The Book of Job Paraphrased, Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX.
ARGUMENT.
This Chapter continues the Diſcourſe begun in the latter end of the foregoing, concerning God's Providence about Beaſts and Birds. And to the Two before mentioned, he adds Seven more. Firſt, the wild Goat or Hinde, whoſe hard labour among the rocks God is wont to help and promote (as the Pſalmiſt obſerves XXIX. 9. and other Authours agree) by a clap of Thunder; the terrour of which puts her into ſuch an agony, that ſhe preſently excludes her young one, which ſticks in the birth. Then he mentions the wild Aſs; and after that a tall Creature in thoſe Countries called Reem: which we render an Unicorn; but Bochartus hath proved to be a two-horned Goat in Arabia of great ſtrength, with an erected head and ears. Of the reſt I need ſay nothing here, they are ſo well known.
1. KNoweſt thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canſt thou mark when the hinds do calve?1. VAIN Man, who wouldſt ſo fain pry into my Secrets! didſt thou ever climb the rocks to ſee the wild Goats bring forth? or haſt thou aſſiſted at the hard labour of the Hindes, and helpt to eaſe them of their burthen?
2. Canſt thou number the months that they fulfill? or knoweſt thou the time when they bring forth?2. Doſt thou know the moment of their conception? or keepeſt an account when they will be delivered?
3. They bow themſelves, they bring forth their young ones, they caſt out their ſorrows.3. Haſt thou ſeen how they bow themſelves? with what pain they bring forth, and with how much difficulty they are freed from their ſorrow?
4. Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn: they go forth and return not unto them.4. And yet their young ones are luſty and ſtrong; they grow up in the open fields; they leave their mothers, and return to them no more.
5. Who hath ſent out the wild aſs free? or who hath looſed the bands of the wild aſs?5. Was it thou that gave the wild Aſs his liberty, and made him ſo free from the Servitude, in which you keep other creatures?
6. Whoſe houſe I have made the wilderneſs, and the barren land his dwellings.6. Who but I made that difference between him and them; and laying no burthen on him, aſſigned him the Wilderneſs and barren Countries for his habitation?
7. He ſcorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.7. Where he laughs at thoſe that live in the tumult and buſtle of Cities; and hears none of the cries of him that drives other Aſſes to their labour:
8. The range of the mountains is his paſture, and he ſearches after every green thing.8. Nor is confined in ſmall Incloſures, but hath whole Mountains to range in for his paſture; where he finds ſufficient food to appeaſe his hunger.
9. Will the unicorn be willing to ſerve thee, or abide by thy crib?9. Go to the Unicorn, (thou who wouldſt have all things conformable to thy will,) and ſee if thou canſt perſwade him to ſerve thee: will he be content to be tied to thy crib all night?
10. Canſt thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?10. Or ſubmit his proud neck to thy yoke all day? canſt thou make him go to plough? or will he draw the harrow over thy land?
11. Wilt thou truſt him, becauſe his ſtrength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?11. Wilt thou rely upon him (becauſe his ſtrength is great) to doe all the reſt of thy work in the field?
12. Wilt thou believe him that he will bring home thy ſeed, and gather it into thy barn?12. Or leave thy harveſt out of doors, till thou haſt prevail'd with him to bring it home, and lay it in thy barn?
13. Gaveſt thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the oſtrich?13. Have other Birds any reaſon to complain that they are not ſo goodly as the Eſtrich? whoſe wing is triumphant, if it be compared with the wing and the feather of the Stork.
14. Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the duſt;14. But her inward qualities are not ſo beautifull as her plumes: For ſhe doth not ſeek for ſolitary places wherein to lay her Eggs; but drops them any-where upon the ground, and negligently leaves them to be corrupted by the heat of the Sand and of the Sun.
15. And forgetteth that the foot may cruſh them, or that the wild beaſt may break them.15. She doth not ſecure them from the foot of travellers or of wild beaſts; who frequently tread upon them, and cruſh them in pieces:
16. She is hardened againſt her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;16. But is hardened againſt the fruit of her own womb, as if it were not hers; and ſo ſhe loſes all her labour, becauſe ſhe hath no fear it may be loſt.
17. Becauſe God hath deprived her of wiſedom, neither hath he imparted to her underſtanding.17. For God hath not given her that wiſedom which he hath beſtowed upon other Creatures; but made her of a ſtupid and careleſs nature:
18. What time ſhe lifteth up her ſelf on high, ſhe ſcorneth the horſe and his rider.18. Though He hath imparted ſo much as is neceſſary for her preſervation: For when ſhe raiſes her ſelf, and lifts up her wings, ſhe runs ſo faſt, that ſhe deſpiſes a man on horſeback, who cannot overtake her.
19. Haſt thou given the horſe ſtrength? haſt thou cloathed his neck with thunder?19. And now I ſpeak of the Horſe, let me ask thee again, Who was it that made him ſo much ſuperiour to other creatures in ſtrength and in courage? Didſt thou give him his valiant Spirit; or clothe his neck with ſuch a ſtately Main?
20. Canſt thou make him afraid as a graſhopper? the glory of his noſtrils is terrible.20. Or put that Vigour and Mettle into him, which makes him leap and bound in the air like a graſhopper? There is a majeſty in his Looks; and when he ſnoars vehemently it is terrible.
21. He paweth in the valley, and rejoyceth in his ſtrength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.21. He ſtamps impatiently on the ground, and breaks it up with his feet: he glories in his ſtrength, and goes out boldly to meet the arms that oppoſe him.
22. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the ſword.22. He derides all the dreadfull inſtruments of War, and cannot be diſmayed by them: he runs upon naked Swords;
23. The quiver rattleth againſt him, the glittering ſpear and the ſhield.23. And is not daunted at the noiſe of Arrows which come whizzing by his ears, nor at the ſharp points of Spears and Launces which are thruſt at his breaſt.
24. He ſwalloweth the ground with fierceneſs and rage: neither believeth he that it is the ſound of the trumpet.24. He makes the earth quake and tremble, as he gallops over it, and rids abundance of ground in a moment: neither can he ſtand ſtill, when he hears the ſound of the Trumpet:
25. He ſaith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he ſmelleth the battel afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the ſhouting.25. But the louder it is, the more he neighs and dances for joy. He perceiveth the Battel before it begins, by the thundring voice of the Captains, and the ſhouting of the Souldiers.
26. Doth the hawk flie by thy wiſedom, and ſtretch her wings toward the ſouth?26. Behold, alſo, how the Hawk mounts up aloft. Didſt thou give her thoſe ſwift wings? or teach her, when the winter comes, to fly into the ſouthern parts; that ſhe may ſtill enjoy the warmth of the Sun?
27. Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her neſt on high?27. But what Bird ſores ſo high as the Eagle? Is ſhe beholden to thee for that ſtrength which carries her into the clouds? or was it by thy direction, that ſhe builds her Neſt quite out of all mens reach?
28. She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the ſtrong place.28. She dwells on the top of high Rocks; in the ſteep and craggy Rock, as in an inacceſſible Fortreſs, ſhe ſettles her abode.
29. From thence ſhe ſeeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.29. There ſhe leaves her young ones ſafely, while ſhe goes to provide them food; from thence (ſo ſharp is her ſight) ſhe ſpies her prey a vaſt way off.
30. Her young ones alſo ſuck up bloud: and where the ſlain are, there is ſhe.30. Which when ſhe hath ſeized and torn, ſhe brings to her neſt, that they may ſuck its bloud: ſhe looks down to the very earth; and where the carkaſſes lie, there may ſhe be found.