Chapter 39

“¹Do you know when mountain goats give birth? ²Can you count the months they are pregnant? ³They crouch down and bring forth their young; ⁴Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field; ⁵Who set the wild donkey free? ⁶I made the wilderness his home ⁷He scorns the tumult of the city ⁸He roams the mountains for pasture,

⁹Will the wild ox consent to serve you? ¹⁰Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? ¹¹Can you rely on his great strength? ¹²Can you trust him to bring in your grain ¹³The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, ¹⁴For she leaves her eggs on the ground ¹⁵She forgets that a foot may crush them, ¹⁶She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, ¹⁷For God has deprived her of wisdom; ¹⁸Yet when she proudly spreads her wings,

¹⁹Do you give strength to the horse ²⁰Do you make him leap like a locust, ²¹He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength; ²²He laughs at fear, frightened of nothing; ²³A quiver rattles at his side, ²⁴Trembling with excitement, he devours the distance; ²⁵At the blast of the horn, he snorts with fervor.

²⁶Does the hawk take flight by your understanding ²⁷Does the eagle soar at your command ²⁸He dwells on a cliff and lodges there; ²⁹From there he spies out food; ³⁰His young ones feast on blood;