1 Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,

2 How long will it be before you have done talking? Get wisdom, and then we will say what is in our minds.

3 Why do we seem as beasts in your eyes, and as completely without knowledge?

4 But come back, now, come: you who are wounding yourself in your passion, will the earth be given up because of you, or a rock be moved out of its place?

5 For the light of the sinner is put out, and the flame of his fire is not shining.

6 The light is dark in his tent, and the light shining over him is put out.

7 The steps of his strength become short, and by his design destruction overtakes him.

8 His feet take him into the net, and he goes walking into the cords.

9 His foot is taken in the net; he comes into its grip.

10 The twisted cord is put secretly in the earth to take him, and the cord is placed in his way.

11 He is overcome by fears on every side, they go after him at every step.

12 His strength is made feeble for need of food, and destruction is waiting for his falling footstep.

13 His skin is wasted by disease, and his body is food for the worst of diseases.

14 He is pulled out of his tent where he was safe, and he is taken away to the king of fears.

15 In his tent will be seen that which is not his, burning stone is dropped on his house.

16 Under the earth his roots are dry, and over it his branch is cut off.

17 His memory is gone from the earth, and in the open country there is no knowledge of his name.

18 He is sent away from the light into the dark; he is forced out of the world.

19 He has no offspring or family among his people, and in his living-place there is no one of his name.

20 At his fate those of the west are shocked, and those of the east are overcome with fear.

21 Truly, these are the houses of the sinner, and this is the place of him who has no knowledge of God.

1 Därefter tog Bildad från Sua till orda och sade:

2 Huru länge skolen I gå på jakt efter ord? Kommen till förstånd; sedan må vi talas vid.

3 Varför skola vi aktas såsom oskäliga djur, räknas i edra ögon såsom ett förstockat folk?

4 Du som i din vrede sliter sönder dig själv, menar du att dör din skull jorden skall bliva öde och klippan flyttas bort från sin plats?

5 Nej, den ogudaktiges ljus skall slockna ut, och lågan av hans eld icke giva något sken.

6 Ljuset skall förmörkas i hans hydda, och lampan slockna ut för honom.

7 Hans väldiga steg skola stäckas, hans egna rådslag bringa honom på fall.

8 Ty han rusar med sina fötter in i nätet, försåten lura, där han vandrar fram;

9 snaran griper honom om hälen, och gillret tager honom fatt;

10 garn till att fånga honom äro lagda på marken och snärjande band på hans stig.

11 Från alla sidor ängsla honom förskräckelser, de jaga honom, varhelst han går fram.

12 Olyckan vill uppsluka honom, och ofärd står redo, honom till fall.

13 Under hans hud frätas hans lemmar bort, ja, av dödens förstfödde bortfrätas hans lemmar.

14 Ur sin hydda, som han förtröstar på, ryckes han bort, och till förskräckelsernas konung vandrar han hän.

15 I hans hydda får främlingar bo, och svavel utströs över hans boning.

16 Nedantill förtorkas hans rötter, och ovantill vissnar hans krona bort.

17 Hans åminnelse förgås ifrån jorden, hans namn lever icke kvar i världen.

18 Från ljus stötes han ned i mörker och förjagas ifrån jordens krets.

19 Utan barn och avkomma bliver han i sitt folk, och ingen i hans boningar skall slippa undan.

20 Över hans ofärdsdag häpna västerns folk, och österns män gripas av rysning.

21 Ja, så sker det med den orättfärdiges hem, så går det dens hus, som ej vill veta av Gud.