In verses 5-8 the writer thinks of the wild donkey as a domestic donkey that has been granted its freedom, released from its bondage to the city. Translators may consider leaving blank space before verse 5 to show that a new subject is beginning.

Who has let the wild ass go free? implies that it is God who has liberated these animals. Wild ass is the same animal named in 6.5. See there for comments. Wild ass is singular, but translators may find it more natural to use the plural and also the plural pronouns throughout these nature passages. Compare also 11.12 and 24.5. Go free means “to be free to go where it wishes.”

Loosed the bonds is equivalent to “untied the ropes” or “taken off the rope that held the animal.” This usage is figurative and means “given them their freedom” or “let them roam free.” Swift ass translates an Aramaic word found nowhere else in the Old Testament. However, there is no reason to assume that the animal in line b is any other than the one in line a. Distinguishing between these two animals is not the point of the verse, and Good News Translation and others use only one term. The meaning of the two lines is nearly identical and without poetic focusing or intensification. If the “who” questions are used here, it may be necessary in translation to insert the reply “I did.” In some languages it will be clearer to translate “I let the wild donkey go free” or “I am the one who let the wild donkey roam.” The line may be rendered, for example, “I am the one who gave them their freedom” or “… who let them go free.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .