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.