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Bildad’s Third Speech[a]

Chapter 25

God’s Dominance Inspires Terror. Then Bildad the Shuhite responded:

“Sovereignty and awe belong to God
    who has established peace in his realm on high.
How can anyone number his forces?[b]
    Upon whom does his light not arise?
“How then can any man be righteous in God’s eyes?
    How can one born of woman be regarded as virtuous?
If in his eyes the moon is not bright
    and the stars are not pure,
how much less is man, who is a maggot,
    a son of man, who is a worm?”

Footnotes

  1. Job 25:1 The course of the debate gives the author an opportunity to introduce a fine piece on the greatness of God. According to some critics, Job interrupts briefly (Job 26:1-4), and Bildad’s speech continues in Job 26:5-14. In this interpretation, Job picks up his thread again in Job 27:1ff.
  2. Job 25:3 Forces: the angels and the stars.

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)