Job 39

Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

1God said, "Do you know when wild mountain goats have their babies? Have you watched a deer give birth?"

2Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

2"Can you count the months until their babies come? Do you know the day they are born?"

3They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.

3"The mothers crouch down. Their babies are born. The pain is over."

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

4"The young ones get strong out in the open fields. Then they leave and do not come back."

5Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

5"Who let the wild donkey go free? Who took the ropes off him?"

6Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.

6"I gave him the empty desert for a home. He lives where the ground is dry and salty."

7He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.

7"He wants nothing to do with noisy towns. No driver shouts orders at him."

8The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

8"He walks the hills looking for food. He hunts for anything green to eat."

9Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

9"Will a wild ox agree to work for you? Will he sleep by your feed box?"

NoteThe King James Bible says "unicorn" here, but the animal is a wild ox: a huge, strong animal that nobody could tame.

10Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

10"Can you tie a rope on him and keep him plowing a straight line? Will he pull your plow through the valleys?"

11Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

11"He is very strong, but can you count on him? Would you hand him your hard work?"

12Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

12"Can you trust him to carry your grain home? Will he pile it up where you want it?"

13Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

13"The ostrich flaps her wings with joy. But they are not like the fine wings of a stork."

NoteThe King James Bible names a peacock here. The bird in the verse is really an ostrich, a tall bird that runs fast but cannot fly.

14Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

14"She lays her eggs on the ground. She lets the warm sand keep them warm."

15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

15"She forgets that a foot may step on them. She forgets a wild animal may crush them."

16She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;

16"She is rough with her chicks, as if they were not hers. It does not worry her if all her work is wasted."

17Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

17"That is because God did not give her wisdom. He did not give her good sense."

18What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

18"But when she jumps up and runs, she laughs at the horse and its rider."

19Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

19"Did you make the horse strong? Did you put the flowing hair on his neck?"

20Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

20"Do you make him jump like a grasshopper? His proud snort scares people."

21He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

21"He paws the ground and is glad he is strong. He runs straight into the battle."

22He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

22"He laughs at fear. Nothing scares him. He does not turn back from a sword."

23The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

23"Arrows rattle at his side. A shiny spear and a long spear flash beside him."

NoteA quiver is a case that holds arrows. Here it hangs on the rider, and it rattles as the horse runs.

24He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

24"He shakes with excitement and eats up the ground. When the horn blows, he cannot stand still."

25He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

25"When the horn blows, he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle far away. He hears the shouts of the leaders."

26Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

26"Does the hawk fly because you taught her? Does she spread her wings toward the south for you?"

27Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

27"Does the eagle fly up high because you told her to? Does she build her nest way up there for you?"

28She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

28"She lives on a high rock and stays there. Her safe home is on a steep cliff."

29From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

29"From up there she looks for food. Her eyes can see it far away."

30Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

30"Her young ones drink the blood of what she catches. Where dead bodies are, there she is."