Jó 39
Kender du Tiden, da Stengeden føder, tager du Vare på Hindenes Veer,
tæller du mon deres Drægtigheds Måneder, kender du Tiden, de føder?
De lægger sig ned og føder og kaster Kuldet,
Ungerne trives, gror til i det frie, løber bort og kommer ej til dem igen.
Hvem slap Vildæslet løs, hvem løste mon Steppeæslets Reb,
som jeg gav Ørkenen til Hjem, den salte Steppe til Bolig?
Det ler ad Byens Larm og hører ej Driverens Skælden;
det ransager Bjerge, der har det sin Græsgang, det leder hvert Græsstrå op.
Er Vildoksen villig at trælle for dig, vil den stå ved din Krybbe om Natten?
Binder du Reb om dens Hals, pløjer den Furerne efter dig?
Stoler du på dens store Kræfter; overlader du den din Høst?
Tror du, den kommer tilbage og samler din Sæd på Loen?
Mon Strudsens Vinge er lam, eller mangler den Dækfjer og Dun,
siden den betror sine Æg til Jorden og lader dem varmes i Sandet,
tænker ej på, at en Fod kan knuse dem, Vildtet på Marken træde dem sønder?
Hård ved Ungerne er den, som var de ej dens; spildt er dens Møje, det ængster den ikke.
Thi Gud lod den glemme Visdom og gav den ej Del i Indsigt.
Når Skytterne kommer, farer den bort, den ler ad Hest og Rytter.
Giver du Hesten Styrke, klæder dens Hals med Manke
og lærer den Græshoppens Spring? Dens stolte Prusten indgyder Rædsel.
Den skraber muntert i Dalen, går Brynjen væligt i Møde;
den ler ad Rædselen, frygter ikke og viger ikke for Sværdet;
Koggeret klirrer over den, Spydet og Køllen blinker;
den sluger Vejen med gungrende Vildskab, den tøjler sig ikke, når Hornet lyder;
et Stød i Hornet, straks siger den: Huj! Den vejrer Kamp i det fjerne, Kampskrig og Førernes Råb.
Skyldes det Indsigt hos dig, at Falken svinger sig op og breder sin Vinge mod Sønden?
Skyldes det Bud fra dig, at Ørnen flyver højt og bygger sin højtsatte Rede?
Den bygger og bor på Klipper, på Klippens Tinde og Borg;
den spejder derfra efter Æde, viden om skuer dens Øjne.
Ungerne svælger i Blod; hvor Valen findes, der er den!
Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? {or} canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
Canst thou number the months {that} they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. {barren...: Heb. salt places}
He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. {of the driver: Heb. of the exactor}
The range of the mountains {is} his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
Wilt thou trust him, because his strength {is} great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather {it into} thy barn?
{Gavest thou} the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? {wings and...: or, the feathers of the stork and ostrich}
Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
She is hardened against her young ones, as though {they were} not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;
Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils {is} terrible. {terrible: Heb. terror}
He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in {his} strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. {He paweth: or, His feet dig} {the armed...: Heb. the armour}
He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that {it is} the sound of the trumpet.
He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, {and} stretch her wings toward the south?
Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? {at...: Heb. by thy mouth}
She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
From thence she seeketh the prey, {and} her eyes behold afar off.
Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain {are}, there {is} she.