1 J ob prit de nouveau la parole sous forme sentencieuse et dit:

Then Job spoke again and said,

2 O h! que ne puis-je être comme aux mois du passé, Comme aux jours où Dieu me gardait,

“If only I could be now as I was in the months past when God watched over me!

3 Q uand sa lampe brillait sur ma tête, Et que sa lumière me guidait dans les ténèbres!

His lamp shined over my head then and by His light I walked through darkness.

4 Q ue ne suis-je comme aux jours de ma vigueur, Où Dieu veillait en ami sur ma tente,

Those days were my best days when God was my friend watching over my tent.

5 Q uand le Tout Puissant était encore avec moi, Et que mes enfants m'entouraient;

The All-powerful was still with me, and my children were around me.

6 Q uand mes pieds se baignaient dans la crème Et que le rocher répandait près de moi des ruisseaux d'huile!

My path was washed with milk, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me.

7 S i je sortais pour aller à la porte de la ville, Et si je me faisais préparer un siège dans la place,

When I went to the city gate and took my place with the leaders of the city,

8 L es jeunes gens se retiraient à mon approche, Les vieillards se levaient et se tenaient debout.

the young men saw me and let me go by. The old men rose and stood.

9 L es princes arrêtaient leurs discours, Et mettaient la main sur leur bouche;

The leaders stopped talking, and put their hands on their mouths.

10 L a voix des chefs se taisait, Et leur langue s'attachait à leur palais.

The voices of the rulers were quiet. Their tongues held to the roof of their mouths.

11 L 'oreille qui m'entendait me disait heureux, L'oeil qui me voyait me rendait témoignage;

Those who heard me, honored me. Those who saw me, respected me,

12 C ar je sauvais le pauvre qui implorait du secours, Et l'orphelin qui manquait d'appui.

because I helped the poor man when he cried for help and the child without parents who had no one to help him.

13 L a bénédiction du malheureux venait sur moi; Je remplissais de joie le coeur de la veuve.

Good came to me from the man who was dying. And I made the heart of the woman whose husband had died sing for joy.

14 J e me revêtais de la justice et je lui servais de vêtement, J'avais ma droiture pour manteau et pour turban.

I put on what was right and good, and it clothed me. The right things done were my coat and head-covering.

15 J 'étais l'oeil de l'aveugle Et le pied du boiteux.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the man who could not walk.

16 J 'étais le père des misérables, J'examinais la cause de l'inconnu;

I was a father to those in need. And I helped those I did not know who had a need.

17 J e brisais la mâchoire de l'injuste, Et j'arrachais de ses dents la proie.

I broke the jaws of the sinful, and took from their teeth what they had taken.

18 A lors je disais: Je mourrai dans mon nid, Mes jours seront abondants comme le sable;

Then I thought, ‘I will die in my nest. My days will be as many as the sand.

19 L 'eau pénétrera dans mes racines, La rosée passera la nuit sur mes branches;

My roots go to the water. As the water is on the grass in the early morning, it will be all night on my branches.

20 M a gloire reverdira sans cesse, Et mon arc rajeunira dans ma main.

My honor is always new to me, and my bow is new in my hand.’

21 O n m'écoutait et l'on restait dans l'attente, On gardait le silence devant mes conseils.

“Men listened to me and waited. They were quiet so they could hear my words of wisdom.

22 A près mes discours, nul ne répliquait, Et ma parole était pour tous une bienfaisante rosée;

After I spoke, they did not speak again. My words stayed with them.

23 I ls comptaient sur moi comme sur la pluie, Ils ouvraient la bouche comme pour une pluie du printemps.

They waited for me as for rain. And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24 J e leur souriais quand ils perdaient courage, Et l'on ne pouvait chasser la sérénité de mon front.

I looked at them with joy when they were not sure of themselves, and the light of my face gave them comfort.

25 J 'aimais à aller vers eux, et je m'asseyais à leur tête; J'étais comme un roi au milieu d'une troupe, Comme un consolateur auprès des affligés.

I decided the way for them and sat as their leader. I lived as a king among his army, and like one who gives comfort to those in sorrow.