1 J ob prit la parole et dit:

Then Job answered,

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

“How have you helped him who is without power! How have you saved the arm that has no strength!

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

How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

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

To whom have you uttered words? Whose spirit came out of you?

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

“The departed spirits tremble, those beneath the waters and all that live in them.

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

Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.

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

He stretches out the north over empty space, and hangs the earth on 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 burst under them.

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

He encloses the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud on it.

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

He has described a boundary on the surface of the waters, and to the confines 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 rebuke.

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

He stirs up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he strikes through Rahab.

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

By his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift 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 but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?”