Job 29
1 Job, poursuivant l’exposé de son thème, dit:
And Job again took up the word and said,
2 Ah! Que ne suis-je tel que j’étais aux temps passés, aux jours où Dieu me protégeait;
If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
3 où son flambeau brillait sur ma tête, et où sa lumière me guidait dans les ténèbres;
When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
4 tel que j’étais aux jours de mon automne, alors que l’amitié de Dieu s’étendait sur ma demeure;
As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
5 que le Tout-Puissant était encore avec moi et que j’étais entouré de mes jeunes gens;
While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
6 quand je baignais mes pieds dans la crème, et que le rocher ruisselait pour moi de flots d’huile!
When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
7 Quand je me dirigeais vers la Porte, au seuil de la cité, et fixais mon siège sur la place publique,
When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
8 les jeunes, en me voyant, se cachaient; les vieillards se levaient et se tenaient debout.
The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
9 Les grands retenaient leurs paroles et posaient la main sur la bouche.
The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
10 La voix des seigneurs expirait sur leurs lèvres, et leur langue se collait à leur palais;
The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
11 car l’oreille qui m’entendait me proclamait heureux, et l’œil qui me voyait rendait témoignage pour moi.
For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
12 C’Est que je sauvais le pauvre, criant au secours, et l’orphelin sans soutien.
For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
13 La bénédiction du désespéré allait à moi, et je mettais de la joie au cœur de la veuve.
The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
14 Je me revêtais d’équité comme d’une parure, mon esprit de justice était mon manteau et mon turban.
I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
15 J’Étais les yeux de l’aveugle, j’étais les pieds du boiteux.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
16 J’Étais un père pour les malheureux; la cause de l’inconnu, je l’étudiais à fond.
I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
17 Je brisais la mâchoire du malfaiteur, et j’arrachais la proie d’entre ses dents.
By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
18 Et je disais: "Je finirai avec mon nid; comme le phénix je vivrai de longs jours.
Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
19 Ma racine sera en contact avec l’eau, la rosée se posera, la nuit, sur mon branchage.
My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
20 Ma gloire se renouvellera sans cesse, et mon arc se rajeunira dans ma main."
My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
21 Ils m’écoutaient, pleins d’attente; ils faisaient silence pour entendre mon avis.
Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
22 Quand j’avais fini de parler, ils ne répliquaient pas, et mes discours s’épandaient sur eux.
After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
23 Ils m’attendaient comme la pluie; ils ouvraient la bouche comme pour l’ondée printanière.
They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
24 Je leur souriais et ils n’osaient y croire; jamais ils n’éteignaient le rayonnement de ma face.
I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
25 Volontiers j’allais vers eux, m’asseyant à leur tête, et j’étais comme un roi dans son armée, comme quelqu’un: qui console des affligés.
I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
