Job 34
1 After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:
Élihu reprit et dit:
2 May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.
Sages, écoutez mes discours! Vous qui êtes intelligents, prêtez-moi l’oreille!
3 For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.
Car l’oreille discerne les paroles, Comme le palais savoure les aliments.
4 Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.
Choisissons ce qui est juste, Voyons entre nous ce qui est bon.
5 For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.
Job dit: Je suis innocent, Et Dieu me refuse justice;
6 For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”
J’ai raison, et je passe pour menteur; Ma plaie est douloureuse, et je suis sans péché.
7 What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,
Y a-t-il un homme semblable à Job, Buvant la raillerie comme l’eau,
8 who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?
Marchant en société de ceux qui font le mal, Cheminant de pair avec les impies?
9 For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”
Car il a dit: Il est inutile à l’homme De mettre son plaisir en Dieu.
10 Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.
Écoutez-moi donc, hommes de sens! Loin de Dieu l’injustice, Loin du Tout-Puissant l’iniquité!
11 For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.
Il rend à l’homme selon ses œuvres, Il rétribue chacun selon ses voies.
12 For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.
Non certes, Dieu ne commet pas l’iniquité; Le Tout-Puissant ne viole pas la justice.
13 What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?
Qui l’a chargé de gouverner la terre? Qui a confié l’univers à ses soins?
14 But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.
S’il ne pensait qu’à lui-même, S’il retirait à lui son esprit et son souffle,
15 All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.
Toute chair périrait soudain, Et l’homme rentrerait dans la poussière.
16 Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.
Si tu as de l’intelligence, écoute ceci, Prête l’oreille au son de mes paroles!
17 Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?
Un ennemi de la justice régnerait-il? Et condamneras-tu le juste, le puissant,
18 He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.
Qui proclame la méchanceté des rois Et l’iniquité des princes,
19 He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands.
Qui n’a point égard à l’apparence des grands Et ne distingue pas le riche du pauvre, Parce que tous sont l’ouvrage de ses mains?
20 They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand.
En un instant, ils perdent la vie; Au milieu de la nuit, un peuple chancelle et périt; Le puissant disparaît, sans la main d’aucun homme.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.
Car Dieu voit la conduite de tous, Il a les regards sur les pas de chacun.
22 There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.
Il n’y a ni ténèbres ni ombre de la mort, Où puissent se cacher ceux qui commettent l’iniquité.
23 For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.
Dieu n’a pas besoin d’observer longtemps, Pour qu’un homme entre en jugement avec lui;
24 He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.
Il brise les grands sans information, Et il met d’autres à leur place;
25 For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.
Car il connaît leurs œuvres. Il les renverse de nuit, et ils sont écrasés;
26 Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.
Il les frappe comme des impies, A la face de tous les regards.
27 They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,
En se détournant de lui, En abandonnant toutes ses voies,
28 so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor.
Ils ont fait monter à Dieu le cri du pauvre, Ils l’ont rendu attentif aux cris des malheureux.
29 For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men?
S’il donne le repos, qui répandra le trouble? S’il cache sa face, qui pourra le voir? Il traite à l’égal soit une nation, soit un homme,
30 He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.
Afin que l’impie ne domine plus, Et qu’il ne soit plus un piège pour le peuple.
31 Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.
Car a-t-il jamais dit à Dieu: J’ai été châtié, je ne pécherai plus;
32 If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more.
Montre-moi ce que je ne vois pas; Si j’ai commis des injustices, je n’en commettrai plus?
33 Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak.
Est-ce d’après toi que Dieu rendra la justice? C’est toi qui rejettes, qui choisis, mais non pas moi; Ce que tu sais, dis-le donc!
34 Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.
Les hommes de sens seront de mon avis, Le sage qui m’écoute pensera comme moi.
35 But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.
Job parle sans intelligence, Et ses discours manquent de raison.
36 My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.
Qu’il continue donc à être éprouvé, Puisqu’il répond comme font les méchants!
37 For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.
Car il ajoute à ses fautes de nouveaux péchés; Il bat des mains au milieu de nous, Il multiplie ses paroles contre Dieu.
