Study Desk

"Do you know the time the ^[a](a)mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the ^(b)deer?

"Can you count the months they fulfill, Or do you know the time they give birth?

"They kneel down, they bring forth their young, They get rid of their labor pains.

"Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field; They leave and do not return to them.

"Who sent out the ^(c)wild donkey free? And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,

To whom I gave ^(d)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 ^(e)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 ^[b]ropes, Or will he harrow the valleys after you?

"Will you trust him because his strength is great And leave your labor to him?

"Will you have faith in him that he will return your ^[c]grain And gather it from your threshing floor?

"The ostriches' wings flap joyously With the pinion and plumage of ^[d]love,

For she abandons her eggs to the earth And warms them in the dust,

And she forgets that a foot may crush ^[e]them, Or that a wild beast may trample ^[f]them.

"She treats her young ^(f)cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor be in vain, she is ^[g]unconcerned;

Because God has made her forget wisdom, And has not given her a share of understanding.

"When she lifts herself ^[h]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 ^(g)leap like the locust? His majestic ^(h)snorting is terrible.

"^[i]He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He ⁽ⁱ⁾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 ^[j]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 ^[k]command that the eagle mounts up And makes ^(j)his nest on high?

"On the cliff he dwells and lodges, Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.

"From there he ^(k)spies out food; His eyes see it from afar.

"His young ones also suck up blood; And ^(l)where the slain are, there is he."