1 T hen Job answered,

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 him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

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? Whose spirit came out of you?

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

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

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

6 S heol is naked before God, and Abaddon 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, and 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 waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not burst under them.

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

9 H e encloses the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud on it.

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

10 H e has described a boundary on the surface of the waters, and to the confines 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 strikes through Rahab.

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

13 B y his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift serpent.

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

14 B ehold, 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?”

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?