Job 23
1 Mais, répondant, Job dit:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Maintenant encore mes paroles sont pleines d’amertume, et la violence de ma plaie s’est plus aggravée que mes gémissements.
Even today my complaint is rebellious. My stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Qui m’accordera que je sache trouver Dieu, et arriver jusqu’à son trône?
O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
4 J’exposerai ma cause devant lui, et je remplirai ma bouche de récriminations,
I would set my case in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 Afin que je sache les paroles qu’il me répondra, et que je comprenne ce qu’il me dira.
I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
6 Je ne veux pas qu’il lutte contre moi avec beaucoup de force, ni qu’il m’accable par le poids de sa grandeur.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would give heed to me.
7 Qu’il mette en avant contre moi l’équité, et ma cause obtiendra la victoire.
There the upright might reason with him. So I should be delivered forever from my judge.
8 Si je vais à l’orient, il ne paraît pas; si à l’occident, je ne l’aperçois point.
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive him,
9 Si c’est à gauche, que ferai-je? je ne l’atteindrai pas; si je me tourne à droite, je ne le verrai pas.
on the left hand, when he works, but I cannot behold him. He hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.
10 Mais pour lui, il connaît ma voie, et il m’a éprouvé comme l’or qui passe par le feu.
But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 Mon pied a suivi ses traces; j’ai gardé sa voie, et je ne m’en suis pas détourné,
My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned aside.
12 Je ne me suis pas écarté des commandements sortis de ses lèvres, et j’ai caché dans mon sein les paroles de sa bouche.
I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips, I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 Car lui est seul Tout-Puissant, et personne ne peut détourner sa pensée; et tout ce que son âme a voulu, elle l’a fait.
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desires, even that he does.
14 Quand il aura accompli en moi sa volonté, il aura encore un grand nombre de moyens semblables à sa disposition.
For he performs that which is appointed for me. And many such things are with him.
15 Et c’est pour cela qu’à sa face je suis troublé, et que, le considérant, je suis agité par la crainte.
Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 Dieu a amolli mon cœur, et, le Tout-Puissant m’a épouvanté.
For God has made my heart faint, and the Almighty has terrified me,
17 Car je n’ai pas péri à cause des ténèbres qui me pressent, et une obscurité n’a pas couvert ma face.
because I was not cut off before the darkness, nor did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
