Numquid nosti tempus partus ibicum in petris, vel parturientes cervas observasti ?
Knowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth among the rocks, or hast thou observed the hinds when they fawn?
Dinumerasti menses conceptus earum, et scisti tempus partus earum ?
Hast thou numbered the months of their conceiving, or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
Incurvantur ad fœtum, et pariunt, et rugitus emittunt.
They bow themselves to bring forth young, and they cast them, and send forth roarings.
Separantur filii earum, et pergunt ad pastum : egrediuntur, et non revertuntur ad eas.
Their young are weaned and go to feed: they go forth, and return not to them.
Quis dimisit onagrum liberum, et vincula ejus quis solvit ?
Who hath sent out the wild ass free, and who hath loosed his bonds?
cui dedi in solitudine domum, et tabernacula ejus in terra salsuginis.
To whom I have given a house in the wilderness, and his dwellings in the barren land.
Contemnit multitudinem civitatis : clamorem exactoris non audit.
He scorneth the multitude of the city, he heareth not the cry of the driver.
Circumspicit montes pascuæ suæ, et virentia quæque perquirit.
He looketh round about the mountains of his pasture, and seeketh for every green thing.
Numquid volet rhinoceros servire tibi, aut morabitur ad præsepe tuum ?
Shall the rhinoceros be willing to serve thee, or will he stay at thy crib?
Numquid alligabis rhinocerota ad arandum loro tuo, aut confringet glebas vallium post te ?
Canst thou bind the rhinoceros with thy thong to plough, or will he break the clods of the valleys after thee?
Numquid fiduciam habebis in magna fortitudine ejus, et derelinques ei labores tuos ?
Wilt thou have confidence in his great strength, and leave thy labours to him?
Numquid credes illi quod sementem reddat tibi, et aream tuam congreget ?
Wilt thou trust him that he will render thee the seed, and gather it into thy barnfloor?
Penna struthionis similis est pennis herodii et accipitris.
The wing of the ostrich is like the wings of the heron, and of the hawk.
Quando derelinquit ova sua in terra, tu forsitan in pulvere calefacies ea ?
When she leaveth her eggs on the earth, thou perhaps wilt warm them in the dust.
Obliviscitur quod pes conculcet ea, aut bestia agri conterat.
She forgetteth that the foot may tread upon them, or that the beasts of the field may break them.
Duratur ad filios suos, quasi non sint sui : frustra laboravit, nullo timore cogente.
She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers, she hath laboured in vain, no fear constraining her.
Privavit enim eam Deus sapientia, nec dedit illi intelligentiam.
For God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he given her understanding.
Cum tempus fuerit, in altum alas erigit : deridet equum et ascensorem ejus.
When time shall be, she setteth up her wings on high: she scorneth the horse and his rider.
Numquid præbebis equo fortitudinem, aut circumdabis collo ejus hinnitum ?
Wilt thou give strength to the horse or clothe his neck with neighing?
Numquid suscitabis eum quasi locustas ? gloria narium ejus terror.
Wilt thou lift him up like the locusts? the glory of his nostrils is terror.
Terram ungula fodit ; exultat audacter : in occursum pergit armatis.
He breaketh up the earth with his hoof, he pranceth boldly, he goeth forward to meet armed men.
Contemnit pavorem, nec cedit gladio.
He despiseth fear, he turneth not his back to the sword.
Super ipsum sonabit pharetra ; vibrabit hasta et clypeus :
Above him shall the quiver rattle, the spear and shield shall glitter.
fervens et fremens sorbet terram, nec reputat tubæ sonare clangorem.
Chasing and raging he swalloweth the ground, neither doth he make account when the noise of the trumpet soundeth.
Ubi audierit buccinam, dicit : Vah ! procul odoratur bellum : exhortationem ducum, et ululatum exercitus.
When he heareth the trumpet he saith: Ha, ha: he smelleth the battle afar off, the encouraging of the captains, and the shouting of the army.
Numquid per sapientiam tuam plumescit accipiter, expandens alas suas ad austrum ?
Doth the hawk wax feathered by thy wisdom, spreading her wings to the south?
Numquid ad præceptum tuum elevabitur aquila, et in arduis ponet nidum suum ?
Will the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest in high places?
In petris manet, et in præruptis silicibus commoratur, atque inaccessis rupibus.
She abideth among the rocks, and dwelleth among cragged flints, and stony hills, where there is no access.
Inde contemplatur escam, et de longe oculi ejus prospiciunt.
From thence she looketh for the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
Pulli ejus lambent sanguinem : et ubicumque cadaver fuerit, statim adest.
Her young ones shall suck up blood: and wheresoever the carcass shall be, she is immediately there.
Et adjecit Dominus, et locutus est ad Job :
And the Lord went on, and said to Job:
Numquid qui contendit cum Deo, tam facile conquiescit ? utique qui arguit Deum, debet respondere ei.
Shall he that contendeth with God be so easily silenced? surely he that reproveth God, ought to answer him.
Respondens autem Job Domino, dixit :
Then Job answered the Lord, and said:
Qui leviter locutus sum, respondere quid possum ? manum meam ponam super os meum.
What can I answer, who hath spoken inconsiderately? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.
Unum locutus sum, quod utinam non dixissem : et alterum, quibus ultra non addam.
One thing I have spoken, which I wish I had not said: and another, to which I will add no more.