Chapter 26

But Job answered and said,

Job prit la parole et dit:

How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

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

How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

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

To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

A qui s`adressent tes paroles? Et qui est-ce qui t`inspire?

Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

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

Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

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

He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

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

He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

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

He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.

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

He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

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

The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

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

He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

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

By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

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

Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard 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?