Job 39

This chapter continues the discourse begun in the latter end of the foregoing, concerning God’s providence about beasts and birds: and to the two befoTemcntioned he’ adds seven more. First, the wild goat, or hind, whose hard labour amongtherocks God is wont to help and pro- * mote (as the Psalmist observes, xxix. 9. and other authors agree) by a clap of thunder; the terror of which puts her into such an agony, that she presently excludes her • young one, which sticks in the birth. Then he mentions the wild ass; and after that a tall creature in those coun-, tries called reevi, which we render a unicorn; but Bochartus hath proved to be a two-horned goat, in Arabia, of great strength, with an erected head and cars. Of the rest I need say nothing here, they arc so well known.

Job 39:1

KnOWEST ihou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?. Vain man, who wouldestso fain pry into my secrets! didst thou ever climb the rocks to see the wild goats bring forth? or hast thou assisted at the hard labour of the hinds, and helped to ease them of their burden?

Job 39:2

Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?. Dost thou know the moment of their conception? or keepest an account-when they will be delivered?

Job 39:3

Tliey bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. Hast thou seen how they bow themselves; with what pain they bring forth, and with how much difficulty they are freed from their sorrow?

Job 39:4

Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them. And yet their young ones are lusty and strong; they grow up in the open fields; they leave their mothers, and return to them no more.

Job 39:5

Who hath sent out the wild ass free? orwhp hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?. Was it thou that gave the wild ass his liberty, and made him so free from their servitude, in which yon keep other creatures?

Job 39:6

Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the Barren land his dwellings. Who but I made that difference between him and them; and laying no burden on him, assigned him the wilderness and barren countries for his habitation?

Job 39:7

He scometh the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. Where he laughs at those that live in the tumult and bustle of cities; and hears none of the cries of him. that drives other asses to their labour.

Job 39:8

The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing,. Nor is confined in small enclosures, but hath whole mountains to range in for his pasture; where he finds sufficient food to appease his hunger.

Job 39:9

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?. Go to the unicorn (thou who wouldcst have all things conformable to thy will), and see if thou canst persuade him to serve thee: will he be content to.be tied to thy crib all night? *

Job 39:10

Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?. Or submit his proud neck to thy yoke all day? Canst thou make him go to plough? or will he draw the harrow over thy land?

Job 39:11

Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?. Wilt thou rely upon him (because his strength is great) to do all the rest of thy work in the field?

Job 39:12

Wilt thou believe him, thathe will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?. Or leave thy harvest out of doors, till thou hast prevailed with him to bring it home, and lay it in thy barn?

Job 39:13

Gavestthon the goodly wings unto th&peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?. Have other birds any reason to complain that they are not so goodly as the ostrich? whose wing is triumphant, if it be compared with the wing and the feather of the stork;

Job 39:14

Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust. But her inward qualities are not so beautiful as her plumes: for she doth not seek for solitary places wherein to lay her eggs; but drops them any where N upon the ground, and negligently leaves them to be corrupted by the heat of the sand and of the sun.

Job 39:15

And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. She doth not secure them from the foot of travellers, or of wild beasts; who frequently tread upon them and crush them in pieces:

Job 39:16

She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear. But is hardened against the fruit of her own womb, as if it were not hers; and so she loses all her labour, because sire hath no fear it may be lost.

Job 39:17

Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. For God hath not given her that wisdom which he hath bestowed upon other creatures; but made her of a stupid and careless nature.

Job 39:18

What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scometh the horse and his rider. Though he hath imparted so much as is necessary for her preservation: for when she raises herself, and lifts up her wings, she runs so fast, that she despises a man on horseback, who cannot overtake her.

Job 39:19

Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?. And now I speak of the horse, let me ask thee again, Who was it that made him so much superior to other creatures in strength and in courage? didst thou give him his valiant spirit, or clothe his neck with such a stately mane?

Job 39:20

Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. Or put that vigour and mettle into him, which make him leap and bound in the air like a grasshopper? there is a majesty inhis looks; and when he snorts vehemently, it is terrible.

Job 39:21

He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He stamps impatiently on the ground, and breaks it up with his feet: he glories in his. strength, and goes out boldly to meet the arms that oppose him.’ .

Job 39:22

He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. He derides all the dreadful instruments of war, and cannot be dismayed by them: he runs upon naked swords;

Job 39:23

The quiver raitleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. And is not daunted at the noise of arrows which come whizzing by his cars, nor at the sharp points of spears and lances which arc thrust at his breast.

Job 39:24

He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He, makes the earth quake and tremble as he gallops over it, and rids abundance of ground in a moment: neither can he stand still, when lie hears the sound of the trumpet:

Job 39:25

He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. But the louder it is, the more he neighs and dances for joy. He perceiveth the battle before it begins,