1“Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young? Or do you observe when the deer gives birth?

2Do you number the months they complete? Or do you know the time when they bear young?

3They bow down, they bring forth their young, their labour pains are ended.

4Their young ones are thriving, they grow up in the field. They shall leave and shall not return to them.

5Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the wild donkey,

6whose home I have made the desert, and the salt land his dwelling?

7He laughs at the commotion of the city; he does not hear the shouts of the driver.

8The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches for all that is green.

9Would the wild ox be pleased to serve you? Or spend the night by your feeding trough?

10If you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes, would he plough the valleys behind you?

11Would you rely on his great strength? Or would you leave your labour to him?

12Would you trust him to bring home your grain, and gather it to your threshing-floor?

13The wings of the ostrich flap joyously, but they are not the pinions and plumage of kindness!

14She leaves her eggs on the ground, and warms them in the dust;

15and she forgets that a foot might crush them, or a wild beast tread on them.

16She treats her young harshly, as if not hers; her toil is in vain, without fear,

17because Eloah has made her forget wisdom, and did not endow her with understanding.

18When she lifts herself on high, she laughs at the horse and its rider.

19Have you given the horse strength? Have you covered his neck with a mane?

20Would you make him leap like a locust? His splendid snorting is frightening.

21He paws in the valley, and rejoices in strength. He gallops into the clash of arms.

22He laughs at fear, and is not frightened; nor does he turn back from the sword.

23The quiver rattles against him, the glittering spear and lance.

24He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, and he does not stand still when the ram’s horn sounds.

25At the blast of the ram’s horn he says, ‘Aha!’ And from afar he smells the battle, the thunder of commanders and shouting.

26Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, spreading its wings toward the south?

27Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make its nest on high?

28It dwells on the rock, and lodges on the crag of the rock and the stronghold.

29From there it searches out the prey, its eyes see it from afar.

30And its young ones suck up blood. And where the slain are, there it is!”