1 “ Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the 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 wild donkey free? And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,

6 T o whom I gave 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 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 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 grain And gather it from your threshing floor?

13 “ The ostriches’ wings flap joyously With the pinion and plumage of love,

14 F or she abandons her eggs to the earth And warms them in the dust,

15 A nd she forgets that a foot may crush them, Or that a wild beast may trample them.

16 “ She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned;

17 B ecause God has made her forget wisdom, And has not given her a share of understanding.

18 “ When she lifts herself 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 leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrible.

21 “ He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He 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 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 command that the eagle mounts up And makes his nest on high?

28 “ On the cliff he dwells and lodges, Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.

29 “ From there he spies out food; His eyes see it from afar.

30 “ His young ones also suck up blood; And where the slain are, there is he.”