Chapter 9

Then Job answered and said,

Job prit la parole et dit:

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

Je sais bien qu`il en est ainsi; Comment l`homme serait-il juste devant Dieu?

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

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

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

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

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

Il transporte soudain les montagnes, Il les renverse dans sa colère.

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Il secoue la terre sur sa base, Et ses colonnes sont ébranlées.

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

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

Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

Seul, il étend les cieux, Il marche sur les hauteurs de la mer.

Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

Il a créé la Grande Ourse, l`Orion et les Pléiades, Et les étoiles des régions australes.

Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

Il fait des choses grandes et insondables, Des merveilles sans nombre.

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Voici, il passe près de moi, et je ne le vois pas, Il s`en va, et je ne l`aperçois pas.

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

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

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

Dieu ne retire point sa colère; Sous lui s`inclinent les appuis de l`orgueil.

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

Et moi, comment lui répondre? Quelles paroles choisir?

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

Quand je serais juste, je ne répondrais pas; Je ne puis qu`implorer mon juge.

If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

Et quand il m`exaucerait, si je l`invoque, Je ne croirais pas qu`il eût écouté ma voix,

For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

Lui qui m`assaille comme par une tempête, Qui multiplie sans raison mes blessures,

He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

Qui ne me laisse pas respirer, Qui me rassasie d`amertume.

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

Recourir à la force? Il est Tout Puissant. A la justice? Qui me fera comparaître?

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

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

Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

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

This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

Qu`importe après tout? Car, j`ose le dire, Il détruit l`innocent comme le coupable.

If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

Si du moins le fléau donnait soudain la mort!... Mais il se rit des épreuves de l`innocent.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

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

Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

Mes jours sont plus rapides qu`un courrier; Ils fuient sans avoir vu le bonheur;

They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

Ils passent comme les navires de jonc, Comme l`aigle qui fond sur sa proie.

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

Si je dis: Je veux oublier mes souffrances, Laisser ma tristesse, reprendre courage,

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

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

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

Je serai jugé coupable; Pourquoi me fatiguer en vain?

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

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

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

Tu me plongerais dans la fange, Et mes vêtements m`auraient en horreur.

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

Il n`est pas un homme comme moi, pour que je lui réponde, Pour que nous allions ensemble en justice.

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

Il n`y a pas entre nous d`arbitre, Qui pose sa main sur nous deux.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Qu`il retire sa verge de dessus moi, Que ses terreurs ne me troublent plus;

Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

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