1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 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.
5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
6 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.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
15 And forgetteth 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 her's: her labour is in vain without fear;
17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
20 Canst thou 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.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth 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.
25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy 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.
29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
1 Knowest H3045 thou the time H6256 when the wild goats H3277 of the rock H5553 bring forth? H3205 or canst thou mark H8104 when the hinds H355 do calve? H2342
2 Canst thou number H5608 the months H3391 that they fulfil? H4390 or knowest H3045 thou the time H6256 when they bring forth? H3205
3 They bow H3766 themselves, they bring forth H6398 their young ones, H3206 they cast out H7971 their sorrows. H2256
4 Their young ones H1121 are in good liking, H2492 they grow up H7235 with corn; H1250 they go forth, H3318 and return H7725 not unto them.
5 Who hath sent out H7971 the wild ass H6501 free? H2670 or who hath loosed H6605 the bands H4147 of the wild ass? H6171
6 Whose house H1004 I have made H7760 the wilderness, H6160 and the barren H4420 land his dwellings. H4908
7 He scorneth H7832 the multitude H1995 of the city, H7151 neither regardeth H8085 he the crying H8663 of the driver. H5065
8 The range H3491 of the mountains H2022 is his pasture, H4829 and he searcheth H1875 after H310 every green thing. H3387
9 Will the unicorn H7214 be willing H14 to serve H5647 thee, or abide H3885 by thy crib? H18
10 Canst thou bind H7194 the unicorn H7214 with his band H5688 in the furrow? H8525 or will he harrow H7702 the valleys H6010 after H310 thee?
11 Wilt thou trust H982 him, because his strength H3581 is great? H7227 or wilt thou leave H5800 thy labour H3018 to him?
12 Wilt thou believe H539 him, that he will bring home H7725 H7725 thy seed, H2233 and gather H622 it into thy barn? H1637
13 Gavest thou the goodly H7443 wings H3671 unto the peacocks? H5965 or wings H84 and feathers H2624 unto the ostrich? H5133
14 Which leaveth H5800 her eggs H1000 in the earth, H776 and warmeth H2552 them in dust, H6083
15 And forgetteth H7911 that the foot H7272 may crush H2115 them, or that the wild H7704 beast H2416 may break H1758 them.
16 She is hardened H7188 against her young ones, H1121 as though they were not H3808 hers: her labour H3018 is in vain H7385 without fear; H6343
17 Because God H433 hath deprived H5382 her of wisdom, H2451 neither hath he imparted H2505 to her understanding. H998
18 What time H6256 she lifteth up H4754 herself on high, H4791 she scorneth H7832 the horse H5483 and his rider. H7392
19 Hast thou given H5414 the horse H5483 strength? H1369 hast thou clothed H3847 his neck H6677 with thunder? H7483
20 Canst thou make him afraid H7493 as a grasshopper? H697 the glory H1935 of his nostrils H5170 is terrible. H367
21 He paweth H2658 in the valley, H6010 and rejoiceth H7797 in his strength: H3581 he goeth on H3318 to meet H7125 the armed men. H5402
22 He mocketh H7832 at fear, H6343 and is not affrighted; H2865 neither turneth he back H7725 from H6440 the sword. H2719
23 The quiver H827 rattleth H7439 against him, the glittering H3851 spear H2595 and the shield. H3591
24 He swalloweth H1572 the ground H776 with fierceness H7494 and rage: H7267 neither believeth H539 he that it is the sound H6963 of the trumpet. H7782
25 He saith H559 among H1767 the trumpets, H7782 Ha, H1889 ha; H1889 and he smelleth H7306 the battle H4421 afar off, H7350 the thunder H7482 of the captains, H8269 and the shouting. H8643
26 Doth the hawk H5322 fly H82 by thy wisdom, H998 and stretch H6566 her wings H3671 toward the south? H8486
27 Doth the eagle H5404 mount up H1361 at thy command, H6310 and make H7311 her nest H7064 on high? H7311
28 She dwelleth H7931 and abideth H3885 on the rock, H5553 upon the crag H8127 of the rock, H5553 and the strong place. H4686
29 From thence she seeketh H2658 the prey, H400 and her eyes H5869 behold H5027 afar off. H7350
30 Her young ones H667 also suck up H5966 blood: H1818 and where the slain H2491 are, there is she. H1931
1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? `Or' canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, They cast out their pains.
4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field; They go forth, and return not again.
5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bonds of the swift ass,
6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place?
7 He scorneth the tumult of the city, Neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searcheth after every green thing.
9 Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?
10 Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave to him thy labor?
12 Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather `the grain' of thy threshing-floor?
13 The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; `But' are they the pinions and plumage of love?
14 For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, And warmeth them in the dust,
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them.
16 She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, `she is' without fear;
17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse `his' might? Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?
20 Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible.
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: He goeth out to meet the armed men.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither turneth he back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; Neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet.
