The Lord on the Wild Animals

Job 39

The Lord continues questioning Job, describing his care for the wild goats and hinds, the untamed wild ass, the unicorn, the ostrich, the war horse, and the hawk and eagle. These are creatures whose nature and freedom lie beyond human command.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonHAST thou known the time of the rock-goat’s delivery, and watched the pangs of hinds in travail?

BrentonSay if thou knowest the time of the bringing forth of the wild goats of the rock, and if thou hast marked the calving of the hinds:

GreekΕἰ ἔγνως καιρὸν τοκετοῦ τραγελάφων πέτρας, ἐφύλαξας δὲ ὠδῖνας ἐλάφων,

KJVKnowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

JPSKnowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

ThomsonHast thou numbered the months they go with young, and hast thou dismissed their pangs?

Brentonand if thou hast numbered the full months of their being with young, and if thou hast relieved their pangs:

Greekἠρίθμησας δὲ μῆνας αὐτῶν πλήρεις τοκετοῦ αὐτῶν, ὠδῖνας δὲ αὐτῶν ἔλυσας,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHast thou brought up their young, devoid of fear, and wilt thou dismiss their pangs also?

Brentonand hast reared their young without fear; and wilt thou loosen their pangs?

Greekἐξέθρεψας δὲ αὐτῶν τὰ παιδία ἔξω φόβου, ὠδῖνας δὲ αὐτῶν ἐξαποστελεῖς,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonShall they cast off their young, and be increased with a new progeny, and shall they go forth and no more return to them?

BrentonTheir young will break forth; they will be multiplied with offspring: their young will go forth, and will not return to them.

Greekἀποῤῥήξουσι τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, πληθυνθήσονται ἐν γενγήματι· ἐξελεύσονται, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀνακάμψουσιν αὐτοῖς.

KJVTheir young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

JPSTheir young ones wax strong, they grow up in the open field; They go forth, and return not again.

ThomsonWho hath sent forth the wild ass free, and Who hath loosed his bands?

BrentonAnd who is he that sent forth the wild ass free? and who loosed his bands?

GreekΤίς δέ ἐστιν ὁ ἀφεὶς ὄνον ἄγριον ἐλεύθερον; δεσμοὺς δὲ αὐτοῦ τίς ἔλυσεν;

KJVWho hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

JPSWho hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

Thomson—

Brentonwhereas I made his habitation the wilderness, and the salt land his coverts.

GreekἘθέμην δὲ τὴν δίαιταν αὐτοῦ ἔρημον, καὶ τὰ σκηνώματα αὐτοῦ ἁλμυρίδα.

KJVWhose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.

JPSWhose house I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place.

Thomson—

BrentonHe laughs to scorn the multitude of the city, and hears not the chiding of the tax-gatherer.

GreekΚαταγελῶν πολυοχλίας πόλεως, μέμψιν δὲ φορολόγου οὐκ ἀκούων,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThe range of mountains he will consider as his pasture, and he searcheth after everything green.

BrentonHe will survey the mountains as his pasture, and he seeks after every green thing.

Greekκατασκέψεται ὄρη νομὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὀπίσω παντὸς χλωροῦ ζητεῖ.

KJVThe range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

JPSThe range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searcheth after every green thing.

ThomsonWill the unicorn condescend to serve thee, or go to rest at thy stall?

BrentonAnd will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or to lie down at thy manger?

GreekΒουλήσεται δέ σοι μονόκερως δουλεῦσαι, ἢ κοιμηθῆναι ἐπὶ φάτνης σου;

KJVWill the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

JPSWill the wild-ox be willing to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?

ThomsonCanst thou bind his yoke with thongs, or will he draw thy furrows in the field?

BrentonAnd wilt thou bind his yoke with thongs, or will he plough furrows for thee in the plain?

GreekΔήσεις δὲ ἐν ἱμᾶσι ζυγὸν αὐτοῦ, ἢ ἑλκύσει σου αὔλακας ἐν πεδίῳ;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHast thou relied on him because his strength is great?

