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?

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

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

⁴ Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up in the open field; they go forth, and return not again,

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

⁶ Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place.

⁷ He scorneth the tumult of the city, neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver.

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

⁹ Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? or will he abide by thy crib?

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

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

¹² Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather the corn of thy threshingfloor?

¹³ The wing of the ostrich rejoiceth, but are her pinions and feathers kindly?

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

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

¹⁶ 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 hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

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

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

²⁰ Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? the glory of his snorting is terrible.

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

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

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

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

²⁵ As oft as the trumpet soundeth he saith, Aha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

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

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

²⁸ She dwelleth on the rock, and hath her lodging there, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong hold.

²⁹ From thence she spieth out the prey; her eyes behold it afar off.

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