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.