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