Job 39

God continues His speech, asking Job whether he can govern the wild goats, the unicorn, the ostrich, the horse, or the hawk. Each creature displays God's sovereign design beyond human control, and God challenges Job's right to question the One who orders all living things.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?	"Do you know the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or can you mark when the hinds do calve?
2	Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?	Can you number the months that they fulfil? Or do you know the time when they bring forth?
3	They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.	They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
4	Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.	Their young ones are in good liking; they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not to them.
5	Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?	Who has sent out the wild ass free? Or who has loosed the bands of the wild ass?
6	Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.	Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
7	He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.	He scorns the multitude of the city, neither does he regard the crying of the driver.
8	The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.	The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing.
9	Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?	Will the unicorn be willing to serve you, or abide by your crib?
10	Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?	Can you bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11	Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?	Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave your labour to him?
12	Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?	Will you believe him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather it into your barn?
13	Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?	Did you give the goodly wings to the peacocks? Or wings and feathers to the ostrich?
14	Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,	Who leaves her eggs in the earth, and warms them in dust,
15	And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.	and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
16	She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;	She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her labour is in vain without fear;
17	Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.	because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has He imparted to her understanding.
18	What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.	What time she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
19	Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?	Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder?
20	Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.	Can you make him afraid as a grasshopper? The glory of his nostrils is terrible.
21	He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.	He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; he goes on to meet the armed men.
22	He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.	He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; neither does he turn back from the sword.
23	The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.	The quiver rattles against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
24	He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.	He swallows the ground with fierceness and rage; neither does he believe that it is the sound of the trumpet.
25	He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.	He says among the trumpets, 'Ha, ha!' And he smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26	Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?	Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
27	Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?	Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make her nest on high?
28	She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.	She dwells and abides on the rock, on the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
29	From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.	From there she seeks the prey, and her eyes behold from afar.
30	Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.	Her young ones also suck up blood; and where the slain are, there is she."