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.

“My troubled thoughts make me answer, because I have no rest inside.

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

I heard the strong words that take away my honor. 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 not know from long ago, since man was put on earth,

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

that the honor of the sinful is short, and the joy of the sinful lasts only a short time?

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

Even if his pride is as high as 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 will be gone forever, like his own waste. 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 will fly away like a dream, and not be found. He will be driven away like a dream of the night.

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

The eye which saw him will see him no more. His place will no longer see him.

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

His sons will look for the favor of the poor. And his hands will give back his riches.

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

His bones are full of the strength of the young, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

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

“Sin is sweet in his mouth. He hides it under his tongue.

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

He hates to let it go, and 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 poison of snakes inside him.

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

He eats riches, but will spit them up. God will take them out of his stomach.

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

He will drink the poison of snakes. The snake’s tongue will kill him.

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

He will not look at the rivers, the rivers flowing with honey and milk.

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 must return what he has worked for, and can not eat it. He will not have joy from the riches of his trading.

19 C ar il a opprimé, délaissé les pauvres, Il a ruiné des maisons et ne les a pas rétablies.

For he has taken from the poor and left them with nothing. He has taken houses 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 thought he never had enough, he has nothing that gives him joy.

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

There was nothing more for him to get, so his having everything will not last.

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

Even when he has many riches, he will have trouble. 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 stomach, God will send His great anger on him. He will send it on him while he is eating.

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

He may get away from the iron sword, but the brass bow will shoot an arrow in 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 cuts through his body and comes out of his back. The shining arrow comes out of his liver. Much fear comes 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 stored up for his riches. A fire not kept going by man will burn him up. It will destroy all that is left in his tent.

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

The heavens will make his sin known, 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 things of his house will be carried away. They will be taken away in the day of God’s anger.

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

This is what God has for sinful men. It is what God chooses to give to them.”