God Speaks of His Creation

1Knowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth among the rocks, or hast thou observed the hinds when they fawn?

2Hast thou numbered the months of their conceiving, or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

3They bow themselves to bring forth young, and they cast them, and send forth roarings.

4Their young are weaned and go to feed: they go forth, and return not to them.

5Who hath sent out the wild ass free, and who hath loosed his bonds?

6To whom I have given a house in the wilderness, and his dwellings in the barren land.

7He scorneth the multitude of the city, he heareth not the cry of the driver.

8He looketh round about the mountains of his pasture, and seeketh for every green thing.

9Shall the rhinoceros be willing to serve thee, or will he stay at thy crib?

10Canst thou bind the rhinoceros with thy thong to plough, or will he break the clods of the valleys after thee?

11Wilt thou have confidence in his great strength, and leave thy labours to him?

12Wilt thou trust him that he will render thee the seed, and gather it into thy barnfloor?

13The wing of the ostrich is like the wings of the heron, and of the hawk.

14When she leaveth her eggs on the earth, thou perhaps wilt warm them in the dust.

15She forgetteth that the foot may tread upon them, or that the beasts of the field may break them.

16She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers, she hath laboured in vain, no fear constraining her.

17For God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he given her understanding.

18When time shall be, she setteth up her wings on high: she scorneth the horse and his rider.

19Wilt thou give strength to the horse or clothe his neck with neighing?

20Wilt thou lift him up like the locusts? the glory of his nostrils is terror.

21He breaketh up the earth with his hoof, he pranceth boldly, he goeth forward to meet armed men.

22He despiseth fear, he turneth not his back to the sword.

23Above him shall the quiver rattle, the spear and shield shall glitter.

24Chasing and raging he swalloweth the ground, neither doth he make account when the noise of the trumpet soundeth.

25When he heareth the trumpet he saith: Ha, ha: he smelleth the battle afar off, the encouraging of the captains, and the shouting of the army.

26Doth the hawk wax feathered by thy wisdom, spreading her wings to the south?

27Will the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest in high places?

28She abideth among the rocks, and dwelleth among cragged flints, and stony hills, where there is no access.

29From thence she looketh for the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

30Her young ones shall suck up blood: and wheresoever the carcass shall be, she is immediately there.