Job 39

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

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

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

4Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?footnote c

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

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

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

17Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The LORD Speaks of His Creation

1“Do you know when mountain goats give birth?Have you watched the doe bear her fawn? 2Can you count the months they are pregnant?Do you know the time they give birth? 3They crouch down and bring forth their young;they deliver their newborn. 4Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field;they leave and do not return.

5Who set the wild donkey free?Who released the swift donkey from the harness? 6I made the wilderness his homeand the salt flats his dwelling. 7He scorns the tumult of the cityand never hears the shouts of a driver. 8He roams the mountains for pasture,searching for any green thing.

9Will the wild ox consent to serve you?Will he stay by your manger at night? 10Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness?Will he plow the valleys behind you? 11Can you rely on his great strength?Will you leave your hard work to him? 12Can you trust him to bring in your grainand gather it to your threshing floor?

13The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,but cannot match the pinionsfootnote aand feathers of the stork. 14For she leaves her eggs on the groundand lets them warm in the sand. 15She forgets that a foot may crush them,or a wild animal may trample them. 16She treats her young harshly, as if not her own,with no concern that her labor was in vain. 17For God has deprived her of wisdom;He has not endowed her with understanding. 18Yet when she proudly spreads her wings,she laughs at the horse and its rider.

19Do you give strength to the horseor adorn his neck with a mane? 20Do you make him leap like a locust,striking terror with his proud snorting? 21He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength;he charges into battle. 22He laughs at fear, frightened of nothing;he does not turn back from the sword. 23A quiver rattles at his side,along with a flashing spear and lance.footnote b 24Trembling with excitement, he devours the distance;he cannot stand still when the ram’s horn sounds. 25At the blast of the horn, he snorts with fervor.footnote cHe catches the scent of battle from afar,the shouts of captains and the cry of war.

26Does the hawk take flight by your understandingand spread his wings toward the south? 27Does the eagle soar at your commandand make his nest on high? 28He dwells on a cliff and lodges there;his stronghold is on a rocky crag. 29From there he spies out food;his eyes see it from afar. 30His young ones feast on blood;and where the slain are, there he is.”