Job 39

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

Do thou know the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or can thou mark when the hinds do calve?

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

Can thou number the months that they fulfill? Or do thou know the time when they bring forth?

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

They bow themselves. They bring forth their young. They cast out their pains.

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

Their young ones become 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 has sent out the wild donkey free? Or who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey

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

whose home 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 scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear 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 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 wild-ox be content 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?

Can 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 labour?

Will thou trust him because his strength is great? Or will thou leave to him thy labor?

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

Will thou confide in him that he will bring home thy seed, and gather the grain of thy threshing-floor?

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

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

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

For she leaves her eggs on the ground, and warms them in the dust.

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

And she forgets 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 labour is in vain, she is without fear,

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

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

because God has deprived her of wisdom, nor has he imparted understanding to her.

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

The 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 thou given the horse his might? Have thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?

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

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

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 out 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 dismayed. Neither does he turn back from the sword.

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

The quiver rattles against him, the flashing 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 swallows the ground with fierceness and rage, nor does he believe that it is the voice 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.

As often as the trumpet sounds he says, Aha! 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 towards the south?

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

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

Is it at thy command that the eagle mounts up, and makes 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 on the cliff, and makes her home upon the point of the cliff and the stronghold.

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

From there she spies 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.