Job 39

1 “Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?

Know you the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or can you mark when the hinds do calve?

2 Can you count the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?

Can you number the months that they fulfill? or know you the time when they bring forth?

3 They bow themselves. They bear their young. They end their labor pains.

They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.

4 Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and don’t return again.

Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not to them.

5 “Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,

Who has sent out the wild ass free? or who has loosed the bands of the wild ass?

6 whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?

Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.

7 He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.

He scorns the multitude of the city, neither regards he the crying of the driver.

8 The range of the mountains is his pasture. He searches after every green thing.

The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing.

9 “Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?

Will the unicorn be willing to serve you, or abide by your crib?

10 Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?

Can you bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after you?

11 Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?

Will you trust him, because his strength is great? or will you leave your labor to him?

12 Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor?

Will you believe him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather it into your barn?

13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the feathers and plumage of love?

Gave you the goodly wings to the peacocks? or wings and feathers to the ostrich?

14 For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,

Which leaves her eggs in the earth, and warms them in dust,

15 and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them.

And forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

16 She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,

She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain without fear;

17 because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.

Because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.

18 When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.

What time she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.

19 “Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?

Have you given the horse strength? have you clothed his neck with thunder?

20 Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.

Can you make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.

He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength: he goes on to meet the armed men.

22 He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.

He mocks at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turns he back from the sword.

23 The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.

The quiver rattles against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

24 He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.

He swallows the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believes he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

25 As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

He says among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 “Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?

Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?

Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make her nest on high?

28 On the cliff he dwells and makes his home, on the point of the cliff and the stronghold.

She dwells and stays on the rock, on the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

29 From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.

From there she seeks the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

30 His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”

Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.