Job Chapter 39

From The Open Bible Project

39:1 "Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?

39:2 Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?

• (d) That is, how long they go with young?

39:3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, they end their labor pains.

• (e) They bring forth with great difficulty.

39:4 Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go forth, and don't return again.

39:5 "Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,

39:6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?

• (f) That is, the barren ground where no good fruit grows.

39:7 He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.

39:8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, He searches after every green thing.

39:9 "Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?

• (g) Is it possible to make the unicorn tame? signifying that if man cannot rule a creature, that it is much more impossible that he should appoint the wisdom of God, by which he governs all the world.

39:10 Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?

39:11 Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?

39:12 Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor?

39:13 "The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; but are they the feathers and plumage of love?

39:14 For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,

• (h) They write that the ostrich covers her eggs in the sand, and because the country is hot and the sun still keeps them warm, they are hatched.

39:15 and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them.

39:16 She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,

• (i) If he should take care of them.

39:17 because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.

• (k) That is, to have a care and natural affection toward his young.

39:18 When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.

• (l) When the young ostrich is grown up, he outruns the horse.

39:19 "Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?

• (m) That is, given him courage? which is meant by neighing and shaking his neck.

39:20 Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.

39:21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.

• (n) He beats with his hoof.

39:22 He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.

39:23 The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.

39:24 He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.

• (o) He so rides the ground that it seems nothing under him.

39:25 As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, 'Aha!' He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

39:26 "Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?

• (p) That is, when cold comes, to fly into the warm countries.

39:27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?

39:28 On the cliff he dwells, and makes his home, on the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.

39:29 From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.

39:30 His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is."