Chapter 39

  Knowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth among the rocks, or hast thou observed the hinds when they fawn?  

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  Hast thou numbered the months of their conceiving, or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?  

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  They bow themselves to bring forth young, and they cast them, and send forth roarings.  

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  Their young are weaned and go to feed : they go forth, and return not to them.  

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  Who hath sent out the wild ass free, and who hath loosed his bonds?  

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  To whom I have given a house in the wilderness, and his dwellings in the barren land.  

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  He scorneth the multitude of the city, he heareth not the cry of the driver.  

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  He looketh round about the mountains of his pasture, and seeketh for every green thing.  

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  Shall the rhinoceros be willing to serve thee, or will he stay at thy crib?  

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  Canst thou bind the rhinoceros with thy thong to plough, or will he break the clods of the valleys after thee?  

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  Wilt thou have confidence in his great strength, and leave thy labours to him?  

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  Wilt thou trust him that he will render thee the seed, and gather it into thy barnfloor?  

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  The wing of the ostrich is like the wings of the heron, and of the hawk.  

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  When she leaveth her eggs on the earth, thou perhaps wilt warm them in the dust.  

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  She forgetteth that the foot may tread upon them, or that the beasts of the field may break them.  

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  She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers, she hath laboured in vain, no fear constraining her.  

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  For God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he given her understanding.  

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  When time shall be, she setteth up her wings on high : she scorneth the horse and his rider.  

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  Wilt thou give strength to the horse, or clothe his neck with neighing?  

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  Wilt thou lift him up like the locusts? the glory of his nostrils is terror.  

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  He breaketh up the earth with his hoof, he pranceth boldly, he goeth forward to meet armed men.  

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  He despiseth fear, he turneth not his back to the sword,  

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  Above him shall the quiver rattle, the spear and shield shall glitter.  

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  Chasing and raging he swalloweth the ground, neither doth he make account when the noise of the trumpet soundeth.  

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  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.  

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  Doth the hawk wax feathered by thy wisdom, spreading her wings to the south?  

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  Will the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest in high places?  

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  She abideth among the rocks, and dwelleth among cragged flints, and stony hills, where there is no access.  

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  From thence she looketh for the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.  

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  Her young ones shall suck up blood : and wheresoever the carcass shall be, she is immediately there.  

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  And the Lord went on, and said to Job :  

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  Shall he that contendeth with God be so easily silenced? surely he that reproveth God, ought to answer him.  

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  Then Job answered the Lord, and said :  

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  One thing I have spoken, which I wish I had not said : and another, to which I will add no more.  

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