Job 39

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

Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou 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?

Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou 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, they cast out their fruit.

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

Their young ones wax strong, they grow up in the open field; they go forth, and return not again.

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

Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath 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 salt land his dwelling-place.

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

He scorneth the tumult of the city, neither heareth he the shoutings 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 searcheth after every green thing.

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

Will the wild-ox be willing to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?

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

Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

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

Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

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

Wilt thou rely on him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather the corn of thy threshing-floor?

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

The wing of the ostrich beateth joyously; but are her pinions and feathers the kindly stork's?

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

For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

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

And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may trample 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 if they were not hers; though her labour be in vain, she is without fear;

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

Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath He imparted to her understanding.

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

When the time cometh, she raiseth her wings on high, and scorneth the horse and his rider.

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

Hast thou given the horse his strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with fierceness?

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

Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible.

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

He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength; he goeth out to meet the clash of arms.

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

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

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

The quiver rattleth upon him, the glittering spear and the javelin.

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

He swalloweth the ground with storm and rage; neither believeth he that it is the voice of the horn.

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

As oft as he heareth the horn he saith: 'Ha, ha!' and he smelleth 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?

Doth the hawk soar by thy 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?

Doth the vulture mount up at thy 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 dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the stronghold.

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

From thence she spieth out the prey; her eyes behold it 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.