1 | "Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? |
2 | Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth? |
3 | They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, they end their labor pains. |
4 | Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go forth, 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." |