39
God Speaks of Nature and Its Beings
1 “Do you know the time the 1Lit goats of the rockADeut 14:5; 1 Sam 24:2; Ps 104:18mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the BPs 29:9deer?
2 “Can you count the months they fulfill,
Or do you know the time they give birth?
3 “They kneel down, they bring forth their young,
They get rid of their labor pains.
4 “Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field;
They leave and do not return to them.
5 “Who sent out the AJob 6:5; 11:12; 24:5; Ps 104:11wild donkey free?
And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 To whom I gave AJob 24:5; Jer 2:24; Hos 8:9the wilderness for a home
And the salt land for his dwelling place?
7 “He scorns the tumult of the city,
The shoutings of the driver he does not hear.
8 “He explores the mountains for his pasture
And searches after every green thing.
9 “Will the ANum 23:22; Deut 33:17; Ps 22:21; 29:6; 92:10; Is 34:7wild ox consent to serve you,
Or will he spend the night at your manger?
10 “Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with 1Lit his roperopes,
Or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11 “Will you trust him because his strength is great
And leave your labor to him?
12 “Will you have faith in him that he will return your 1Lit seedgrain
And gather it from your threshing floor?
13 “The ostriches’ wings flap joyously
With the pinion and plumage of 1Or a storklove,
14 For she abandons her eggs to the earth
And warms them in the dust,
15 And she forgets that a foot may crush 1Lit itthem,
Or that a wild beast may trample 1Lit itthem.
Though her labor be in vain, she is 1Lit without fearunconcerned;
17 Because God has made her forget wisdom,
And has not given her a share of understanding.
18 “When she lifts herself 1Or to fleeon high,
She laughs at the horse and his rider.
19 “Do you give the horse his might?
Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
20 “Do you make him AJoel 2:5leap like the locust?
His majestic BJer 8:16snorting is terrible.
He AJer 8:6goes out to meet the weapons.
22 “He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
And he does not turn back from the sword.
23 “The quiver rattles against him,
The flashing spear and javelin.
24 “With shaking and rage he 1Or swallows upraces over the ground,
And he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet.
25 “As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’
And he scents the battle from afar,
And the thunder of the captains and the war cry.
26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,
Stretching his wings toward the south?
27 “Is it at your 1Lit mouthcommand that the eagle mounts up
And makes AJer 49:16; Obad 4his nest on high?
28 “On the cliff he dwells and lodges,
Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.
29 “From there he AJob 9:26spies out food;
His eyes see it from afar.
30 “His young ones also suck up blood;
And AMatt 24:28; Luke 17:37where the slain are, there is he.”
139:1 Lit goats of the rock
A39:1 Deut 14:5; 1 Sam 24:2; Ps 104:18
A39:5 Job 6:5; 11:12; 24:5; Ps 104:11
A39:6 Job 24:5; Jer 2:24; Hos 8:9
A39:9 Num 23:22; Deut 33:17; Ps 22:21; 29:6; 92:10; Is 34:7
139:10 Lit his rope
139:12 Lit seed
139:13 Or a stork
139:15 Lit it
139:15 Lit it
139:16 Lit without fear
139:18 Or to flee
139:21 Lit They paw
139:24 Or swallows up
139:27 Lit mouth