Job 39

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 "Do you know when the mountain goats bring forth? Do you observe the calving of the hinds?	1 Do you know at what time the wild goats have given birth among the rocks, or do you observe the deer when they go into labor?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfil, and do you know the time when they bring forth,	2 Have you numbered the months since their conception, and do you know at what time they gave birth?
3 when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young?	3 They bend themselves for their offspring, and they give birth, and they emit roars.
4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open; they go forth, and do not return to them.	4 Their young are weaned and go out to feed; they depart and do not return to them.
5 "Who has let the wild ass go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift ass,	5 Who has set the wild ass free, and who has released his bonds?
6 to whom I have given the steppe for his home, and the salt land for his dwelling place?	6 I have given a house in solitude to him, and his tabernacle is in the salted land.
7 He scorns the tumult of the city; he hears not the shouts of the driver.	7 He despises the crowded city; he does not pay attention to the bellow of the tax collector.
8 He ranges the mountains as his pasture, and he searches after every green thing.	8 He looks around the mountains of his pasture, and he searches everywhere for green plants.
9 "Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your crib?	9 Will the rhinoceros be willing to serve you, and will he remain in your stall?
10 Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes, or will he harrow the valleys after you?	10 Can you detain the rhinoceros with your harness to plough for you, and will he loosen the soil of the furrows behind you?
11 Will you depend on him because his strength is great, and will you leave to him your labor?	11 Will you put your faith in his great strength, and delegate your labors to him?
12 Do you have faith in him that he will return, and bring your grain to your threshing floor?	12 Will you trust him to return to you the seed, and to gather it on your drying floor?
13 "The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; but are they the pinions and plumage of love?	13 The wing of the ostrich is like the wings of the heron, and of the hawk.
14 For she leaves her eggs to the earth, and lets them be warmed on the ground,	14 When she leaves eggs behind in the earth, will you perhaps warm them in the dust?
15 forgetting that a foot may crush them, and that the wild beast may trample them.	15 She forgets that feet may trample them, or that the beasts of the field may shatter them.
16 She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear;	16 She is hardened against her young, as if they were not hers; she has labored in vain, with no fear compelling her.
17 because God has made her forget wisdom, and given her no share in understanding.	17 For God has deprived her of wisdom; neither has he given her understanding.
18 When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider.	18 Yet, when the time is right, she raises her wings on high; she ridicules the horse and his rider.
19 "Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with strength?	19 Will you supply strength to the horse, or envelope his throat with neighing?
20 Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrible.	20 Will you alarm him as the locusts do? His panic is revealed by the display of his nostrils.
21 He paws in the valley, and exults in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons.	21 He digs at the earth with his hoof; he jumps around boldly; he advances to meet armed men.
22 He laughs at fear, and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword.	22 He despises fear; he does not turn away from the sword.
23 Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear and the javelin.	23 Above him, the quiver rattles, the spear and the shield shake.
24 With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground; he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet.	24 Seething and raging, he drinks up the earth; neither does he pause when the blast of the trumpet sounds.
25 When the trumpet sounds, he says 'Aha!' He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.	25 When he hears the bugle, he says, “Ha!” He smells the battle from a distance, the exhortation of the officers, and the battle cry of the soldiers.
26 "Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and spreads his wings toward the south?	26 Does the hawk grow feathers by means of your wisdom, spreading her wings towards the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?	27 Will the eagle lift herself up at your command and make her nest in steep places?
28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home in the fastness of the rocky crag.	28 She dwells among the rocks, and she lingers among broken boulders and inaccessible cliffs.
29 Thence he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it afar off.	29 From there, she looks for food, and her eyes catch sight of it from far away.
30 His young ones suck up blood; and where the slain are, there is he."	30 Her young will drink blood, and wherever the carcass will be, she is there immediately.
	31 And the Lord continued, and he said to Job:
	32 Will he who contends with God be so easily silenced? Certainly, he who argues with God must also respond to him.
	33 Then Job answered the Lord, saying:
	34 What could I possibly answer, since I have been speaking thoughtlessly? I will place my hand over my mouth.
	35 One thing I have spoken, which I wish I had not said; and another, to which I will add no more.