Job 39
American Standard Version
39 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth?
Or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil?
Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young,
They cast out their pains.
4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field;
They go forth, and [a]return not again.
5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free?
Or who hath loosed the bonds of the swift ass,
6 Whose home I have made the wilderness,
And the salt land his dwelling-place?
7 He scorneth the tumult of the city,
Neither heareth he the shoutings of the [b]driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture,
And he searcheth after every green thing.
9 Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee?
Or will he abide by thy crib?
10 Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow?
Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great?
Or wilt thou leave to him thy labor?
12 Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed,
And gather the grain of thy threshing-floor?
13 The wings of the ostrich wave proudly;
But are they the pinions and plumage of [c]love?
14 For she leaveth her eggs on the earth,
And warmeth them in the dust,
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them,
Or that the wild beast may trample them.
16 She [d]dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers:
Though her labor be in vain, she is without fear;
17 Because God hath [e]deprived her of wisdom,
Neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
18 What time she [f]lifteth up herself on high,
She scorneth the horse and his rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse his might?
Hast thou clothed his neck with the [g]quivering mane?
20 Hast thou made him to leap as a locust?
The glory of his snorting is terrible.
21 [h]He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength:
He goeth out to meet [i]the armed men.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed;
Neither turneth he back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth [j]against him,
The flashing spear and the javelin.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage;
Neither [k]believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet.
25 As oft as the trumpet soundeth he saith, Aha!
And he smelleth the battle afar off,
The thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Is it by thy wisdom that the hawk soareth,
And stretcheth her wings toward the south?
27 Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up,
And maketh her nest on high?
28 On the cliff she dwelleth, and maketh her home,
Upon the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.
29 From thence she spieth out the prey;
Her eyes behold it afar off.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood:
And where the slain are, there is she.
Footnotes
- Job 39:4 Or, return not unto them
- Job 39:7 Or, taskmaster
- Job 39:13 Or, a stork
- Job 39:16 Or, is hardened against
- Job 39:17 Hebrew made her to forget wisdom.
- Job 39:18 Or, rouseth herself up to flight
- Job 39:19 Hebrew shaking.
- Job 39:21 Hebrew They paw.
- Job 39:21 Or, the weapons
- Job 39:23 Or, upon
- Job 39:24 Or, standeth he still at etc.
Job 39
New American Standard Bible 1995
God Speaks of Nature and Its Beings
39 “Do you know the time the [a](A)mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the (B)deer?
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 (C)wild donkey free?
And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 To whom I gave (D)the wilderness for a home
And 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 pasture
And searches after every green thing.
9 “Will the (E)wild 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 [b]ropes,
Or will he harrow 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 [c]grain
And gather it from your threshing floor?
13 “The ostriches’ wings flap joyously
With the pinion and plumage of [d]love,
14 For she abandons her eggs to the earth
And warms them in the dust,
15 And she forgets that a foot may crush [e]them,
Or that a wild beast may trample [f]them.
16 “She treats her young (F)cruelly, as if they were not hers;
Though her labor be in vain, she is [g]unconcerned;
17 Because God has made her forget wisdom,
And has not given her a share of understanding.
18 “When she lifts herself [h]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 (G)leap like the locust?
His majestic (H)snorting is terrible.
21 “[i]He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He (I)goes 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 [j]races 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 [k]command that the eagle mounts up
And makes (J)his nest on high?
28 “On the cliff he dwells and lodges,
Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.
29 “From there he (K)spies out food;
His eyes see it from afar.
30 “His young ones also suck up blood;
And (L)where the slain are, there is he.”
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
