¶ Knowest thou the time when the wild¹ goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when² the hinds do calve?

³Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

They bow⁴ themselves, they bring forth their young ones⁵, they cast out⁷ their sorrows⁸.

Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

Who hath sent out the wild⁹ ass free? or who hath loosed¹⁰ the bands of the wild ass?

Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land¹¹ his dwellings.

He scorneth¹² the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver¹³.

¹⁴The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

Will the¹⁵ unicorn be willing to serve thee, or¹⁶ abide by thy crib?

¶¹⁷Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

Wilt thou trust¹⁸ him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave¹⁹ thy labour to him?

Wilt thou believe him, that he²⁰ will bring home thy seed, and gather²¹ it into thy barn?

¶ Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks²²? or wings and feathers unto the²³ ostrich?

Which leaveth her eggs²⁴ in the earth, and warmeth them in dust²⁵,

And forgetteth that the foot may crush²⁶ them, or that the wild beast may break them²⁷.

She is hardened²⁸ against her young ones, as²⁹ though they were not hers: her labour³⁰ is in vain without fear;

³¹Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

³²What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

¶ Hast thou given the horse³³ strength? hast thou clothed³⁴ his neck with thunder³⁵?

¶ Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory³⁶ of his nostrils is terrible³⁷.

He paweth³⁸ in the valley, and³⁹ rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth⁴⁰ on to meet the armed men⁴¹.

⁴²He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

⁴³The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

He swalloweth⁴⁴ the ground with fierceness and rage: neither⁴⁵ believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha⁴⁶; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

¶ Doth the hawk⁴⁷ fly by thy wisdom, and stretch⁴⁸ her wings toward the south?

Doth the eagle⁴⁹ mount up at thy command⁵⁰, and make her nest on high?

She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon⁵¹ the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

From thence she⁵² seeketh the prey, and her⁵³ eyes behold afar off.

¶ Her young ones also suck up blood: and where⁵⁴ the slain are, there is she.