Job 39

1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? dost thou mark the calving of the hinds?

Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou observe when the hinds are in labor?

2 Dost thou number the months that they fulfil? and knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

Canst thou number the months they fulfill, And know the season when they bring forth?

3 They bow themselves, they give birth to their young ones, they cast out their pains;

They bow themselves; they bring forth their young; They cast forth their pains.

4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field, they go forth, and return not unto them.

Their young ones are strong; they grow up in the fields; They go away, and return not to them.

5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? and who hath loosed the bands of the onager,

Who hath sent forth the wild ass free? Who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass,

6 Whose house I made the wilderness, and the salt plain his dwellings?

To whom I have given the wilderness for his house, And the barren land for his dwelling-place?

7 He laugheth at the tumult of the city, and heareth not the shouts of the driver;

He scorneth the tumult of the city, And heedeth not the shouting of the driver;

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

The range of the mountains is his pasture; He seeketh after every green thing,

9 Will the buffalo be willing to serve thee, or will he lodge by thy crib?

Will the wild-ox consent to serve thee? Will he pass the night at thy crib?

10 Canst thou bind the buffalo with his cord in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

Canst thou bind the wild-ox with the harness to the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

11 Wilt thou put confidence in him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

Wilt thou rely upon him because his strength is great, And commit to him thy labor?

12 Wilt thou trust him to bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy threshing-floor?

Wilt thou trust him to bring home thy grain, And gather in thy harvest?

13 The wing of the ostrich beats joyously — But is it the stork's pinion and plumage?

The wing of the ostrich moveth joyfully; But is it with loving pinion and feathers?

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

Nay, she layeth her eggs on the ground; She warmeth them in the dust,

15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the beast of the field may trample them.

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

16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her labour is in vain, without her concern.

She is cruel to her young, as if they were not hers; Her labor is in vain, yet she feareth not;

17 For God hath deprived her of wisdom, and hath not furnished her with understanding.

Because God hath denied her wisdom, And hath not given her understanding.

18 What time she lasheth herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

Yet when she lasheth herself up on high, She laugheth at the horse and his rider.

19 Hast thou given strength to the horse? hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?

Hast thou given the horse strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with his trembling mane?

20 Dost thou make him to leap as a locust? His majestic snorting is terrible.

Hast thou taught him to bound like the locust? How majestic his snorting! how terrible!

21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in [his] strength; he goeth forth to meet the armed host.

He paweth in the valley; he exulteth in his strength, And rusheth into the midst of arms.

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

He laugheth at fear; he trembleth not, And turneth not back from the sword.

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

Against him rattle the quiver, The flaming spear, and the lance.

24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage, and cannot contain himself at the sound of the trumpet:

With rage and fury he devoureth the ground; He will not believe that the trumpet soundeth.

25 At the noise of the trumpets he saith, Aha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

At every blast of the trumpet, he saith, Aha! And snuffeth the battle afar off, —The thunder of the captains, and the war-shout.

26 Doth the hawk fly by thine intelligence, [and] stretch his wings toward the south?

Is it by thy wisdom that the hawk flieth, And spreadeth his wings toward the south?

27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make his nest on high?

Doth the eagle soar at thy command, And build his nest on high?

28 He inhabiteth the rock and maketh his dwelling on the point of the cliff, and the fastness:

He dwelleth and lodgeth upon the rock, Upon the peak of the rock, and the stronghold.

29 From thence he spieth out the prey, his eyes look into the distance;

From thence he spieth out prey; His eyes discern it from afar.

30 And his young ones suck up blood; and where the slain are, there is he.

His young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there is he.