Job 29
1 And Job again took up the word and said,
Job continua son discours sentencieux, 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 suis-je comme aux mois d'autrefois, comme au jour où Dieu me gardait,
3 When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
Quand son flambeau luisait sur ma tête, quand je marchais à sa lumière dans les ténèbres;
4 As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
Comme aux jours de mon automne, quand l'amitié de Dieu veillait 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 jeunes gens m'entouraient;
6 When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
Quand je lavais mes pieds dans le lait, et que le rocher se fondait près de moi en torrent d'huile!
7 When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
Quand je sortais pour me rendre à la porte de la ville, et que je me faisais préparer un siège dans la place publique,
8 The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
Les jeunes gens, me voyant, se retiraient; les vieillards se levaient et se tenaient debout.
9 The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
Des princes s'arrêtaient de parler, 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 s'éteignait, 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;
Car l'oreille qui m'entendait me proclamait heureux, et 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 délivrais l'affligé qui criait, et l'orphelin qui n'avait personne pour le secourir.
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 de celui qui s'en allait périr venait sur moi, et je faisais chanter 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 elle se revêtait de moi. Mon équité était mon manteau et ma tiare.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
J'étais les yeux de l'aveugle, et les pieds 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 pauvres, et j'étudiais à fond 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 les mâchoires de l'injuste, et j'arrachais la proie d'entre ses dents.
18 Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
Et je disais: Je mourrai avec mon nid, et je multiplierai mes jours comme le phénix.
19 My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
Ma racine sera exposée à l'eau, et la rosée passera la nuit dans mes branches.
20 My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
Ma gloire se renouvellera en moi, et mon arc se renforcera dans ma main.
21 Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
On m'écoutait, on attendait et on se taisait, jusqu'à ce que j'eusse donné mon avis.
22 After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
Après que j'avais parlé, on ne répliquait pas, et ma parole découlait goutte à goutte sur eux.
23 They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
Ils m'attendaient comme la pluie, et ils ouvraient leur bouche comme pour une ondée tardive.
24 I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
Je souriais quand ils étaient désespérés; et ils n'altéraient pas la sérénité de mon visage.
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 avec eux, et je m'asseyais à leur tête; je siégeais comme un roi au milieu de ses gardes, comme un consolateur au milieu des affligés.
