1 B ut Job answered and said,

Job prit la parole et dit:

2 H ow hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

Comme tu sais bien venir en aide à la faiblesse! Comme tu prêtes secours au bras sans force!

3 H ow hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

Quels bons conseils tu donnes à celui qui manque d'intelligence! Quelle abondance de sagesse tu fais paraître!

4 T o whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

A qui s'adressent tes paroles? Et qui est-ce qui t'inspire?

5 D ead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

Devant Dieu les ombres tremblent Au-dessous des eaux et de leurs habitants;

6 H ell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

Devant lui le séjour des morts est nu, L'abîme n'a point de voile.

7 H e stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

Il étend le septentrion sur le vide, Il suspend la terre sur le néant.

8 H e bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

Il renferme les eaux dans ses nuages, Et les nuages n'éclatent pas sous leur poids.

9 H e holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.

Il couvre la face de son trône, Il répand sur lui sa nuée.

10 H e hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

Il a tracé un cercle à la surface des eaux, Comme limite entre la lumière et les ténèbres.

11 T he pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

Les colonnes du ciel s'ébranlent, Et s'étonnent à sa menace.

12 H e divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

Par sa force il soulève la mer, Par son intelligence il en brise l'orgueil.

13 B y his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

Son souffle donne au ciel la sérénité, Sa main transperce le serpent fuyard.

14 L o, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

Ce sont là les bords de ses voies, C'est le bruit léger qui nous en parvient; Mais qui entendra le tonnerre de sa puissance?