Online Bible

Dios habla de la naturaleza y sus criaturas

¿Conoces tú el tiempo en que paren las cabras monteses¹^a?¿Has observado el parto de las ciervas^b?2 ¿Puedes contar los meses de su gestación,o conoces el tiempo en que han de parir?3 Se encorvan, paren sus crías,y se libran de sus dolores de parto.4 Sus crías se fortalecen, crecen en campo abierto;se van y no vuelven a ellas.

5 ¿Quién dejó en libertad al asno montés^a?¿Y quién soltó las ataduras del asno veloz,6 al cual di por hogar el desierto^a,y por morada la tierra salada^b?7 Se burla del tumulto de la ciudad,no escucha los gritos del arriero.8 Explora los montes buscando su pasto,y anda tras toda hierba verde.9 ¿Consentirá en servirte el búfalo^a,o pasará la noche en tu pesebre?10 ¿Puedes atar al búfalo con coyundas¹ para el surco,o rastrillará los valles en pos de ti?11 ¿Confiarás en él por ser grande su fuerzay le confiarás tu labor?12 ¿Tendrás fe en él de que te devolverá tu grano¹,y de que lo recogerá de tu era?

13 Baten alegres las alas del avestruz,¿acaso con el ala y plumaje del amor¹?14 Porque abandona sus huevos en la tierra,y sobre el polvo los calienta;15 se olvida de que algún pie los¹ puede aplastar,o una bestia salvaje los² puede pisotear.16 Trata a sus hijos con crueldad^a, como si no fueran suyos;aunque su trabajo sea en vano, le es indiferente¹;17 porque Dios le ha hecho olvidar la sabiduría,y no le ha dado su porción de inteligencia.18 Pero cuando se levanta en alto¹,se burla del caballo y de su jinete.

19 ¿Das tú al caballo su fuerza?¿Revistes su cuello de crines?20 ¿Le haces saltar^a como la langosta?Terrible es su formidable resoplido^b;21 escarba¹ en el valle, y se regocija en su fuerza;sale al encuentro de las armas^a.22 Se burla del temor y no se acobarda,ni retrocede ante la espada.23 Resuena contra él la aljaba,la lanza reluciente y la jabalina.24 Con ímpetu y furor corre sobre¹ la tierra;y no se está quieto al sonido de la trompeta.25 Cada vez que la trompeta suena, como que dice: «¡Ea!»,y desde lejos olfatea la batalla,las voces atronadoras de los capitanes y el grito de guerra.

26 ¿Acaso por tu sabiduría se eleva el gavilán,extendiendo sus alas hacia el sur?27 ¿Acaso a tu mandato¹ se remonta el águilay hace en las alturas su nido^a?28 En la peña mora y se aloja,sobre la cima del despeñadero¹, lugar inaccesible.29 Desde allí acecha la presa¹^a;desde muy lejos sus ojos la divisan.30 Sus polluelos chupan la sangre;y donde hay muertos, allí está ella^a.

God Speaks of Nature and Its Beings

“Do you know the time when the ^awild goats of the rock give birth to their young?Do you observe the calving of the ^bdeer?2 “Can you count the months that they ¹carry offspring,Or do you know the time when they give birth?3 “They kneel down, they bring forth their young,They cast out their labor pains.4 “Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field;They leave and do not return to them.

5 “Who sent out the ^awild donkey free from dependence on man?And who has loosed the bonds of the wild donkey to survive in the wild,6 To whom I gave ^athe wilderness as his homeAnd the salt land as his dwelling place?7 “He scorns the tumult of the city,And does not hear the shouting of the taskmaster.8 “He explores the mountains as his pastureAnd searches after every green thing.9 “Will the ^awild ox be willing to serve you,Or remain beside your manger at night?10 “Can you bind the wild ox with a harness to the plow in the furrow?Or will he plow the valleys for you?11 “Will you trust him because his strength is greatAnd leave your labor to him?12 “Will you have faith and depend on him to return your grainAnd gather it from your threshing floor?

