Job 29
1 And Job again took up the word and said,
Job prit de nouveau la parole sous forme sentencieuse et dit:
2 If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
Oh! Que ne puis-je être comme aux mois du passé, Comme aux jours où Dieu me gardait,
3 When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
Quand sa lampe brillait sur ma tête, Et que sa lumière me guidait dans les ténèbres!
4 As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
Que ne suis-je comme aux jours de ma vigueur, Où Dieu veillait en ami sur ma tente,
5 While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
Quand le Tout-Puissant était encore avec moi, Et que mes enfants m’entouraient;
6 When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
Quand mes pieds se baignaient dans la crème Et que le rocher répandait près de moi des ruisseaux d’huile!
7 When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
Si je sortais pour aller à la porte de la ville, Et si je me faisais préparer un siège dans la place,
8 The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
Les jeunes gens se retiraient à mon approche, Les vieillards se levaient et se tenaient debout.
9 The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
Les princes arrêtaient leurs discours, Et mettaient la main sur leur bouche;
10 The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
La voix des chefs se taisait, Et leur langue s’attachait à leur palais.
11 For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
L’oreille qui m’entendait me disait heureux, L’œil qui me voyait me rendait témoignage;
12 For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
Car je sauvais le pauvre qui implorait du secours, Et l’orphelin qui manquait d’appui.
13 The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
La bénédiction du malheureux venait sur moi; Je remplissais de joie le cœur de la veuve.
14 I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
Je me revêtais de la justice et je lui servais de vêtement, J’avais ma droiture pour manteau et pour turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
J’étais l’œil de l’aveugle Et le pied du boiteux.
16 I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
J’étais le père des misérables, J’examinais la cause de l’inconnu;
17 By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
Je brisais la mâchoire de l’injuste, Et j’arrachais de ses dents la proie.
18 Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
Alors je disais: Je mourrai dans mon nid, Mes jours seront abondants comme le sable;
19 My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
L’eau pénétrera dans mes racines, La rosée passera la nuit sur mes branches;
20 My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
Ma gloire reverdira sans cesse, Et mon arc rajeunira dans ma main.
21 Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
On m’écoutait et l’on restait dans l’attente, On gardait le silence devant mes conseils.
22 After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
Après mes discours, nul ne répliquait, Et ma parole était pour tous une bienfaisante rosée;
23 They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
Ils comptaient sur moi comme sur la pluie, Ils ouvraient la bouche comme pour une pluie du printemps.
24 I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
Je leur souriais quand ils perdaient courage, Et l’on ne pouvait chasser la sérénité de mon front.
25 I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
J’aimais à aller vers eux, et je m’asseyais à leur tête; J’étais comme un roi au milieu d’une troupe, Comme un consolateur auprès des affligés.
