| Chapter 39 |
1 |
Knowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth among the rocks, or hast thou observed the hinds when they fawn?
|
2 |
Hast thou numbered the months of their conceiving, or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
|
3 |
They bow themselves to bring forth young, and they cast them, and send forth roarings.
|
4 |
Their young are weaned and go to feed : they go forth, and return not to them.
|
5 |
Who hath sent out the wild ass free, and who hath loosed his bonds?
|
6 |
To whom I have given a house in the wilderness, and his dwellings in the barren land.
|
7 |
He scorneth the multitude of the city, he heareth not the cry of the driver.
|
8 |
He looketh round about the mountains of his pasture, and seeketh for every green thing.
|
9 |
Shall the rhinoceros be willing to serve thee, or will he stay at thy crib?
|
10 |
Canst thou bind the rhinoceros with thy thong to plough, or will he break the clods of the valleys after thee?
|
11 |
Wilt thou have confidence in his great strength, and leave thy labours to him?
|
12 |
Wilt thou trust him that he will render thee the seed, and gather it into thy barnfloor?
|
13 |
The wing of the ostrich is like the wings of the heron, and of the hawk.
|
14 |
When she leaveth her eggs on the earth, thou perhaps wilt warm them in the dust.
|
15 |
She forgetteth that the foot may tread upon them, or that the beasts of the field may break them.
|
16 |
She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers, she hath laboured in vain, no fear constraining her.
|
17 |
For God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he given her understanding.
|
18 |
When time shall be, she setteth up her wings on high : she scorneth the horse and his rider.
|
19 |
Wilt thou give strength to the horse, or clothe his neck with neighing?
|
20 |
Wilt thou lift him up like the locusts? the glory of his nostrils is terror.
|
21 |
He breaketh up the earth with his hoof, he pranceth boldly, he goeth forward to meet armed men.
|
22 |
He despiseth fear, he turneth not his back to the sword,
|
23 |
Above him shall the quiver rattle, the spear and shield shall glitter.
|
24 |
Chasing and raging he swalloweth the ground, neither doth he make account when the noise of the trumpet soundeth.
|
25 |
When he heareth the trumpet he saith : Ha, ha : he smelleth the battle afar off, the encouraging of the captains, and the shouting of the army.
|
26 |
Doth the hawk wax feathered by thy wisdom, spreading her wings to the south?
|
27 |
Will the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest in high places?
|
28 |
She abideth among the rocks, and dwelleth among cragged flints, and stony hills, where there is no access.
|
29 |
From thence she looketh for the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
|
30 |
Her young ones shall suck up blood : and wheresoever the carcass shall be, she is immediately there.
|
31 |
And the Lord went on, and said to Job :
|
32 |
Shall he that contendeth with God be so easily silenced? surely he that reproveth God, ought to answer him.
|
33 |
Then Job answered the Lord, and said :
|
34 |
One thing I have spoken, which I wish I had not said : and another, to which I will add no more.
|