Online Bible

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 bring forth 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 out the ^awild donkey free?And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,6 To whom I gave ^athe wilderness for a homeAnd the salt land for his dwelling place?7 “He scorns the tumult of the city,The shoutings of the driver he does not hear.8 “He explores the mountains for his pastureAnd searches after every green thing.9 “Will the ^awild ox consent to serve you,Or will he spend the night at your manger?10 “Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with ¹ropes,Or will he harrow the valleys after you?11 “Will you trust him because his strength is greatAnd 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 ostriches’ wings flap joyouslyWith the pinion and plumage 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 beast may trample ²them.16 “She treats her young ^acruelly, as if they were not hers;Though her labor be in vain, she is ¹unconcerned;17 Because God has made her forget wisdom,And has not given her a share of understanding.18 “When she lifts herself ¹on 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 the locust?His majestic ^bsnorting is terrible.21 “¹He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;He ^agoes out to meet the weapons.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 “With shaking and rage he ¹races over the ground,And he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet.25 “As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’And he scents 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 mounts upAnd makes ^ahis nest on high?28 “On the cliff he dwells and lodges,Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.29 “From there he ^aspies out food;His eyes see it from afar.30 “His young ones also suck up blood;And ^awhere the slain are, there is he.”

“Do you know the time the ¹^amountain goats give birth?Do you keep watch over 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 bring forth their young;They send out their labor pains.4 “Their children 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?And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,6 For whom I have set ^athe desert plain as a homeAnd the salt land as his dwelling place?7 “He laughs at the tumult of the city;The shoutings of the driver he does not hear.8 “He explores the mountains for his pastureAnd searches after every green thing.9 “Will the ^awild ox consent to serve you,Or will he spend the night at your manger?10 “Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with ¹ropes,Or will he harrow the valleys after you?11 “Will you trust him because his power is greatAnd leave your labor to him?12 “Will you believe him that he will return your seed of grainAnd gather it from your threshing floor?

13 “The ostriches’ wings flap joyouslyBut are they the pinion and plumage of a ¹stork?14 For she leaves her eggs to the earthAnd warms them in the dust,15 And she forgets that a foot may crush ¹them,Or that a beast of the field may trample ²them.16 “She treats her children ^acruelly, as if they were not hers;Though her labor be empty, she is without dread,17 Because God has made her forget wisdom,And has not given her a share of understanding.18 “When she raises herself up 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 the locust?His splendid ^bsnorting is terrible.21 “¹He paws in the valley and rejoices in his power;He ^agoes out to meet the weapons.22 “He laughs at dread 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 “With shaking and rage he ¹races over the ground,And he does not ²stand still at the sound of the trumpet.25 “As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’And he scents the battle from afar,And the thunder of the commanders and the shout of war.

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 goes on highAnd raises ^ahis nest high?28 “On the cliff he dwells and lodges,Upon the rocky crag, a fortress.29 “From there he ¹^aspies out food;His eyes see it from afar.30 “His young ones also suck up blood;And ^awhere the slain are, there is he.”