1 T sophar de Naama prit la parole et dit:

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 M es pensées me forcent à répondre, Et mon agitation ne peut se contenir.

“Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation.

3 J 'ai entendu des reproches qui m'outragent; Le souffle de mon intelligence donnera la réplique.

“I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

4 N e sais-tu pas que, de tout temps, Depuis que l'homme a été placé sur la terre,

“Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

5 L e triomphe des méchants a été court, Et la joie de l'impie momentanée?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?

6 Q uand il s'élèverait jusqu'aux cieux, Et que sa tête toucherait aux nues,

“Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,

7 I l périra pour toujours comme son ordure, Et ceux qui le voyaient diront: Où est-il?

He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

8 I l s'envolera comme un songe, et on ne le trouvera plus; Il disparaîtra comme une vision nocturne;

“He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.

9 L 'oeil qui le regardait ne le regardera plus, Le lieu qu'il habitait ne l'apercevra plus.

“The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him.

10 S es fils seront assaillis par les pauvres, Et ses mains restitueront ce qu'il a pris par violence.

“His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth.

11 L a vigueur de la jeunesse, qui remplissait ses membres, Aura sa couche avec lui dans la poussière.

“His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust.

12 L e mal était doux à sa bouche, Il le cachait sous sa langue,

“Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,

13 I l le savourait sans l'abandonner, Il le retenait au milieu de son palais;

Though he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth,

14 M ais sa nourriture se transformera dans ses entrailles, Elle deviendra dans son corps un venin d'aspic.

Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him.

15 I l a englouti des richesses, il les vomira; Dieu les chassera de son ventre.

“He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

16 I l a sucé du venin d'aspic, La langue de la vipère le tuera.

“He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue slays him.

17 I l ne reposera plus ses regards sur les ruisseaux, Sur les torrents, sur les fleuves de miel et de lait.

“He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

18 I l rendra ce qu'il a gagné, et n'en profitera plus; Il restituera tout ce qu'il a pris, et n'en jouira plus.

“He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them.

19 C ar 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 seized a house which he has not built.

20 S on avidité n'a point connu de bornes; Mais il ne sauvera pas ce qu'il avait de plus cher.

“Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires.

21 R ien n'échappait à sa voracité; Mais son bien-être ne durera pas.

“Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure.

22 A u milieu de l'abondance il sera dans la détresse; La main de tous les misérables se lèvera sur lui.

“In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.

23 E t 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 fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it on him while he is eating.

24 S 'il échappe aux armes de fer, L'arc d'airain le transpercera.

“He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him.

25 I l arrache de son corps le trait, Qui étincelle au sortir de ses entrailles, Et il est en proie aux terreurs de la mort.

“It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him,

26 T outes 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.

Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.

27 L es cieux dévoileront son iniquité, Et la terre s'élèvera contre lui.

“The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.

28 L es revenus de sa maison seront emportés, Ils disparaîtront au jour de la colère de Dieu.

“The increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.

29 T elle est la part que Dieu réserve au méchant, Tel est l'héritage que Dieu lui destine.

“This is the wicked man’s portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God.”