No Mortal Is Pure
Job 25
Baldad the Sauchite gives a brief reply, declaring that dominion and dread belong to God and that even the moon and stars are not pure in his sight. He concludes that man, born of woman, is but corruption and a worm.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHEREUPON Baldad the Sauchean answered and said:
BrentonThen Baldad the Sauchite answered and said,
GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Βαλδὰδ ὁ Σαυχίτης, λέγει,
KJVThen answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
JPSThen answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said:
2
Thomson—
BrentonWhat beginning or fear is his—even he that makes all things in the highest?
GreekΤί γὰρ προοίμιον ἢ φόβος παρʼ αὐτοῦ ὁ ποιῶν τὴν σύμπασαν ἐν ὑψιστῳ;
KJV—
JPS—
3
ThomsonFor let none suppose, because robbers have a respite, that snares shall not come from Him on any.
BrentonFor let none think that there is a respite for robbers: and upon whom will there not come a snare from him?
GreekΜὴ γάρ τις ὑπολάβοι ὅτι ἐστὶ παρέλκυσις πειραταῖς· ἐπὶ τίνας δὲ οὐκ ἐπελεύσεται ἔνεδρα παρʼ αὐτοῦ;
KJVIs there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?
JPSIs there any number of His armies? And upon whom doth not His light arise?
4
ThomsonFor how can a mortal be just before the Lord or any offspring of woman make himself clean?
BrentonFor how shall a mortal be just before the Lord? or who that is born of a woman shall purify himself?
GreekΠῶς γὰρ ἔσται δίκαιος βροτὸς ἔναντι Κυρίου; ἢ τίς ἂν ἀποκαθαρίσαι αὐτὸν γεννητὸς γυναικός;
KJVHow then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
JPSHow then can man be just with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
5
ThomsonIf he setteth the moon beside Him, it shineth not: and the stars are not pure in His sight.
BrentonIf he gives an order to the moon, then it shines not; and the stars are not pure before him.
GreekΕἰ σελήνῃ συντάσσει, καὶ οὐκ ἐπιφαύσκει, ἄστρα δὲ οὐ καθαρὰ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ.
KJVBehold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
JPSBehold, even the moon hath no brightness, And the stars are not pure in His sight;
6
ThomsonGrant then that man is rottenness and that the son of man is a worm.
BrentonBut alas! man is corruption, and the son of man a worm.
GreekἜα δὲ, ἄνθρωπος σαπρία, καὶ υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου σκώληξ.
KJVHow much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
JPSHow much less man, that is a worm! And the son of man, that is a maggot!