25 As oft as the trumpet `soundeth' he saith, Aha! And he smelleth the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Is it by thy wisdom that the hawk soareth, (And) stretcheth her wings toward the south?
27 Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high?
28 On the cliff she dwelleth, and maketh her home, Upon the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.
29 From thence she spieth out the prey; Her eyes behold it afar off.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood: And where the slain are, there is she.
1 Hast thou known the time of The bearing of the wild goats of the rock? The bringing forth of hinds thou dost mark!
2 Thou dost number the months they fulfil? And thou hast known the time of their bringing forth!
3 They bow down, Their young ones they bring forth safely, Their pangs they cast forth.
4 Safe are their young ones, They grow up in the field, they have gone out, And have not returned to them.
5 Who hath sent forth the wild ass free? Yea, the bands of the wild ass who opened?
6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, And his dwellings the barren land,
7 He doth laugh at the multitude of a city, The cries of an exactor he heareth not.
8 The range of mountains `is' his pasture, And after every green thing he seeketh.
9 Is a Reem willing to serve thee? Doth he lodge by thy crib?
10 Dost thou bind a Reem in a furrow `with' his thick band? Doth he harrow valleys after thee?
11 Dost thou trust in him because great `is' his power? And dost thou leave unto him thy labour?
12 Dost thou trust in him That he doth bring back thy seed? And `to' thy threshing-floor doth gather `it'?
13 The wing of the rattling ones exulteth, Whether the pinion of the ostrich or hawk.
14 For she leaveth on the earth her eggs, And on the dust she doth warm them,
15 And she forgetteth that a foot may press it, And a beast of the field tread it down.
16 Her young ones it hath hardened without her, In vain `is' her labour without fear.
17 For God hath caused her to forget wisdom, And He hath not given a portion To her in understanding:
18 At the time on high she lifteth herself up, She laugheth at the horse and at his rider.
19 Dost thou give to the horse might? Dost thou clothe his neck `with' a mane?
20 Dost thou cause him to rush as a locust? The majesty of his snorting `is' terrible.
21 They dig in a valley, and he rejoiceth in power, He goeth forth to meet the armour.
22 He laugheth at fear, and is not affrighted, And he turneth not back from the face of the sword.
23 Against him rattle doth quiver, The flame of a spear, and a halbert.
24 With trembling and rage he swalloweth the ground, And remaineth not stedfast Because of the sound of a trumpet.
25 Among the trumpets he saith, Aha, And from afar he doth smell battle, Roaring of princes and shouting.
26 By thine understanding flieth a hawk? Spreadeth he his wings to the south?
27 At thy command goeth an eagle up high? Or lifteth he up his nest?
28 A rock he doth inhabit, Yea, he lodgeth on the tooth of a rock, and fortress.
29 From thence he hath sought food, To a far off place his eyes look attentively,
30 And his brood gulph up blood, And where the pierced `are' -- there `is' he!
1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? dost thou mark the calving of the hinds?
2 Dost thou number the months that they fulfil? and knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 They bow themselves, they give birth to their young ones, they cast out their pains;
4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field, they go forth, and return not unto them.
5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? and who hath loosed the bands of the onager,
6 Whose house I made the wilderness, and the salt plain his dwellings?
7 He laugheth at the tumult of the city, and heareth not the shouts of the driver;
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
9 Will the buffalo be willing to serve thee, or will he lodge by thy crib?
10 Canst thou bind the buffalo with his cord in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou put confidence in him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
12 Wilt thou trust him to bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy threshing-floor?
13 The wing of the ostrich beats joyously -- But is it the stork's pinion and plumage?
14 For she leaveth her eggs to the earth, and warmeth them in the dust,
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the beast of the field may trample them.
16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her labour is in vain, without her concern.
17 For +God hath deprived her of wisdom, and hath not furnished her with understanding.
18 What time she lasheth herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
19 Hast thou given strength to the horse? hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?
20 Dost thou make him to leap as a locust? His majestic snorting is terrible.
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in [his] strength; he goeth forth to meet the armed host.
22 He laugheth at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from before the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth upon him, the glittering spear and the javelin.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage, and cannot contain himself at the sound of the trumpet:
25 At the noise of the trumpets he saith, Aha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Doth the hawk fly by thine intelligence, [and] stretch his wings toward the south?
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make his nest on high?
28 He inhabiteth the rock and maketh his dwelling on the point of the cliff, and the fastness:
29 From thence he spieth out the prey, his eyes look into the distance;
30 And his young ones suck up blood; and where the slain are, there is he.
1 "Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?
3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, They end their labor pains.
4 Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go forth, and don't return again.
5 "Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city, Neither hears he the shouting of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, He searches after every green thing.
9 "Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?
10 Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?
11 Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?
12 Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, And gather the grain of your threshing floor?
13 "The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; But are they the feathers and plumage of love?
