1 K nowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

“Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?

2 C anst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?

3 T hey bow themselves, they bring forth their young, They cast out their pains.

They bow themselves, they bear their young. They end their labor pains.

4 T heir young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field; They go forth, and return not again.

Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and don’t return again.

5 W ho hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bonds of the swift ass,

“Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,

6 W hose home I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place?

Whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?

7 H e scorneth the tumult of the city, Neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver.

He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.

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

The range of the mountains is his pasture, He searches after every green thing.

9 W ill the wild-ox be content to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?

“Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?

10 C anst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?

11 W ilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave to him thy labor?

Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?

12 W ilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather the grain of thy threshing-floor?

Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor?

13 T he wings of the ostrich wave proudly; But are they the pinions and plumage of love?

“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; but are they the feathers and plumage of love?

14 F or she leaveth her eggs on the earth, And warmeth them in the dust,

For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,

15 A nd forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them.

and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them.

16 S he dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, she is without fear;

She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,

17 B ecause God hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.

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

When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.

19 H ast thou given the horse his might? Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?

“Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?

20 H ast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible.

Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.

21 H e paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: He goeth out to meet the armed men.

He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.

22 H e mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither turneth he back from the sword.

He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.

23 T he quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin.

The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.

24 H e swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; Neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet.

He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.

25 A s oft as the trumpet soundeth he saith, Aha! And he smelleth the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 I s it by thy wisdom that the hawk soareth, (And) stretcheth her wings toward the south?

“Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?

27 I s it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high?

Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?

28 O n the cliff she dwelleth, and maketh her home, Upon the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.

On the cliff he dwells, and makes his home, on the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.

29 F rom thence she spieth out the prey; Her eyes behold it afar off.

From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.

30 H er young ones also suck up blood: And where the slain are, there is she.

His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”