✧1Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? [Or] canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? ✧2Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? ✧3They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, They cast out their pains. ✧4Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field; They go forth, and return not again. ✧5Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bonds of the swift ass, ✧6Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place? ✧7He scorneth the tumult of the city, Neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver. ✧8The range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searcheth after every green thing. ✧
American Standard Version (ASV). American Standard Version (1901). Public domain.
9
Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?
✧10Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
✧11Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave to him thy labor?
✧12Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather [the grain] of thy threshing-floor?
✧13The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; [But] are they the pinions and plumage of love?
✧14For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, And warmeth them in the dust,
✧15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them.
✧16She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, [she is] without fear;
✧17Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
✧18What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider.
✧19Hast thou given the horse [his] might? Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?
✧20Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible.
✧21He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: He goeth out to meet the armed men.
✧22He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither turneth he back from the sword.
✧23The quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin.
✧24He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; Neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet.
✧25As oft as the trumpet [soundeth] he saith, Aha! And he smelleth the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
✧26Is it by thy wisdom that the hawk soareth, [And] stretcheth her wings toward the south?
✧27Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high?
✧28On the cliff she dwelleth, and maketh her home, Upon the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.
✧29From thence she spieth out the prey; Her eyes behold it afar off.
✧30Her young ones also suck up blood: And where the slain are, there is she.