14 For she leaves her eggs on the earth, Warms them in the dust,
15 And forgets that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild animal may trample them.
16 She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,
17 Because God has deprived her of wisdom, Neither has he imparted to her understanding.
18 When she lifts up herself on high, She scorns the horse and his rider.
19 "Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?
20 Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.
21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength: He goes out to meet the armed men.
22 He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither does he turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him, The flashing spear and the javelin.
24 He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, Neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
25 As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, 'Aha!' He smells the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 "Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, And stretches her 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 makes his home, On the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.
29 From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.
30 His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is."
1 Do you go after food for the she-lion, or get meat so that the young lions may have enough,
2 When they are stretched out in their holes, and are waiting in the brushwood?
3 Who gives in the evening the meat he is searching for, when his young ones are crying to God; when the young lions with loud noise go wandering after their food?
4 Have you knowledge of the rock-goats? or do you see the roes giving birth to their young?
5 Is the number of their months fixed by you? or is the time when they give birth ordered by you?
6 They are bent down, they give birth to their young, they let loose the fruit of their body.
7 Their young ones are strong, living in the open country; they go out and do not come back again.
8 Who has let the ass of the fields go free? or made loose the bands of the loud-voiced beast?
9 To whom I have given the waste land for a heritage, and the salt land as a living-place.
10 He makes sport of the noise of the town; the voice of the driver does not come to his ears;
11 He goes looking for his grass-lands in the mountains, searching out every green thing.
12 Will the ox of the mountains be your servant? or is his night's resting-place by your food-store?
13 Will he be pulling your plough with cords, turning up the valleys after you?
14 Will you put your faith in him, because his strength is great? will you give the fruit of your work into his care?
15 Will you be looking for him to come back, and get in your seed to the crushing-floor?
16 Is the wing of the ostrich feeble, or is it because she has no feathers,
17 That she puts her eggs on the earth, warming them in the dust,
18 Without a thought that they may be crushed by the foot, and broken by the beasts of the field?
19 She is cruel to her young ones, as if they were not hers; her work is to no purpose; she has no fear.
20 For God has taken wisdom from her mind, and given her no measure of knowledge.
21 When she is shaking her wings on high, she makes sport of the horse and of him who is seated on him.
22 Do you give strength to the horse? is it by your hand that his neck is clothed with power?
23 Is it through you that he is shaking like a locust, in the pride of his loud-sounding breath?
24 He is stamping with joy in the valley; he makes sport of fear.
25 In his strength he goes out against the arms of war, turning not away from the sword.
26 The bow is sounding against him; he sees the shining point of spear and arrow.
27 Shaking with passion, he is biting the earth; he is not able to keep quiet at the sound of the horn;
28 When it comes to his ears he says, Aha! He is smelling the fight from far off, and hearing the thunder of the captains, and the war-cries.
29 Is it through your knowledge that the hawk takes his flight, stretching out his wings to the south?
30 Or is it by your orders that the eagle goes up, and makes his resting-place on high?
31 On the rock is his house, and on the mountain-top his strong place.
32 From there he is watching for food; his eye sees it far off.
33 His young have blood for their drink, and where the dead bodies are, there is he to be seen.
34 ...
35 Will he who is protesting give teaching to the Ruler of all? Let him who has arguments to put forward against God give an answer.
36 And Job said in answer to the Lord,
37 Truly, I am of no value; what answer may I give to you? I will put my hand on my mouth.
38 I have said once, and even twice, what was in my mind, but I will not do so again.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 39
Commentary on Job 39 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 39
God proceeds here to show Job what little reason he had to charge him with unkindness who was so compassionate to the inferior creatures and took such a tender care of them, or to boast of himself, and his own good deeds before God, which were nothing to the divine mercies. He shows him also what great reason he had to be humble who knew so little of the nature of the creatures about him and had so little influence upon them, and to submit to that God on whom they all depend. He discourses particularly,
Job 39:1-12
God here shows Job what little acquaintance he had with the untamed creatures that run wild in the deserts and live at large, but are the care of the divine Providence. As,
Job 39:13-18
The ostrich is a wonderful animal, a very large bird, but it never flies. Some have called it a winged camel. God here gives an account of it, and observes,
Job 39:19-25
God, having displayed his own power in those creatures that are strong and despise man, here shows it in one scarcely inferior to any of them in strength, and yet very tame and serviceable to man, and that is the horse, especially the horse that is prepared against the day of battle and is serviceable to man at a time when he has more than ordinary occasion for his service. It seems, there was, in Job's country, a noble generous breed of horses. Job, it is probable, kept many, though they are not mentioned among his possessions, cattle for use in husbandry being there valued more than those for state and war, which alone horses were then reserved for, and they were not then put to such mean services as with us they are commonly put to. Concerning the great horse, that stately beast, it is here observed,
Job 39:26-30
The birds of the air are proofs of the wonderful power and providences of God, as well as the beasts of the earth; God here refers particularly to two stately ones:-