1Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou observe when the hinds are in labor?

2Canst thou number the months they fulfill, And know the season when they bring forth?

3They bow themselves; they bring forth their young; They cast forth their pains.

4Their young ones are strong; they grow up in the fields; They go away, and return not to them.

5Who hath sent forth the wild ass free? Who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass,

6To whom I have given the wilderness for his house, And the barren land for his dwelling-place?

7He scorneth the tumult of the city, And heedeth not the shouting of the driver;

8The range of the mountains is his pasture; He seeketh after every green thing,

9Will the wild-ox consent to serve thee? Will he pass the night at thy crib?

10Canst thou bind the wild-ox with the harness to the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

11Wilt thou rely upon him because his strength is great, And commit to him thy labor?

12Wilt thou trust him to bring home thy grain, And gather in thy harvest?

13The wing of the ostrich moveth joyfully; But is it with loving pinion and feathers?

14Nay, she layeth her eggs on the ground; She warmeth them in the dust,

15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, And that the wild beast may break them.

16She is cruel to her young, as if they were not hers; Her labor is in vain, yet she feareth not;

17Because God hath denied her wisdom, And hath not given her understanding.

18Yet when she lasheth herself up on high, She laugheth at the horse and his rider.

19Hast thou given the horse strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with his trembling mane?

20Hast thou taught him to bound like the locust? How majestic his snorting! how terrible!

21He paweth in the valley; he exulteth in his strength, And rusheth into the midst of arms.

22He laugheth at fear; he trembleth not, And turneth not back from the sword.

23Against him rattle the quiver, The flaming spear, and the lance.

24With rage and fury he devoureth the ground; He will not believe that the trumpet soundeth.

25At every blast of the trumpet, he saith, Aha! And snuffeth the battle afar off,—The thunder of the captains, and the war-shout.

26Is it by thy wisdom that the hawk flieth, And spreadeth his wings toward the south?

27Doth the eagle soar at thy command, And build his nest on high?

28He dwelleth and lodgeth upon the rock, Upon the peak of the rock, and the stronghold.

29From thence he spieth out prey; His eyes discern it from afar.

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