< Job 20 >
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
Alors, répondant, Sophar, le Naamathite, dit:
2 "Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
C’est pour cela que mes différentes pensées se succèdent, et que mon esprit est entraîné dans des sentiments divers.
3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.
J’écouterai la doctrine en vertu de laquelle tu m’accuses, et l’esprit de mon intelligence répondra pour moi.
4 Do you not know this from old time, since humankind was placed on earth,
Ce que je sais être dès le principe, depuis que l’homme a été placé sur la terre,
5 that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
C’est que la gloire des impies a été courte et la joie de l’hypocrite comme un moment.
6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
Si son orgueil s’élève jusqu’au ciel, et que sa tête touche les nues,
7 yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'
Il périra à la fin comme un fumier, et ceux qui l’avaient vu diront: Où est-il?
8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.
Comme un songe qui s’envole, on ne le verra plus; il passera comme une vision de nuit.
9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.
L’œil qui l’avait vu ne le verra pas; et son lieu ne le regardera plus.
10 His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.
Ses enfants dépériront par l’indigence, et ses mains lui rendront la douleur qu’il a faite aux autres.
11 His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.
Ses os seront remplis des vices de sa jeunesse, et ces vices dormiront avec lui dans la poussière,
12 "Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
Car, comme le mal est doux à sa bouche, il le cachera sous sa langue.
13 though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
Il le ménagera, et il ne le laissera pas, mais il le tiendra caché dans sa gorge.
14 yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
Son pain dans ses entrailles, au dedans de lui, se changera en fiel d’aspic.
15 He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
Il vomira les richesses qu’il a dévorées, et Dieu les arrachera de ses entrailles.
16 He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.
Il sucera la tête des aspics, et la langue d’une vipère le tuera.
17 He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
(Qu’il ne voie point couler les ruisseaux d’un fleuve, et les torrents de miel et de beurre).
18 That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
Il expiera tout ce qu’il a fait, et cependant il ne sera pas consumé; c’est selon les richesses qu’il a acquises qu’il aura à souffrir,
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
Parce qu’en les brisant, il a dépouillé les pauvres; il a ravi une maison qu’il n’a pas bâtie.
20 "Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.
Son ventre n’a pas été rassasié; et lorsqu’il aura eu ce qu’il avait convoité, il ne pourra pas le posséder.
21 There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
Il n’est rien resté de ses vivres; et à cause de cela rien ne lui demeurera de ses biens.
22 In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.
Lorsqu’il se sera rassasié, il sera oppressé et étouffé de chaleur, et toute sorte de douleurs fondront sur lui.
23 When he is about to fill his belly, he will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
Puisse son ventre être rempli, en sorte que Dieu envoie contre lui la colère de sa fureur, et qu’il fasse pleuvoir sur lui ses foudres!
24 He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.
Il échappera à des armes de fer, mais il sera transpercé par un arc d’airain.
25 He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.
Un glaive tiré et sortant de son fourreau étincellera dans son amertume; d’horribles spectres iront et viendront sur lui.
26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
Toutes sortes de ténèbres sont fermées à ses caches; un feu qui ne s’allume point le dévorera; il sera affligé, se trouvant délaissé dans son tabernacle.
27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him.
Les cieux révéleront son iniquité, et la terre s’élèvera contre lui.
28 The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.
Les rejetons de sa maison seront exposés à la violence; ils seront enlevés au jour de la fureur de Dieu.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God."
Voilà la part d’un homme impie, faite par Dieu, et l’héritage réservé à ses paroles par le Seigneur.