Job 20
1 Tsophar de Naama prit la parole et dit:
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
2 Mes pensées me forcent à répondre, Et mon agitation ne peut se contenir.
"Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3 J’ai entendu des reproches qui m’outragent; Le souffle de mon intelligence donnera la réplique.
I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. 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,
Do you not know this from old time, since humankind was placed on earth,
5 Le triomphe des méchants a été court, Et la joie de l’impie momentanée?
that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6 Quand il s’élèverait jusqu’aux cieux, Et que sa tête toucherait aux nues,
Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
7 Il périra pour toujours comme son ordure, Et ceux qui le voyaient diront: Où est-il?
yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen 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;
He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away 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 which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.
10 Ses fils seront assaillis par les pauvres, Et ses mains restitueront ce qu’il a pris par violence.
His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.
11 La vigueur de la jeunesse, qui remplissait ses membres, Aura sa couche avec lui dans la poussière.
His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Le mal était doux à sa bouche, Il le cachait sous sa langue,
"Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
13 Il le savourait sans l’abandonner, Il le retenait au milieu de son palais;
though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
14 Mais sa nourriture se transformera dans ses entrailles, Elle deviendra dans son corps un venin d’aspic.
yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
15 Il a englouti des richesses, il les vomira; Dieu les chassera de son ventre.
He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
16 Il a sucé du venin d’aspic, La langue de la vipère le tuera.
He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.
17 Il ne reposera plus ses regards sur les ruisseaux, Sur les torrents, sur les fleuves de miel et de lait.
He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams 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.
That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
19 Car il a opprimé, délaissé les pauvres, Il a ruiné des maisons et ne les a pas rétablies.
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
20 Son avidité n’a point connu de bornes; Mais il ne sauvera pas ce qu’il avait de plus cher.
"Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.
21 Rien n’échappait à sa voracité; Mais son bien-être ne durera pas.
There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
22 Au milieu de l’abondance il sera dans la détresse; La main de tous les misérables se lèvera sur lui.
In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on 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.
When he is about to fill his belly, he will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
24 S’il échappe aux armes de fer, L’arc d’airain le transpercera.
He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.
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.
He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on 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.
All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
27 Les cieux dévoileront son iniquité, Et la terre s’élèvera contre lui.
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him.
28 Les revenus de sa maison seront emportés, Ils disparaîtront au jour de la colère de Dieu.
The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.
29 Telle est la part que Dieu réserve au méchant, Tel est l’héritage que Dieu lui destine.
This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God."
