Job 23
1 And Job made answer and said,
Job prit la parole et dit:
2 Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.
Maintenant encore ma plainte est une révolte, Mais la souffrance étouffe mes soupirs.
3 If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!
Oh! Si je savais où le trouver, Si je pouvais arriver jusqu’à son trône,
4 I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.
Je plaiderais ma cause devant lui, Je remplirais ma bouche d’arguments,
5 I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.
Je connaîtrais ce qu’il peut avoir à répondre, Je verrais ce qu’il peut avoir à me dire.
6 Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.
Emploierait-il toute sa force à me combattre? Ne daignerait-il pas au moins m’écouter?
7 There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.
Ce serait un homme droit qui plaiderait avec lui, Et je serais pour toujours absous par mon juge.
8 See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;
Mais, si je vais à l’orient, il n’y est pas; Si je vais à l’occident, je ne le trouve pas;
9 I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.
Est-il occupé au nord, je ne puis le voir; Se cache-t-il au midi, je ne puis le découvrir.
10 For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.
Il sait néanmoins quelle voie j’ai suivie; Et, s’il m’éprouvait, je sortirais pur comme l’or.
11 My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.
Mon pied s’est attaché à ses pas; J’ai gardé sa voie, et je ne m’en suis point détourné.
12 I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.
Je n’ai pas abandonné les commandements de ses lèvres; J’ai fait plier ma volonté aux paroles de sa bouche.
13 But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.
Mais sa résolution est arrêtée; qui s’y opposera? Ce que son âme désire, il l’exécute.
14 For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.
Il accomplira donc ses desseins à mon égard, Et il en concevra bien d’autres encore.
15 For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.
Voilà pourquoi sa présence m’épouvante; Quand j’y pense, j’ai peur de lui.
16 For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.
Dieu a brisé mon courage, Le Tout-Puissant m’a rempli d’effroi.
17 For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.
Car ce ne sont pas les ténèbres qui m’anéantissent, Ce n’est pas l’obscurité dont je suis couvert.