BrentonAnd dost thou trust him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou commit thy works to him?

GreekΠέποιθας δὲ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, ὅτι πολλὴ ἡ ἰσχὺς αὐτοῦ, ἐπαφήσεις δὲ αὐτῷ τὰ ἔργα σου;

KJVWilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

JPSWilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

ThomsonWilt thou leave thy labours to him, and trust that he will carry out thy seed, and bring home thy threshed grain?

BrentonAnd wilt thou believe that he will return to thee thy seed, and bring it in to thy threshing-floor?

GreekΠιστεύσεις δὲ, ὅτι ἀποδώσει σοι τὸν σπόρον, εἰσοίσει δέ σου τὸν ἅλωνα;

KJVWilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

JPSWilt thou rely on him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather the corn of thy threshing-floor?

ThomsonWhy is the wing of the peacock a delight? And is the ostrich like the stork when she conceives,

BrentonThe peacock has a beautiful wing: if the stork and the ostrich conceive, it is worthy of notice,

GreekΠτέρυξ τερπομένων νεέλασσα, ἐὰν συλλάβῃ ἁσίδα καὶ νέσσα·

KJV—

JPSThe wing of the ostrich beateth joyously; But are her pinions and feathers the kindly stork’s?

Thomsonfor she will commit her eggs to the ground, and hatch them in the dust,

Brentonfor the ostrich will leave her eggs in the ground, and warm them on the dust,

GreekὍτι ἀφήσει εἰς γῆν τὰ ὠὰ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐπὶ χοῦν θάλψει,

KJVWhich leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

JPSFor she leaveth her eggs on the earth, And warmeth them in dust,

Thomsonnot remembering that the foot may crush, and wild beasts trample them.

Brentonand has forgotten that the foot will scatter them, and the wild beasts of the field trample them.

Greekκαὶ ἐπελάθετο, ὅτι ποῦς σκορπιεῖ, καὶ θηρία ἀγροῦ καταπατήσει.

KJV—

JPSAnd forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them.

ThomsonShe hardened herself against her young, as if not hers; she laboured in vain without fear;

BrentonShe has hardened herself against her young ones, as though she bereaved not herself: she labours in vain without fear.

GreekἈπεσκλήρυνε τὰ τέκνα ἑαυτῆς, ὥστε μὴ ἑαυτήν· εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασεν ἄνευ φόβου.

KJVShe is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;

JPSShe is hardened against her young ones, as if they were not hers; Though her labour be in vain, she is without fear; .

Thomsonbecause God had silenced wisdom in her. But did he not impart to her some understanding?

BrentonFor God has withholden wisdom from her, and not given her a portion in understanding.

GreekὍτι κατεσιώπησεν αὐτῇ ὁ Θεὸς σοφίαν, καὶ οὐκ ἐπεμέρισεν αὐτῇ ἐν τῇ συνέσει.

KJVBecause God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

JPSBecause God hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath He imparted to her understanding.

ThomsonAt a suitable occasion she will rear herself aloft; she will laugh to scorn the horse and his rider.

BrentonIn her season she will lift herself on high; she will scorn the horse and his rider.

GreekΚατὰ καιρὸν ἐν ὕψει ὑψώσει, καταγελάσεται ἵππου, καὶ τοῦ ἐπιβάτου αὐτοῦ.

KJVWhat time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

JPSWhen the time cometh, she raiseth her wings on high, And scorneth the horse and his rider.

ThomsonHast thou invested the horse with strength, and clothed his neck with terror?

BrentonHast thou invested the horse with strength, and clothed his neck with terror?

GreekἪ σὺ περιέθηκας ἵππῳ δύναμιν, ἐνέδυσας δὲ τραχήλῳ αὐτοῦ φόβον;

KJVHast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

JPSHast thou given the horse his strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with fierceness?

ThomsonWhen thou arrayedst him with armour didst thou inspire his dauntless breast with courage?

BrentonAnd hast thou clad him in perfect armour, and made his breast glorious with courage?

