1 É liphaz de Théman prit la parole et dit:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 L e sage répond-il par un vain savoir? Se gonfle-t-il la poitrine du vent d'orient?

“Should a wise man answer with learning that is of no worth, and fill himself with the east wind?

3 E st-ce par d'inutiles propos qu'il se défend? Est-ce par des discours qui ne servent à rien?

Should he argue with talk that will not help, or with words that do no good?

4 T oi, tu détruis même la crainte de Dieu, Tu anéantis tout mouvement de piété devant Dieu.

For sure you are doing away with the fear of the Lord. You are stopping the quiet worship of God.

5 T on iniquité dirige ta bouche, Et tu prends le langage des hommes rusés.

You show your sin by what you say. You are trying to hide behind your words.

6 C e n'est pas moi, c'est ta bouche qui te condamne. Ce sont tes lèvres qui déposent contre toi.

Your own mouth says you are guilty, and not I. Your own lips speak against you.

7 E s-tu né le premier des hommes? As-tu été enfanté avant les collines?

“Were you the first man to be born? Or were you made before the hills?

8 A s-tu reçu les confidences de Dieu? As-tu dérobé la sagesse à ton profit?

Were you there to hear the secret plans of God? Are you the only one who has wisdom?

9 Q ue sais-tu que nous ne sachions pas? Quelle connaissance as-tu que nous n'ayons pas?

What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us?

10 I l y a parmi nous des cheveux blancs, des vieillards, Plus riches de jours que ton père.

Men whose hair has grown white and those who have lived many years are among us. They are older than your father.

11 T iens-tu pour peu de chose les consolations de Dieu, Et les paroles qui doucement se font entendre à toi?...

Are the gentle words spoken to you, which give comfort from God, too little for you?

12 O ù ton coeur t'entraîne-t-il, Et que signifie ce roulement de tes yeux?

Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes shine,

13 Q uoi! c'est contre Dieu que tu tournes ta colère Et que ta bouche exhale de pareils discours!

that you turn your spirit against God and let such words go out of your mouth?

14 Q u'est-ce que l'homme, pour qu'il soit pur? Celui qui est né de la femme peut-il être juste?

What is man, that he can be pure, or he who is born of a woman, that he can be right and good?

15 S i Dieu n'a pas confiance en ses saints, Si les cieux ne sont pas purs devant lui,

See, God puts no trust in His holy ones. The heavens are not pure in His eyes.

16 C ombien moins l'être abominable et pervers, L'homme qui boit l'iniquité comme l'eau!

How much less one who is hated and sinful, a man who drinks sin like water!

17 J e vais te parler, écoute-moi! Je raconterai ce que j'ai vu,

“I will tell you, listen to me. I will make known what I have seen,

18 C e que les sages ont fait connaître, Ce qu'ils ont révélé, l'ayant appris de leurs pères.

what wise men have told that they learned from their fathers. They have not hidden anything.

19 A eux seuls appartenait le pays, Et parmi eux nul étranger n'était encore venu.

These were the ones to whom the land was given, and no stranger passed among them.

20 L e méchant passe dans l'angoisse tous les jours de sa vie, Toutes les années qui sont le partage de l'impie.

The sinful man suffers in pain all his days. His years are numbered because of all his sin.

21 L a voix de la terreur retentit à ses oreilles; Au sein de la paix, le dévastateur va fondre sur lui;

Sounds of fear are in his ears. When all seems to be going well, the one who destroys will come upon him.

22 I l n'espère pas échapper aux ténèbres, Il voit l'épée qui le menace;

He does not believe that he will be taken away from darkness, and the sword is meant for him.

23 I l court çà et là pour chercher du pain, Il sait que le jour des ténèbres l'attend.

He goes to look for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is near.

24 L a détresse et l'angoisse l'épouvantent, Elles l'assaillent comme un roi prêt à combattre;

Trouble and pain fill him with fear. They have power over him like a king ready for battle.

25 C ar il a levé la main contre Dieu, Il a bravé le Tout Puissant,

He has put out his hand against God, and is full of pride against the All-powerful.

26 I l a eu l'audace de courir à lui Sous le dos épais de ses boucliers.

He rushes in pride against Him with his big battle-covering.

27 I l avait le visage couvert de graisse, Les flancs chargés d'embonpoint;

His face is fat, and his thighs are heavy with fat.

28 E t il habite des villes détruites, Des maisons abandonnées, Sur le point de tomber en ruines.

He has lived in cities that have been laid waste, in houses where no one lives which will be destroyed.

29 I l ne s'enrichira plus, sa fortune ne se relèvera pas, Sa prospérité ne s'étendra plus sur la terre.

He will no longer be rich, and what he has will not last. His grain will come to nothing.

30 I l ne pourra se dérober aux ténèbres, La flamme consumera ses rejetons, Et Dieu le fera périr par le souffle de sa bouche.

He will not get away from darkness. The fire will dry up his branches, and the breath of God’s mouth will drive him away.

31 S 'il a confiance dans le mal, il se trompe, Car le mal sera sa récompense.

Let him not lie to himself and trust in what is empty. For what is empty will be his reward.

32 E lle arrivera avant le terme de ses jours, Et son rameau ne verdira plus.

It will be paid in full while he still lives, and his branch will not be green.

33 I l sera comme une vigne dépouillée de ses fruits encore verts, Comme un olivier dont on a fait tomber les fleurs.

He will be like the vine that drops off its grapes before they are ready. And he will throw off his flower like the olive tree.

34 L a maison de l'impie deviendra stérile, Et le feu dévorera la tente de l'homme corrompu.

Those who visit the sinful bring no fruit. And fire destroys the tents of those who do wrong.

35 I l conçoit le mal et il enfante le mal, Il mûrit dans son sein des fruits qui le trompent.

They give birth to trouble and bring sin. Their minds plan lies.”