39 The bounty and providence of God, which extendeth even to the young ravens, giveth man full occasion to put his confidence in God. 37 Job confesseth and humbleth himself.

Wilt [a]thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the lion’s whelps,

When they crouch in their places, and remain in the covert to lie in wait?

Who prepareth for the raven his meat, when his birds [b]cry unto God, wandering for lack of meat?

Knowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth young? or dost thou mark when the [c]hinds do calve?

Canst thou number the months that they [d]fulfill? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

They bow themselves: they [e]bruise their young and cast out their sorrows.

Yet their young wax fat, and grow up with corn: they go forth and return not unto them.

Who hath set the wild ass at liberty? or who hath loosed the bonds of the wild ass?

It is I which have made the wilderness his house, and the [f]salt places his dwellings.

10 He derideth the multitude of the city: he heareth not the cry of the driver.

11 He seeketh out the mountain for his pasture, and searcheth after every green thing.

12 Will the unicorn [g]serve thee? or will he tarry by thy crib?

13 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band to labor in the furrow? or will he plow the valleys after thee?

14 Wilt thou trust in him, because his strength is great, and cast off thy labor unto him?

15 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it unto thy barn?

16 Hast thou given the pleasant wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

17 Which leaveth his eggs in the earth, and maketh them [h]hot in the dust,

18 And forgetteth that the foot might scatter them, or that the wild beast might break them.

19 He showeth himself cruel unto his young ones, as they were not his, and is without fear, as if he travailed [i]in vain.

20 For God had deprived him of [j]wisdom, and hath given him no part of understanding.

21 When [k]time is, he mounteth on high: he mocketh the horse and his rider.

22 Hast thou given the horse strength, or covered his neck with [l]neighing?

23 Hast thou made him afraid as the grasshopper? his strong neighing is fearful.

24 He [m]diggeth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth forth to meet the harnessed man.

25 He mocketh at fear, and is not afraid, and turneth not back from the sword,

26 Though the quiver rattle against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

27 He [n]swalloweth the ground for fierceness and rage, and he believeth not that it is the noise of the trumpet.

28 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha: he smelleth the battle afar off, and the noise of the captains, and the shouting.

29 Shall the hawk fly by thy wisdom, stretching out his wings even toward the [o]South?

30 Doth the eagle mount up at thy commandment, or make his nest on high?

31 She abideth and remaineth in the rock, even upon the top of the rock, and the tower,

32 From thence she spieth for meat, and her eyes behold afar off.

33 His young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

34 Moreover the Lord spake unto Job, and said,

35 Is this [p]to learn, to strive with the Almighty? he that reproveth God, let him answer to it.

36 ¶ Then Job answered the Lord, saying,

37 Behold, I am [q]vile: what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

38 Once have I spoken, but I will answer no more, yea twice, but I will proceed no further.

Footnotes

  1. Job 39:1 After he had declared God’s works in the heavens, he showeth his marvelous providence in earth, even toward the brute beasts.
  2. Job 39:3 Read Ps. 147:9.
  3. Job 39:4 He chiefly maketh mention of wild goats and hinds, because they bring forth their young with most difficulty.
  4. Job 39:5 That is, how long they go with young?
  5. Job 39:6 They bring forth with great difficulty.
  6. Job 39:9 That is, the barren ground where no good fruits grow.
  7. Job 39:12 Is it possible to make the unicorn tame? signifying that if man cannot rule a creature, that it is much more impossible that he should appoint the wisdom of God, whereby he governeth all the world.
  8. Job 39:17 They write that the ostrich covereth her eggs in the sand, and because the country is hot and the sun still keepeth them warm, they are hatched.
  9. Job 39:19 If he should take care of them.
  10. Job 39:20 That is, to have a care and natural affection toward his young.
  11. Job 39:21 When the young ostrich is grown up, he outrunneth the horse.
  12. Job 39:22 That is, given him courage? which is meant by neighing and shaking his mane: for with his breath he covereth his neck.
  13. Job 39:24 He beateth with his hoof.
  14. Job 39:27 He so rideth the ground that it seemeth nothing under him.
  15. Job 39:29 That is, when cold cometh, to fly into the warm countries.
  16. Job 39:35 Is this the way for a man that will learn, to strive with God? which thing he reproveth in Job.
  17. Job 39:37 Whereby he showeth that he repented, and desired pardon for his faults.

39 “Do you know when the mountain goats(A) give birth?
    Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?(B)
Do you count the months till they bear?
    Do you know the time they give birth?(C)
They crouch down and bring forth their young;
    their labor pains are ended.
Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;
    they leave and do not return.

“Who let the wild donkey(D) go free?
    Who untied its ropes?
I gave it the wasteland(E) as its home,
    the salt flats(F) as its habitat.(G)
It laughs(H) at the commotion in the town;
    it does not hear a driver’s shout.(I)
It ranges the hills(J) for its pasture
    and searches for any green thing.

“Will the wild ox(K) consent to serve you?(L)
    Will it stay by your manger(M) at night?
10 Can you hold it to the furrow with a harness?(N)
    Will it till the valleys behind you?
11 Will you rely on it for its great strength?(O)
    Will you leave your heavy work to it?
12 Can you trust it to haul in your grain
    and bring it to your threshing floor?

13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
    though they cannot compare
    with the wings and feathers of the stork.(P)
14 She lays her eggs on the ground
    and lets them warm in the sand,
15 unmindful that a foot may crush them,
    that some wild animal may trample them.(Q)
16 She treats her young harshly,(R) as if they were not hers;
    she cares not that her labor was in vain,
17 for God did not endow her with wisdom
    or give her a share of good sense.(S)
18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
    she laughs(T) at horse and rider.

19 “Do you give the horse its strength(U)
    or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Do you make it leap like a locust,(V)
    striking terror(W) with its proud snorting?(X)
21 It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,(Y)
    and charges into the fray.(Z)
22 It laughs(AA) at fear, afraid of nothing;
    it does not shy away from the sword.
23 The quiver(AB) rattles against its side,
    along with the flashing spear(AC) and lance.
24 In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;
    it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.(AD)
25 At the blast of the trumpet(AE) it snorts, ‘Aha!’
    It catches the scent of battle from afar,
    the shout of commanders and the battle cry.(AF)

26 “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
    and spread its wings toward the south?(AG)
27 Does the eagle soar at your command
    and build its nest on high?(AH)
28 It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;
    a rocky crag(AI) is its stronghold.
29 From there it looks for food;(AJ)
    its eyes detect it from afar.
30 Its young ones feast on blood,
    and where the slain are, there it is.”(AK)