| Chapter 39 |
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 hears he 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 pinions 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.' --
|