Job 39
1 Numquid nosti tempus partus ibicum in petris, vel parturientes cervas observasti?
Knowest thou the season when the Wild Goats of the crags beget? The bringing forth of the hinds, canst thou observe?
2 Dinumerasti menses conceptus earum, et scisti tempus partus earum?
Canst thou count the months they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they give birth?
3 Incurvantur ad foetum, et pariunt, et rugitus emittunt.
They kneel down, their young, they bring forth; their pains, they throw off;
4 Separantur filii earum, et pergunt ad pastum: egrediuntur, et non revertuntur ad eas.
Their young become strong, they grow up in the open field, they go out, and return not unto them.
5 Quis dimisit onagrum liberum, et vincula eius quis solvit?
Who hath sent forth the Wild Ass free? And, the bands of the swift-runner, who hath loosed?
6 Cui dedi in solitudine domum, et tabernacula eius in terra salsuginis.
Whose house I have made the waste plain, and his dwellings, the land of salt:
7 Contemnit multitudinem civitatis, clamorem exactoris non audit.
He laugheth at the throng of the city, The shoutings of the driver, he heareth not;
8 Circumspicit montes pascuae suae, et virentia quaeque perquirit.
He espieth the mountains, his pasture-ground, and, after every green thing, maketh search.
9 Numquid volet rhinoceros servire tibi, aut morabitur ad praesepe tuum?
Will the Wild-Ox be pleased to be thy servant? or lodge for the night by thy crib?
10 Numquid alligabis rhinocerota ad arandum loro tuo? aut confringet glebas vallium post te?
Canst thou bind the wild-ox, so that—with the ridge—shall run his cord? Or will he harrow the furrows after thee?
11 Numquid fiduciam habebis in magna fortitudine eius, et derelinques ei labores tuos?
Wilt thou trust in him, because of the greatness of his strength? Wilt thou leave unto him thy toil?
12 Numquid credes illi quod sementem reddat tibi, et aream tuam congreget?
Wilt thou put faith in him, that he will bring back thy seed? and that, corn for thy threshing-floor, he will gather?
13 Penna struthionis similis est pennis herodii, et accipitris.
The wing of the Ostrich that waveth itself joyfully, Is it the pinion of lovingkindness or the plumage?
14 Quando derelinquit ova sua in terra, tu forsitan in pulvere calefacies ea?
For she leaveth—to the earth—her eggs, and, on the dust, she letteth them be warmed;
15 Obliviscitur quod pes conculcet ea, aut bestia agri conterat.
And hath forgotten, that, a foot, may crush them, —or, the wild beast, tread on them!
16 Duratur ad filios suos quasi non sint sui, frustra laboravit nullo timore cogente.
Dealing hardly with her young, as none-of-hers, In vain, her labour, without dread.
17 Privavit enim eam Deus sapientia, nec dedit illi intelligentiam.
For GOD hath suffered her to forget wisdom, and given her no share in understanding.
18 Cum tempus fuerit, in altum alas erigit: deridet equum et ascensorem eius.
What time, on high, she vibrateth her wings, she laugheth at the horse and his rider.
19 Numquid praebebis equo fortitudinem, aut circumdabis collo eius hinnitum?
Couldst thou give—to the Horse—strength? Couldst thou clothe his neck with the quivering mane?
20 Numquid suscitabis eum quasi locustas? gloria narium eius terror.
Couldst thou cause him to leap like a locust? The majesty of his snort, is a terror!
21 Terram ungula fodit, exultat audacter: in occursum pergit armatis.
He diggeth into the plain, and rejoiceth in vigour, he goeth forth to meet armour;
22 Contemnit pavorem, nec cedit gladio.
He laugheth at dread, and is not dismayed, neither turneth he back, from the face of the sword;
23 Super ipsum sonabit pharetra, vibrabit hasta et clypeus.
Against him, whiz [the arrows of] the quiver, the flashing head of spear and javelin;
24 Fervens et fremens sorbet terram, nec reputat tubae sonare clangorem.
With stamping and rage, he drinketh up the ground, —he will not stand still when the horn soundeth;
25 Ubi audierit buccinam, dicit: Vah, procul odoratur bellum, exhortationem ducum, et ululatum exercitus.
As oft as the horn soundeth, he saith, Aha! And, from afar, he scenteth the battle, —the thunder of commanders and the war-cry.
26 Numquid per sapientiam tuam plumescit accipiter, expandens alas suas ad Austrum?
Is it, by thine understanding, that the Bird of Passage betaketh him to his pinions? spreadeth out his wings to the south?
27 Numquid ad praeceptum tuum elevabitur aquila, et in arduis ponet nidum suum?
Or, at thy bidding, that the Eagle mounteth, and that he setteth on high his nest?
28 In petris manet, et in praeruptis silicibus commoratur, atque inaccessis rupibus.
The crag, he inhabiteth, and so lodgeth himself, on the tooth of the crag, and high fort;
29 Inde contemplatur escam, et de longe oculi eius prospiciunt,
From thence, he searcheth out food, far away, his eyes do pierce;
30 Pulli eius lambent sanguinem: et ubicumque cadaver fuerit, statim adest.
And, his young brood, suck up blood, and, where the slain are, there, is he.
