Job 23
1 Then Job answered,
Alors Job prit la parole et dit:
2 "Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
Oui, aujourd’hui ma plainte est amère, et pourtant ma main retient mes soupirs.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him. That I might come even to his seat.
Oh! Qui me donnera de savoir où le trouver, d’arriver jusqu’à son trône!
4 I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
Je plaiderais ma cause devant lui, et je remplirais ma bouche d’arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.
Je saurais les raisons qu’il peut m’opposer, je verrais ce qu’il peut avoir à me dire.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.
M’opposerait-il la grandeur de sa puissance? Ne jetterait-il pas au moins les yeux sur moi?
7 There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.
Alors l’innocent discuterait avec lui, et je m’en irais absous pour toujours par mon juge.
8 "If I go east, he is not there; if west, I can't find him;
Mais si je vais à l’orient, il n’y est pas; à l’occident, je ne l’aperçois pas.
9 He works to the north, but I can't see him. He turns south, but I can't catch a glimpse of him.
Est-il occupé au septentrion, je ne le vois pas; se cache-t-il au midi, je ne puis le découvrir.
10 But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.
Cependant il connaît les sentiers où je marche; qu’il m’examine, je sortirai pur comme l’or.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned aside.
Mon pied a toujours foulé ses traces; je me suis tenu dans sa voie sans dévier.
12 I haven't gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Je ne me suis pas écarté des préceptes de ses lèvres; j’ai fait plier ma volonté aux paroles de sa bouche.
13 But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
Mais il a une pensée: qui l’en fera revenir? Ce qu’il désire, il l’exécute.
14 For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.
Il accomplira donc ce qu’il a décrété à mon sujet, et de pareils desseins, il en a beaucoup.
15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.
Voilà pourquoi je me trouble en sa présence; quand j’y pense, j’ai peur de lui.
16 For God has made my heart faint. Shaddai has terrified me.
Dieu fait fondre mon cœur; le Tout-Puissant me remplit d’effroi.
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
Car ce ne sont pas les ténèbres qui me consument, ni l’obscurité dont ma face est voilée.
