Job 39

God Speaks of Nature and Its Beings

1“Do you know the time the 12mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the 3deer?2Can you count the months they fulfill, Or do you know the time they give birth?3They kneel down, they bring forth their young, They get rid of their labor pains.4Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field; They leave and do not return to them.

5“Who sent out the 4wild donkey free? And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,6To whom I gave 5the wilderness for a home And the salt land for his dwelling place?7He scorns the tumult of the city, The shoutings of the driver he does not hear.8He explores the mountains for his pasture And searches after every green thing.9Will the 6wild ox consent to serve you, Or will he spend the night at your manger?10Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with 7ropes, Or will he harrow the valleys after you?11Will you trust him because his strength is great And leave your labor to him?12Will you have faith in him that he will return your 8grain And gather it from your threshing floor?

13“The ostriches’ wings flap joyously With the pinion and plumage of 9love,14For she abandons her eggs to the earth And warms them in the dust,15And she forgets that a foot may crush 10them, Or that a wild beast may trample 11them.16She treats her young 12cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor be in vain, she is 13unconcerned;17Because God has made her forget wisdom, And has not given her a share of understanding.18When she lifts herself 14on high, She laughs at the horse and his rider.

19“Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?20Do you make him 15leap like the locust? His majestic 16snorting is terrible.2117He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He 18goes out to meet the weapons.22He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; And he does not turn back from the sword.23The quiver rattles against him, The flashing spear and javelin.24With shaking and rage he 19races over the ground, And he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet.25As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’ And he scents the battle from afar, And the thunder of the captains and the war cry.

26“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, Stretching his wings toward the south?27Is it at your 20command that the eagle mounts up And makes 21his nest on high?28On the cliff he dwells and lodges, Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.29From there he 22spies out food; His eyes see it from afar.30His young ones also suck up blood; And 23where the slain are, there is he.”