[1] “Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the deer?
[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 wild donkey free? And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
[6] To whom I gave the 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 wild 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 ropes, 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 grain And gather it from your threshing floor?
[13] The ostriches' wings flap joyously With the pinion and plumage of love,
[14] For she abandons her eggs to the earth And warms them in the dust,
[15] And she forgets that a foot may crush them, Or that a wild beast may trample them.
[16] She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned;
[17] Because God has made her forget wisdom, And has not given her a share of understanding.
[18] When she lifts herself on 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 leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrible.
[21] He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He goes 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 races 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 command that the eagle mounts up And makes his nest on high?
[28] On the cliff he dwells and lodges, Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.
[29] From there he spies out food; His eyes see it from afar.
[30] His young ones also suck up blood; And where the slain are, there is he.”