2 Canst thou number the months that they {d} fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

(d) That is, how long they go with young?

3 They bow themselves, they {e} bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.

(e) They bring forth with great difficulty.

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 {f} barren land his dwellings.

(f) That is, the barren ground where no good fruit grows.

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 {g} serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

(g) Is it possible to make the unicorn tame? signifying that if man cannot rule a creature, that it is much more impossible that he should appoint the wisdom of God, by which he governs all the world.

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 {h} warmeth them in dust,

(h) They write that the ostrich covers her eggs in the sand, and because the country is hot and the sun still keeps them warm, they are hatched.

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 hers: her labour is {i} in vain without fear;

(i) If he should take care of them.

17 Because God hath deprived her of {k} wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

(k) That is, to have a care and natural affection toward his young.

18 What {l} time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

(l) When the young ostrich is grown up, he outruns the horse.

19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with {m} thunder?

(m) That is, given him courage? which is meant by neighing and shaking his neck.

20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

21 He {n} paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

(n) He beats with his hoof.

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 {o} swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

(o) He so rides the ground that it seems nothing under him.

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 {p} south?

(p) That is, when cold comes, to fly into the warm countries.

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.