Chapter 39

Knowest¹ thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth?² [or] canst thou mark⁴ when the hinds do calve?³¹

Canst thou number⁴ the months [that] they fulfil?¹⁷ or knowest¹ thou the time when they bring forth?²

They bow⁴ themselves, they bring forth¹⁷ their young ones, they cast out¹⁷ their sorrows.

Their young ones are in good liking,⁴ they grow up⁴ with corn; they go forth,¹ and return¹ not unto them.

Who hath sent out¹⁴ the wild ass free? or who hath loosed¹⁴ the bands of the wild ass?

Whose house I have made¹ the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.

He scorneth⁴ the multitude of the city, neither regardeth⁴ he the crying of the driver.⁶

The range of the mountains [is] his pasture, and he searcheth⁴ after every green thing.

Will the unicorn be willing⁴ to serve² thee, or abide⁴ by thy crib?

Canst thou bind⁴ the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow¹⁷ the valleys after thee?

Wilt thou trust⁴ him, because his strength [is] great? or wilt thou leave⁴ thy labour to him?

Wilt thou believe⁵⁵ him, that he will bring^{55 7725 4} home thy seed, and gather⁴ [it into] thy barn?

[Gavest thou] the goodly wings unto the peacocks?⁸ or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

Which leaveth⁴ her eggs in the earth, and warmeth¹⁷ them in dust,

And forgetteth⁴ that the foot may crush⁴ them, or that the wild beast may break⁴ them.

She is hardened⁵² against her young ones, as though [they were] not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;

Because God hath deprived⁵² her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted¹ to her understanding.

What time she lifteth up⁵⁵ herself on high, she scorneth⁴ the horse and his rider.⁶

Hast thou given⁴ the horse strength? hast thou clothed⁵⁵ his neck with thunder?

Canst thou make him afraid⁵⁵ as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils [is] terrible.

He paweth⁴ in the valley, and rejoiceth⁴ in [his] strength: he goeth on⁴ to meet² the armed men.

He mocketh⁴ at fear, and is not affrighted;¹¹ neither turneth he back⁴ from the sword.

The quiver rattleth⁴ against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

He swalloweth¹⁷ the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth⁵⁵ he that [it is] the sound of the trumpet.

He saith⁴ among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth⁵⁵ the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

Doth the hawk fly⁵⁵ by thy wisdom, [and] stretch⁴ her wings toward the south?

Doth the eagle mount up⁵⁵ at thy command, and make her nest on high?⁵⁵

She dwelleth⁴ and abideth¹¹⁸ on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

From thence she seeketh¹ the prey, [and] her eyes behold⁵⁵ afar off.

Her young ones also suck up¹⁷ blood: and where the slain [are], there [is] she.