Job 20
1 Tsophar de Naama prit la parole et dit:
Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,
2 Mes pensées me forcent à répondre, Et mon agitation ne peut se contenir.
I did not suppose that you would answer thus: neither do you understand more than I.
3 J’ai entendu des reproches qui m’outragent; Le souffle de mon intelligence donnera la réplique.
I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.
4 Ne sais-tu pas que, de tout temps, Depuis que l’homme a été placé sur la terre,
Hast you [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?
5 Le triomphe des méchants a été court, Et la joie de l’impie momentanée?
But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:
6 Quand il s’élèverait jusqu’aux cieux, Et que sa tête toucherait aux nues,
although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.
7 Il périra pour toujours comme son ordure, Et ceux qui le voyaient diront: Où est-il?
For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?
8 Il s’envolera comme un songe, et on ne le trouvera plus; Il disparaîtra comme une vision nocturne;
Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.
9 L’œil qui le regardait ne le regardera plus, Le lieu qu’il habitait ne l’apercevra plus.
The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.
10 Ses fils seront assaillis par les pauvres, Et ses mains restitueront ce qu’il a pris par violence.
Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.
11 La vigueur de la jeunesse, qui remplissait ses membres, Aura sa couche avec lui dans la poussière.
His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Le mal était doux à sa bouche, Il le cachait sous sa langue,
Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;
13 Il le savourait sans l’abandonner, Il le retenait au milieu de son palais;
though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:
14 Mais sa nourriture se transformera dans ses entrailles, Elle deviendra dans son corps un venin d’aspic.
yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.
15 Il a englouti des richesses, il les vomira; Dieu les chassera de son ventre.
[His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.
16 Il a sucé du venin d’aspic, La langue de la vipère le tuera.
And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue kill him.
17 Il ne reposera plus ses regards sur les ruisseaux, Sur les torrents, sur les fleuves de miel et de lait.
Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.
18 Il rendra ce qu’il a gagné, et n’en profitera plus; Il restituera tout ce qu’il a pris, et n’en jouira plus.
He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, [for] wealth of which he shall not taste: [it is] as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he can’t swallow.
19 Car il a opprimé, délaissé les pauvres, Il a ruiné des maisons et ne les a pas rétablies.
For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.
20 Son avidité n’a point connu de bornes; Mais il ne sauvera pas ce qu’il avait de plus cher.
There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.
21 Rien n’échappait à sa voracité; Mais son bien-être ne durera pas.
There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.
22 Au milieu de l’abondance il sera dans la détresse; La main de tous les misérables se lèvera sur lui.
But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.
23 Et voici, pour lui remplir le ventre, Dieu enverra sur lui le feu de sa colère, Et le rassasiera par une pluie de traits.
If by any means he would fill his belly, let [God] send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.
24 S’il échappe aux armes de fer, L’arc d’airain le transpercera.
And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.
25 Il arrache de son corps le trait, Qui étincelle au sortir de ses entrailles, Et il est en proie aux terreurs de la mort.
And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.
26 Toutes les calamités sont réservées à ses trésors; Il sera consumé par un feu que n’allumera point l’homme, Et ce qui restera dans sa tente en deviendra la pâture.
And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.
27 Les cieux dévoileront son iniquité, Et la terre s’élèvera contre lui.
And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.
28 Les revenus de sa maison seront emportés, Ils disparaîtront au jour de la colère de Dieu.
Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.
29 Telle est la part que Dieu réserve au méchant, Tel est l’héritage que Dieu lui destine.
This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].
