Bildad’s Third Attack

Even the Stars Aren’t Perfect in God’s Eyes

25 1-6 Bildad the Shuhite again attacked Job:

“God is sovereign, God is fearsome—
    everything in the cosmos fits and works in his plan.
Can anyone count his angel armies?
    Is there any place where his light doesn’t shine?
How can a mere mortal presume to stand up to God?
    How can an ordinary person pretend to be guiltless?
Why, even the moon has its flaws,
    even the stars aren’t perfect in God’s eyes,
So how much less, plain men and women—
    slugs and maggots by comparison!”

25 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

Dominion and fear are with [God]; He makes peace in His high places.

Is there any number to His armies? And upon whom does not His light arise?

How then can man be justified and righteous before God? Or how can he who is born of a woman be pure and clean?(A)

Behold, even the moon has no brightness [compared to God’s glory] and the stars are not pure in His sight—

How much less man, who is a maggot! And a son of man, who is a worm!

Bildad’s Third Response to Job

25 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

“God is powerful and dreadful.
    He enforces peace in the heavens.
Who is able to count his heavenly army?
    Doesn’t his light shine on all the earth?
How can a mortal be innocent before God?
    Can anyone born of a woman be pure?
God is more glorious than the moon;
    he shines brighter than the stars.
In comparison, people are maggots;
    we mortals are mere worms.”

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?