Is it through thy understanding that the hawk flieth along, and spreadeth out his wings toward the south?
27 Numquid ad praeceptum tuum elevabitur aquila, et in arduis ponet nidum suum?
Or is it by your order that the eagle doth mount upward, and buildeth high up his nest?
28 In petris manet, et in praeruptis silicibus commoratur, atque inaccessis rupibus.
On a rock he dwelleth, and spendeth his nights, on a rocky crag and mountain fastness.
29 Inde contemplatur escam, et de longe oculi eius prospiciunt,
From there he espieth his food, from afar can his eyes behold.
30 Pulli eius lambent sanguinem: et ubicumque cadaver fuerit, statim adest.
His young ones, also, sip up blood: and where the slain be, there is he.
