Add parallel Print Page Options

Chapter 25

Bildad’s Third Speech. [a]Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

Dominion and dread are his
    who brings about harmony in his heavens.
Is there any numbering of his troops?[b]
    Yet on which of them does his light not rise?
How can anyone be in the right against God,(A)
    or how can any born of woman be innocent?
Even the moon is not bright
    and the stars are not clean in his eyes.
How much less a human being, who is but a worm,
    a mortal, who is only a maggot?(B)

Footnotes

  1. 25:1 At this point any structure in the dialogues disappears. Bildad’s speech is very short, and there follow two speeches attributed to Job, with significantly different introductions in 27:1 and 29:1, and with no intervening third speech of Zophar.
  2. 25:3 His troops: the heavenly host, or army, the stars (cf. Jgs 5:20), later understood as angels.

Bildad Asks, Can Man Be Right with God?

25 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

(A)Rule and dread [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 mortal man be (D)right with God?
Or how can he be (E)pure who is born of woman?
Behold even (F)the moon has no brightness,
And the (G)stars are not pure in His sight;
How much less (H)mortal man, that (I)maggot,
And the 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

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)