Job 39

1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

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

2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

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

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

They bow themselves. They bear their young. They end their labour pains.

4 Their young ones are become strong, they grow strong with grain; they go forth, and return not to them.

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

5 Who hath sent out the wild donkey free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild donkey?

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

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

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

7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.

He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear 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 searches after every green thing.

9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

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

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

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

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

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

12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

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

13 Gavest thou the goodly wings to the peacocks? or wings and feathers to the ostrich?

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

14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust,

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

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

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

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

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

17 Because God hath withheld wisdom from her, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

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

18 When she lifteth herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

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

19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

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

20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

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

21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

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

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

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

23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

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

24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

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

25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

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

26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

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

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

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

28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

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

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

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

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

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