“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
“Who prepares for the raven its nourishment When its young cry to God And wander about without food?
“Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the deer?
“Can you count the months they fulfill, Or do you know the time they give birth?
“Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field; They leave and do not return to them.
“Who sent out the wild donkey free? And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
To whom I gave the wilderness for a home And the salt land for his dwelling place?
“He scorns the tumult of the city, The shoutings of the driver he does not hear.
“He explores the mountains for his pasture And searches after every green thing.
“Will the wild ox consent to serve you, Or will he spend the night at your manger?
“Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with ropes, Or will he harrow the valleys after you?
“The ostriches’ wings flap joyously With the pinion and plumage of love,
For she abandons her eggs to the earth And warms them in the dust,
“When she lifts herself on high, She laughs at the horse and his rider.
“Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
“Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrible.
“He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He goes out to meet the weapons.
“He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; And he does not turn back from the sword.
“The quiver rattles against him, The flashing spear and javelin.
“With shaking and rage he races over the ground, And he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet.
“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.
“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, Stretching his wings toward the south?
“Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up And makes his nest on high?
“On the cliff he dwells and lodges, Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.
“His young ones also suck up blood; And where the slain are, there is he.”
Then the LORD said to Job,
“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it.”
Then Job answered the LORD and said,
Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said,
“Pour out the overflowings of your anger, And look on everyone who is proud, and make him low.
“Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him, And tread down the wicked where they stand.
“Hide them in the dust together; Bind them in the hidden place.
“Behold now, his strength in his loins And his power in the muscles of his belly.
“He bends his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
“He is the first of the ways of God; Let his maker bring near his sword.
“Surely the mountains bring him food, And all the beasts of the field play there.
“Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.
“The lotus plants cover him with shade; The willows of the brook surround him.
“If a river rages, he is not alarmed; He is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth.
“Will the traders bargain over him? Will they divide him among the merchants?
“Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle; you will not do it again!
“Behold, your expectation is false; Will you be laid low even at the sight of him?
“Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.
“Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth there is terror.
“His sneezes flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
“The folds of his flesh are joined together, Firm on him and immovable.
“When he raises himself up, the mighty fear; Because of the crashing they are bewildered.
“The sword that reaches him cannot avail, Nor the spear, the dart or the javelin.
“The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones are turned into stubble for him.
“Clubs are regarded as stubble; He laughs at the rattling of the javelin.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
For Permission to Quote information visit http://www.lockman.org by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.
All rights reserved.