1 B ut Job answered and said:

Job prit la parole et dit:

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

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

3 H ow have you counseled one who has no wisdom? And how have you declared sound advice to many?

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

4 T o whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit came from you?

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

5 “ The dead tremble, Those under the waters and those inhabiting them.

Devant Dieu les ombres tremblent Au-dessous des eaux et de leurs habitants;

6 S heol is naked before Him, And Destruction has no covering.

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

7 H e stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.

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

8 H e binds up the water in His thick clouds, Yet the clouds are not broken under it.

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

9 H e covers the face of His throne, And spreads His cloud over it.

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

10 H e drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness.

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

11 T he pillars of heaven tremble, And are astonished at His rebuke.

Les colonnes du ciel s'ébranlent, Et s'étonnent à sa menace.

12 H e stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm.

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

13 B y His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

Son souffle donne au ciel la sérénité, Sa main transperce le serpent fuyard.

14 I ndeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

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