< Job 20 >
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
Alors, répondant, Sophar, le Naamathite, dit:
2 “Therefore my thoughts answer 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 Don’t you know this from old time, since man 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 will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
Il périra à la fin comme un fumier, et ceux qui l’avaient vu diront: Où est-il?
8 He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found. Yes, he will 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 will see him no more, neither will his place see him any more.
L’œil qui l’avait vu ne le verra pas; et son lieu ne le regardera plus.
10 His children will seek the favour of the poor. His hands will 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 will 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 will 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 will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him.
Il sucera la tête des aspics, et la langue d’une vipère le tuera.
17 He will 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 He will restore that for which he laboured, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.
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 will 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 will 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 didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will 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 will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will 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, God 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 will flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow will strike him through.
Il échappera à des armes de fer, mais il sera transpercé par un arc d’airain.
25 He draws it out, 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 will devour him. It will 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 will reveal his iniquity. The earth will rise up against him.
Les cieux révéleront son iniquité, et la terre s’élèvera contre lui.
28 The increase of his house will depart. They will 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.