Bildad Speaks

25 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

Dominion and dread(A) belong to him,
the one who establishes harmony in his heights.
Can his troops be numbered?
Does his light not shine on everyone?
How can a human be justified before God?(B)
How can one born of woman be pure?(C)
If even the moon does not shine
and the stars are not pure in his sight,(D)
how much less a human, who is a maggot,
a son of man,[a] who is a worm!(E)

Footnotes

  1. 25:6 Or a mere mortal

25 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.

Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?

How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.

How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

25 1-2 God is powerful; all must stand in awe of him;
    he keeps his heavenly kingdom in peace.
Can anyone count the angels who serve him?
Is there any place where God's light does not shine?
Can anyone be righteous or pure in God's sight?
In his eyes even the moon is not bright,
    or the stars pure.
Then what about a human being, that worm, that insect?
    What is a human life worth in God's eyes?