39
1 “Do
you know the
time when the
mountain goats
give birth?
Do you watch
when the doe
bears fawns?
2 Can
you count the
months that they
fulfill?
Or do you know
the time when
they give birth?
3 They
bow themselves. They bear their
young.
They end their labor
pains.
4 Their
young ones become
strong.
They grow up
in the open field.
They go out,
and don’t return
again.
5 “Who
has set the
wild donkey free?
Or who
has loosened the
bonds of the
swift donkey,
6 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.
8 The
range of the
mountains is his
pasture.
He searches after
every green thing.
9 “Will
the wild ox
be content to
serve you?
Or will he
stay by
your feeding trough?
10 Can you hold
the wild ox
in the furrow
with his harness?
Or will he till the valleys after
you?
11 Will
you trust him,
because his
strength is great?
Or will you
leave to him
your labor?
12 Will
you confide in him,
that he will
bring home your
seed,
and gather the
grain of your
threshing floor?
13 “The wings
of the ostrich wave proudly,
but are they the feathers and
plumage of love?
14 For
she leaves her
eggs on the
earth,
warms them in
the dust,
15 and
forgets that the
foot may crush
them,
or that the
wild animal may
trample them.
16 She deals
harshly with her
young ones, as
if they were
not hers.
Though her labor
is in vain,
she is without
fear,
17 because
God has deprived
her of wisdom,
neither has he
imparted to
her understanding.
18 When
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?
20 Have you 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.
22 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.
24 He eats up
the ground with
fierceness and
rage,
neither does
he stand still at
the sound 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.
26 “Is
it by your 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?
28 On
the cliff he
dwells and makes
his home,
on the point of
the cliff and
the stronghold.
29 From
there he spies
out the prey.
His eyes see
it afar off.
30 His young
ones also suck up
blood.
Where the slain
are, there he
is.”