GreekΠεριέθηκας δὲ αὐτῷ πανοπλίαν; δόξαν δὲ στηθέων αὐτοῦ τόλμῃ.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonHe paws exulting in the plain, and goes forth in strength into the plain.

GreekἈνορύσσων ἐν πεδίῳ γαυριᾷ, ἐκπορεύεται δὲ εἰς πεδίον ἐν ἰσχύϊ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonMeeting a king he meeteth him with scorn, and turneth not back for fear of the sword.

BrentonHe laughs to scorn a king as he meets him, and will by no means turn back from the sword.

GreekΣυναντῶν βασιλεῖ καταγελᾷ, καὶ οὐ μὴν ἀποστραφῇ ἀπὸ σιδήρου.

KJVHe mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

JPSHe mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; Neither turneth he back from the sword.

ThomsonOn him the bow and the sword swell with pride; and his rage will cause the ground to vanish,

BrentonThe bow and sword resound against him; and his rage will swallow up the ground:

GreekἘπʼ αὐτῷ γαυριᾷ τόξον καὶ μάχαιρα,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonnor will he believe till the trumpet sounds:

Brentonand he will not believe until the trumpet sounds.

Greekκαὶ ὀργὴ ἀφανιεῖ τὴν γῆν· καὶ οὐ μὴ πιστεύσει, ἕως ἂν σημάνῃ σάλπιγξ.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonbut at the sound of the trumpet he saith, Aha, and sniffeth the battle from afar, with a bound and neighing.

BrentonAnd when the trumpet sounds, he says, Aha! and afar off he smells the war with prancing and neighing.

GreekΣάλπιγγος δὲ σημαινούσης, λέγει, εὖγε· πόῤῥωθεν δὲ ὀσφραίνεται πολέμου σὺν ἅλματι καὶ κραυγῇ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHath the hawk by thy wisdom poised herself aloft with wings expanded, unmoved, surveying the regions of the south?

BrentonAnd does the hawk remain steady by thy wisdom, having spread out her wings unmoved, looking toward the region of the south?

GreekἘκ δὲ τῆς σῆς ἐπιστήμης ἕστηκεν ἱέραξ, ἀναπετάσας τὰς πτέρυγας, ἀκίνητος, καθορῶν τὰ πρὸς Νότον;

KJVDoth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

JPSDoth the hawk soar by thy wisdom, And stretch her wings toward the south?

ThomsonAt thy command doth the eagle soar, and the vulture abide seated on its nest,

BrentonAnd does the eagle rise at thy command, and the vulture remain sitting over his nest,

GreekἘπὶ δὲ σῷ προστάγματι ὑψοῦται ἀετὸς, γὺψ δὲ ἐπὶ νοσσιᾶς αὐτοῦ καθεσθεὶς αὐλίζεται,

KJVDoth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

JPSDoth the vulture mount up at thy command, And make her nest on high?

Thomsonon the high crag of a rock, and in secret,

Brentonon a crag of a rock, and in a secret place?

Greekἐπʼ ἐξοχῇ πέτρας, καὶ ἀποκρύφῳ,

KJVShe dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

JPSShe dwelleth and abideth on the rock, Upon the crag of the rock, and the stronghold.

Thomson—

BrentonThence he seeks food, his eyes observe from far.

Greekἐκεῖσε ὢν ζητεῖ τὰ σῖτα, πόῤῥωθεν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ σκοπεύουσι.

KJVFrom thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

JPSFrom thence she spieth out the prey; Her eyes behold it afar off.

Thomsonand its young are besmeared with blood. Wherever carcasses are, there are they suddenly found.

BrentonAnd his young ones roll themselves in blood, and wherever the carcases may be, immediately they are found.

GreekΝεοσσοὶ δὲ αὐτοῦ φύρονται ἐν αἵματι, οὗ δʼ ἂν ὦσι τεθνεῶτες, παραχρῆμα εὑρίσκονται.

KJVHer young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

JPSHer young ones also suck up blood; And where the slain are, there is she.