Job 39:26–35

“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars

and spreads his wings toward the south?

Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up

and makes his nest on high?

On the rock he dwells and makes his home,

on the rocky crag and stronghold.

From there he spies out the prey;

his eyes behold it from far away.

His young ones suck up blood,

and where the slain are, there is he.”

And the Lord said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

twice, but I will proceed no further.”

“Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom

and spread its wings toward the south?

Does the eagle soar at your command

and build its nest on high?

It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;

a rocky crag is its stronghold.

From there it looks for food;

its eyes detect it from afar.

Its young ones feast on blood,

and where the slain are, there it is.”

The Lord said to Job:

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?

Let him who accuses God answer him!”

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?

I put my hand over my mouth.

I spoke once, but I have no answer—

twice, but I will say no more.”

Does the hawk take flight by your understanding

and spread its wings to the south?

Does the eagle soar at your command

and make its nest on high?

It lives on a cliff where it spends the night;

its stronghold is on a rocky crag.

From there it searches for prey;

its eyes penetrate the distance.

Its brood gulps down blood,

and where the slain are, it is there.

The Lord answered Job:

Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?

Let him who argues with God give an answer.

Then Job answered the Lord:

I am so insignificant. How can I answer you?

I place my hand over my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not reply;

twice, but now I can add nothing.

“Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar

and spread its wings toward the south?

Is it at your command that the eagle rises

to the heights to make its nest?

It lives on the cliffs,

making its home on a distant, rocky crag.

From there it hunts its prey,

keeping watch with piercing eyes.

Its young gulp down blood.

Where there’s a carcass, there you’ll find it.”

Then the Lord said to Job,

“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?

You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

Then Job replied to the Lord,

“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?

I will cover my mouth with my hand.

I have said too much already.

I have nothing more to say.”

“Does the hawk soar by your wisdom?

Does it spread its wings to the south?

Or does the eagle fly high at your command

and construct its nest high?

It lives on the rock and spends the night

on the rock point and the mountain stronghold.

From there it spies out the prey;

its eyes look from far away.

And its young ones lick blood greedily,

and where the dead carcasses are, there they are.”

Then Yahweh answered Job and said,

“Shall a faultfinder contend with Shaddai?

Anyone who argues with God must answer it.”

So Job answered Yahweh and said,

“Look, I am insignificant.

What shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

Once I have spoken, and I will not answer;

even twice, but I will not proceed.”

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?

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.

Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?

He that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee?

I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer:

Yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.