1 J ob prit la parole et dit:

¶ Then Job answered and said,

2 J e sais bien qu'il en est ainsi; Comment l'homme serait-il juste devant Dieu?

I know it is so of a truth, but how shall a man be justified with God?

3 S 'il voulait contester avec lui, Sur mille choses il ne pourrait répondre à une seule.

If he desires to contend with him, he will not be able to answer him one thing of a thousand.

4 A lui la sagesse et la toute-puissance: Qui lui résisterait impunément?

He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has hardened himself against him and remained in peace?

5 I l transporte soudain les montagnes, Il les renverse dans sa colère.

Who uproots the mountains in his anger, and they know not who overturned them.

6 I l secoue la terre sur sa base, Et ses colonnes sont ébranlées.

Who removes the earth out of her place and causes her pillars to tremble.

7 I l commande au soleil, et le soleil ne paraît pas; Il met un sceau sur les étoiles.

Who commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.

8 S eul, il étend les cieux, Il marche sur les hauteurs de la mer.

He alone extends the heavens and walks upon the waves of the sea.

9 I l a créé la Grande Ourse, l'Orion et les Pléiades, Et les étoiles des régions australes.

He who made Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the secret places of the south.

10 I l fait des choses grandes et insondables, Des merveilles sans nombre.

He who does great things past finding out, and wonders without number.

11 V oici, il passe près de moi, et je ne le vois pas, Il s'en va, et je ne l'aperçois pas.

Behold, he shall pass before me, and I shall not see him; and he shall pass on, and I shall not understand him.

12 S 'il enlève, qui s'y opposera? Qui lui dira: Que fais-tu?

Behold, he shall take away, who can cause him to restore? Who shall say unto him, What doest thou?

13 D ieu ne retire point sa colère; Sous lui s'inclinent les appuis de l'orgueil.

God will not withdraw his anger, and under him those who help, unto pride are bent over.

14 E t moi, comment lui répondre? Quelles paroles choisir?

¶ How much less shall I answer him and choose out my words to reason with him?

15 Q uand je serais juste, je ne répondrais pas; Je ne puis qu'implorer mon juge.

Who even though I am righteous, yet I would not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

16 E t quand il m'exaucerait, si je l'invoque, Je ne croirais pas qu'il eût écouté ma voix,

Who if I were to invoke him, and he answered me; yet I would not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

17 L ui qui m'assaille comme par une tempête, Qui multiplie sans raison mes blessures,

For he has broken me with a tempest and has multiplied my wounds without cause.

18 Q ui ne me laisse pas respirer, Qui me rassasie d'amertume.

He will not suffer me to take my breath but has filled me with bitterness.

19 R ecourir à la force? Il est Tout Puissant. A la justice? Qui me fera comparaître?

If we were to speak of his strength, he is certainly strong; and if of his judgment, who shall cause us to meet?

20 S uis-je juste, ma bouche me condamnera; Suis-je innocent, il me déclarera coupable.

If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, he shall prove me perverse.

21 I nnocent! Je le suis; mais je ne tiens pas à la vie, Je méprise mon existence.

If I say I am imperfect, I know not my soul; I would condemn my life.

22 Q u'importe après tout? Car, j'ose le dire, Il détruit l'innocent comme le coupable.

¶ One thing remains, that I say, He consumes the perfect and the wicked.

23 S i du moins le fléau donnait soudain la mort!... Mais il se rit des épreuves de l'innocent.

If it is the scourge, it slays suddenly, and it does not laugh at the trial of the innocent.

24 L a terre est livrée aux mains de l'impie; Il voile la face des juges. Si ce n'est pas lui, qui est-ce donc?

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he who does this then, who is it and where is he?

25 M es jours sont plus rapides qu'un courrier; Ils fuient sans avoir vu le bonheur;

¶ Now my days are swifter than a post; they fled away, they never saw good.

26 I ls passent comme les navires de jonc, Comme l'aigle qui fond sur sa proie.

They are passed away as the ships of Ebeh as the eagle that throws himself on the prey.

27 S i je dis: Je veux oublier mes souffrances, Laisser ma tristesse, reprendre courage,

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness and comfort myself;

28 J e suis effrayé de toutes mes douleurs. Je sais que tu ne me tiendras pas pour innocent.

I am afraid of all my troubles; I know that thou wilt not hold me guiltless.

29 J e serai jugé coupable; Pourquoi me fatiguer en vain?

If I am wicked, why then shall I toil in vain?

30 Q uand je me laverais dans la neige, Quand je purifierais mes mains avec du savon,

If I wash myself with snow water and make my hands never so clean;

31 T u me plongerais dans la fange, Et mes vêtements m'auraient en horreur.

yet thou shalt plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes shall abhor me.

32 I l n'est pas un homme comme moi, pour que je lui réponde, Pour que nous allions ensemble en justice.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together unto judgment.

33 I l n'y a pas entre nous d'arbitre, Qui pose sa main sur nous deux.

Neither is there any arbiter between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

34 Q u'il retire sa verge de dessus moi, Que ses terreurs ne me troublent plus;

Let him take his tormentor away from me, and his terror will not perturb me.

35 A lors je parlerai et je ne le craindrai pas. Autrement, je ne suis point à moi-même.

Then I would speak and not fear him, because in this state I am not myself.