1. |
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 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 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 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 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 deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding. |
18. |
What time she 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 quivering mane? |
20. |
Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible. |
21. |
He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: He goeth out to meet the armed men. |
22. |
He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither turneth he back from the sword. |
23. |
The quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin. |
24. |
He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; Neither 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. |