13 “The flightless wings of the ostrich wave joyously;With the pinion (shackles, fetters) and plumage of love,14 For she leaves her eggs on the groundAnd warms them in the dust,15 Forgetting that a foot may crush them,Or that the wild beast may trample them.16 “She treats her young ^acruelly, as if they were not hers;Though her labor is in vain because she is unconcerned for the safety of her brood,17 For God has made her forget wisdom,And has not given her a share of understanding.18 “Yet when she lifts herself ¹on high,So swift is she that she laughs at the horse and his rider.

19 “Have you given the horse his might?Have you clothed his neck with quivering and a shaking mane?20 “Have you Job made him ^aleap like a locust?The majesty of his ^bsnorting nostrils is terrible.21 “He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength;He ^agoes out to meet the weapons of armed men.22 “He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;And in battle he does not turn back from the sword.23 “The quiver rattles against him,As do the flashing spear and the lance of his rider.24 “With fierceness and rage he races to devour the ground,And he does not stand still at the sound of the war trumpet.25 “As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’And he smells the battle from far away,And senses the thunder of the captains and the war cry.

26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,Stretching his wings toward the south as winter approaches?27 “Is it at your command that the eagle mounts upAnd makes ^ahis nest on high in an inaccessible place?28 “On the cliff he dwells and remains securely,Upon the point of the rock and the inaccessible stronghold.29 “From there he ^aspies out the prey;His eyes see it from far away.30 “His young ones suck up blood;And ^awhere the slain are, there is he.”

God Speaks of Nature and Its Beings

“Do you know the time the ¹^amountain goats give birth?Do you observe the calving of the ^bdeer?2 “Can you count the months they fulfill,Or do you know the time they give birth?3 “They kneel down, they deliver their young,They get rid of their labor pains.4 “Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field;They leave and do not return to them.

5 “Who sent the ^awild donkey out free?And who opened the bonds of the swift donkey,6 To whom I gave ^athe wilderness as his home,And the salt land as his dwelling place?7 “He laughs at the turmoil of the city,He does not hear the shouting of the taskmaster.8 “He explores the mountains of his pasture,And searches after every green thing.9 “Will the ^awild bull be willing to serve you,Or will he spend the night at your feeding trough?10 “Can you tie down the wild bull in a furrow with ¹ropes,Or will he ²plow the valleys after you?11 “Will you trust him because his strength is great,And leave your labor to him?12 “Will you have faith in him that he will return your ¹grainAnd gather it from your threshing floor?

13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyously,With the pinion and feathers of ¹love,14 For she abandons her eggs to the earthAnd warms them in the dust,15 And she forgets that a foot may crush ¹them,Or that a wild animal may trample ²them.16 “She treats her young ^acruelly, as if they were not hers;Though her labor is for nothing, she is ¹unconcerned,17 Because God has made her forget wisdom,And has not given her a share of understanding.18 “When she rushes away on high,She laughs at the horse and his rider.

19 “Do you give the horse his might?Do you clothe his neck with a mane?20 “Do you make him ^aleap like locusts?His majestic ^bsnorting is frightening.21 “¹He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;He ^agoes out to meet the battle.22 “He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;And he does not turn back from the sword.23 “The quiver rattles against him,The flashing spear and javelin.24 “He ¹races over the ground with a roar and fury,And he does not stand still when he hears the sound of the trumpet.25 “As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’And he senses the battle from afar,And the thunder of the captains and the war cry.

26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,Stretching his wings toward the south?27 “Is it at your ¹command that the eagle flies high,And makes ^ahis nest on high?28 “He dwells and spends his nights on the cliff,On the rocky cliff, an inaccessible place.29 “From there he ^atracks food;His eyes look at it from afar.30 “His young ones also lick up blood greedily;And ^awhere the slain are, there he is.”