Job 9
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Job prit la parole et dit:
2 Truly I know that it is so: and how could a mortal be righteous before God?
Je sais bien qu’il en est ainsi; Comment l’homme serait-il juste devant Dieu?
3 If he were desirous to enter into a contest with him, he could not give him one answer out of a thousand.
S’il voulait contester avec lui, Sur mille choses il ne pourrait répondre à une seule.
4 He is wise of heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and escaped unscathed?
A lui la sagesse et la toute-puissance: Qui lui résisterait impunément?
5 [He it is] who removeth mountains, and they know it not, yea, when he overturneth them in his anger;
Il transporte soudain les montagnes, Il les renverse dans sa colère.
6 Who shaketh the earth loose out of her place, that her pillars tremble;
Il secoue la terre sur sa base, Et ses colonnes sont ébranlées.
7 Who speaketh to the sun, and he shineth not, and around the stars he placeth a seal;
Il commande au soleil, et le soleil ne paraît pas; Il met un sceau sur les étoiles.
8 Who spread out the heavens by himself alone, and treadeth upon the hillocks of the sea;
Seul, il étend les cieux, Il marche sur les hauteurs de la mer.
9 Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers the south;
Il a créé la Grande Ourse, l’Orion et les Pléiades, Et les étoiles des régions australes.
10 Who doth great things which are quite unsearchable, and wonders which are quite without number.
Il fait des choses grandes et insondables, Des merveilles sans nombre.
11 Lo, were he to go past by me, I should not see him; and were he to pass along, I should not perceive him.
Voici, il passe près de moi, et je ne le vois pas, Il s’en va, et je ne l’aperçois pas.
12 Behold, were he to snatch aught away, who could hold him back? who would say unto him, What dost thou?
S’il enlève, qui s’y opposera? Qui lui dira: Que fais-tu?
13 God will not withdraw his anger: beneath him sink down the helpers of the proud.
Dieu ne retire point sa colère; Sous lui s’inclinent les appuis de l’orgueil.
14 How much less then could I answer him, and select my words [to contend] with him?
Et moi, comment lui répondre? Quelles paroles choisir?
15 Whom, were I even righteous, I could not answer? to him that condemneth me I could [only] make supplication.
Quand je serais juste, je ne répondrais pas; Je ne puis qu’implorer mon juge.
16 Or were I to call, and he would answer me, I could yet not believe that he would give ear unto my voice—
Et quand il m’exaucerait, si je l’invoque, Je ne croirais pas qu’il eût écouté ma voix,
17 He that bruiseth me with [his] tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without a cause.
Lui qui m’assaille comme par une tempête, Qui multiplie sans raison mes blessures,
18 He suffereth me not to recover my breath; but feedeth me overmuch with bitter things.
Qui ne me laisse pas respirer, Qui me rassasie d’amertume.
19 If it regard strength, lo, he is the powerful; and if justice, who will cite him for me to appear?
Recourir à la force? Il est tout-puissant. A la justice? Qui me fera comparaître?
20 If I were righteous even, my own mouth would condemn me: were I innocent, it would still prove me perverse.
Suis-je juste, ma bouche me condamnera; Suis-je innocent, il me déclarera coupable.
21 I am innocent; I will not have regard for myself: I will despise my life.
Innocent! Je le suis; mais je ne tiens pas à la vie, Je méprise mon existence.
22 One thing is [certain], therefore have I said it, The innocent and the wicked he bringeth to their end.
Qu’importe après tout? Car, j’ose le dire, Il détruit l’innocent comme le coupable.
23 If a scourge should slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the guiltless.
Si du moins le fléau donnait soudain la mort!… Mais il se rit des épreuves de l’innocent.
24 Is a land given up into the hand of the wicked? he covereth the faces of its judges: if this be not the truth, who is it then?
La terre est livrée aux mains de l’impie; Il voile la face des juges. Si ce n’est pas lui, qui est-ce donc?
25 And my days pass swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no happiness,
Mes jours sont plus rapides qu’un courrier; Ils fuient sans avoir vu le bonheur;
26 They hasten along like pirate ships: like the eagle that stoopeth down upon his food.
Ils passent comme les navires de jonc, Comme l’aigle qui fond sur sa proie.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sorrowful countenance, and recover my cheerfulness:
Si je dis: Je veux oublier mes souffrances, Laisser ma tristesse, reprendre courage,
28 O then would I be in dread of all my pains; I know that thou wilt not declare me innocent.
Je suis effrayé de toutes mes douleurs. Je sais que tu ne me tiendras pas pour innocent.
29 I must ever be guilty: why then should I fatigue myself for nought?
Je serai jugé coupable; Pourquoi me fatiguer en vain?
30 If I were to wash myself in snow-water, to cleanse myself in the purity of my hands:
Quand je me laverais dans la neige, Quand je purifierais mes mains avec du savon,
31 Even then wouldst thou plunge me in the ditch, that my own clothes would render me abhorred.
Tu me plongerais dans la fange, Et mes vêtements m’auraient en horreur.
32 For he is not a man, like me, that I could answer him, that we should enter together into a contest.
Il n’est pas un homme comme moi, pour que je lui réponde, Pour que nous allions ensemble en justice.
33 There is no one who can decide between us, who could lay his hand upon us both.
Il n’y a pas entre nous d’arbitre, Qui pose sa main sur nous deux.
34 Let him but remove from me his rod, and let not his dread terrify me:
Qu’il retire sa verge de dessus moi, Que ses terreurs ne me troublent plus;
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; for the like I feel not within me.
Alors je parlerai et je ne le craindrai pas. Autrement, je ne suis point à moi-même.
