1 J ob prit la parole et dit:

¶ Job answered and said,

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

How hast thou helped the one who has no power? Hast thou saved with thy arm the one who has no strength?

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

How hast thou counselled the one that has no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

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

To whom hast thou uttered words, and whose is the spirit that comes forth from thee?

5 D evant Dieu les ombres tremblent Au-dessous des eaux et de leurs habitants;

¶ Dead things are formed under the waters and of its dwelling places.

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

Sheol is naked before him, and hell has no covering.

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

He stretches out the north wind over the empty place and hangs the earth upon nothing.

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

He binds up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

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

He holds back the face of his throne and spreads his cloud upon it.

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

He has compassed the waters with bounds until the end of light and darkness.

11 L es colonnes du ciel s'ébranlent, Et s'étonnent à sa menace.

The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

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

He divides the sea with his power, and by his intelligence he smites its pride.

13 S on souffle donne au ciel la sérénité, Sa main transperce le serpent fuyard.

By his spirit he has adorned the heavens; his hand has formed the fleeing serpent.

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

Behold, these are parts of his ways; but how little a portion have we heard of him? For the thunder of his power, who shall understand?