Chapter 23

Then Job answered and said,

Job prit la parole et dit:

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Maintenant encore ma plainte est une révolte, Mais la souffrance étouffe mes soupirs.

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

Oh! si je savais où le trouver, Si je pouvais arriver jusqu`à son trône,

I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

Je plaiderais ma cause devant lui, Je remplirais ma bouche d`arguments,

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Je connaîtrais ce qu`il peut avoir à répondre, Je verrais ce qu`il peut avoir à me dire.

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

Emploierait-il toute sa force à me combattre? Ne daignerait-il pas au moins m`écouter?

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Ce serait un homme droit qui plaiderait avec lui, Et je serais pour toujours absous par mon juge.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

Mais, si je vais à l`orient, il n`y est pas; Si je vais à l`occident, je ne le trouve pas;

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

Est-il occupé au nord, je ne puis le voir; Se cache-t-il au midi, je ne puis le découvrir.

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Il sait néanmoins quelle voie j`ai suivie; Et, s`il m`éprouvait, je sortirais pur comme l`or.

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Mon pied s`est attaché à ses pas; J`ai gardé sa voie, et je ne m`en suis point détourné.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Je n`ai pas abandonné les commandements de ses lèvres; J`ai fait plier ma volonté aux paroles de sa bouche.

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

Mais sa résolution est arrêtée; qui s`y opposera? Ce que son âme désire, il l`exécute.

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Il accomplira donc ses desseins à mon égard, Et il en concevra bien d`autres encore.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

Voilà pourquoi sa présence m`épouvante; Quand j`y pense, j`ai peur de lui.

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

Dieu a brisé mon courage, Le Tout Puissant m`a rempli d`effroi.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

Car ce ne sont pas les ténèbres qui m`anéantissent, Ce n`est pas l`obscurité dont je suis couvert.