Bildad

25 Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:

“Dominion and awe belong to God;(B)
    he establishes order in the heights of heaven.(C)
Can his forces be numbered?
    On whom does his light not rise?(D)
How then can a mortal be righteous before God?
    How can one born of woman be pure?(E)
If even the moon(F) is not bright
    and the stars are not pure in his eyes,(G)
how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot—
    a human being,(H) who is only a worm!”(I)

Bildad Says Mankind Is Inferior

25 Then Bildad the Shuhite responded,

(A)Dominion and awe [a]belong to Him
Who makes peace in (B)His heights.
Is there any number to (C)His troops?
And upon whom does His light not rise?
How then can mankind be (D)righteous with God?
Or how can anyone who is born of woman be (E)pure?
If even (F)the moon has no brightness
And the (G)stars are not pure in His sight,
How much less (H)man, that (I)maggot,
And a son of man, that worm!”

Footnotes

  1. Job 25:2 Lit are with Him

Bildad: How Can Man Be Righteous?

25 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“Dominion and fear belong to Him;
He makes peace in His high places.
[a]Is there any number to His armies?
Upon whom does (B)His light not rise?
(C)How then can man be righteous before God?
Or how can he be (D)pure who is born of a woman?
If even the moon does not shine,
And the stars are not pure in His (E)sight,
How much less man, who is (F)a maggot,
And a son of man, who is a worm?”

Footnotes

  1. Job 25:3 Can His armies be counted?

Bildad's Third Speech

God Is the One To Fear

25 Bildad from Shuah[a] said:
God is the one to fear,
because God is in control
    and rules the heavens.
Who can count his army of stars?
    Isn't God the source of light?
How can anyone be innocent
    in the sight of God?
To him, not even the light
of the moon and stars
    can ever be pure.
So how can we humans,
    when we are merely worms?

Footnotes

  1. 25.1 Shuah: See the note at 2.11.