Job 20
1 Et Zophar de Naama répondit et dit:
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
2 Mes pensées vont, et pour cause, me fournir la réplique; aussi j'ai hâte de la faire:
"Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3 j'ai dû entendre une leçon qui m'outrage! mais l'esprit selon mes lumières répondra pour moi.
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 fut placé sur la terre,
Do you not know this from old time, since humankind was placed on earth,
5 la joie des impies est de courte durée, et l'allégresse des profanes n'a qu'un instant?
that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6 Que sa grandeur s'élève jusques aux Cieux, et que sa tête touche aux nues,
Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
7 pour toujours il périt comme les excréments; ceux qui l'ont vu, demandent: 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'envole comme un songe, et on ne le retrouve pas; il a fui 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 l'a vu, ne l'aperçoit plus, et sa demeure ne le reverra pas.
The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.
10 Les indigents accablent ses fils dont les mains doivent restituer ses biens,
His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.
11 Ses os surabondaient d'une vigueur juvénile, et sur la poussière elle gît avec lui.
His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Quelque douceur que sa bouche trouve au mal, qu'il le tienne en réserve sous sa langue,
"Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
13 le savourant lentement, sans le laisser aller, mais le retenant collé à son palais,
though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
14 cet aliment qu'il prend, se transforme dans ses entrailles, et devient au dedans de lui un venin d'aspic,
yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
15 Il engloutit des richesses, et il les revomit; de son ventre Dieu les fait ressortir,
He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
16 il suce le venin de l'aspic, et la langue de la vipère le tue.
He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.
17 Son regard n'est plus réjoui par les ruisseaux, ni par les fleuves, les torrents de miel et de lait.
He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
18 Il restitue ses gains, et ne les consomme pas: autant il possède, autant il restitue, et il ne peut se réjouir.
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 écrasa, délaissa les pauvres, il ravit des maisons, et ne les releva pas;
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
20 car il ne connut pas le repos dans son sein. Mais il ne se sauvera pas avec ce qu'il a de plus cher,
"Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.
21 Rien n'échappe à sa voracité, c'est pourquoi son bien-être ne dure pas.
There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
22 Dans la plénitude de l'abondance, il est mis à la gêne; les bras des opprimés fondent 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 Voici Celui qui assouvira son avidité: Il enverra sur lui le feu de Sa colère, et fera pleuvoir sur lui Son pain de douleur;
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 fuit devant l'armure de fer, l'arc d'airain le transperce.
He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.
25 Il extrait le dard de son corps avec le fer brillant qui lui a percé le foie; c'en est fait: il est sous les 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 misères lui sont réservées en échange de ce qu'il a mis en réserve; un feu qu'on n'a pas à souffler, le dévore, et consume ce qui resterait dans sa tente.
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 Le ciel dévoile son crime, et la terre s'élève contre lui.
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him.
28 Tout le revenu de sa maison s'en va, s'écoulant au jour de Sa colère.
The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.
29 Telle est la part que Dieu donne à l'impie, et le lot que le Seigneur lui décerne.
This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God."
