Job 23
1 Then Job answered and said,
Job reprit la parole et dit:
2 “Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of my groaning.
Aujourd’hui encore ma plainte est traitée de révolte; pourtant ma main se fatigue à comprimer mes soupirs.
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him! Oh, that I might come to his place!
Que ne m’est-il donné de savoir où le trouver! Je voudrais pénétrer jusqu’à son siège.
4 I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
J’Exposerais ma cause devant lui, ayant la bouche pleine d’arguments.
5 I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.
Je connaîtrais les réponses qu’il m’opposerait et me rendrais compte de ce qu’il me dirait.
6 Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.
Jetterait-il le poids de sa force dans sa discussion avec moi? Non, mais il me prêterait quelque attention.
7 There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
C’Est un homme droit qui se trouverait alors en face de lui, et pour toujours je serais quitte envers mon juge.
8 See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.
Mais quoi! Je me dirige vers l’Orient: il n’y est pas! vers l’Occident, je ne le remarque point!
9 To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.
Exerce-t-il son action au Nord? Je ne le vois pas; se retire-t-il au Sud? Je ne l’aperçois pas.
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.
Car il connaît la conduite que je mène: s’il me jetait au creuset, j’en sortirais pur comme l’or.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not aside.
Mon pied s’est attaché fidèlement à ses traces; j’ai suivi ses voies sans dévier.
12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
Des préceptes de ses lèvres je ne me suis pas écarté; plus qu’à mes propres inspirations, j’ai obéi aux paroles de sa bouche.
13 But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.
Mais lui, il demeure immuable: qui pourrait le faire changer d’avis? Ce qui lui plaît, il l’accomplit.
14 For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.
Assurément, il exécutera jusqu’au bout ce qu’il a décrété contre moi: il nourrit encore beaucoup de desseins semblables.
15 Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.
C’Est pourquoi je me sens troublé devant sa face; en y réfléchissant, j’ai peur de lui.
16 For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.
Dieu a découragé mon cœur, le Tout-Puissant m’a rempli d’épouvante,
17 I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.
puisque d’une part, il ne m’a pas anéanti par les ténèbres qui m’accablent, et que d’autre part il n’a pas voulu me mettre à l’abri de cette sombre nuit.
