Chapter 41

Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

(40:20) Prendras-tu le crocodile à l`hameçon? Saisiras-tu sa langue avec une corde?

Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

(40:21) Mettras-tu un jonc dans ses narines? Lui perceras-tu la mâchoire avec un crochet?

Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?

(40:22) Te pressera-t-il de supplication? Te parlera-t-il d`une voix douce?

Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?

(40:23) Fera-t-il une alliance avec toi, Pour devenir à toujours ton esclave?

Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

(40:24) Joueras-tu avec lui comme avec un oiseau? L`attacheras-tu pour amuser tes jeunes filles?

Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?

(40:25) Les pêcheurs en trafiquent-ils? Le partagent-ils entre les marchands?

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

(40:26) Couvriras-tu sa peau de dards, Et sa tête de harpons?

Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.

(40:27) Dresse ta main contre lui, Et tu ne t`aviseras plus de l`attaquer.

Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?

(40:28) Voici, on est trompé dans son attente; A son seul aspect n`est-on pas terrassé?

None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

(41:1) Nul n`est assez hardi pour l`exciter; Qui donc me résisterait en face?

Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

(41:2) De qui suis-je le débiteur? Je le paierai. Sous le ciel tout m`appartient.

I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.

(41:3) Je veux encore parler de ses membres, Et de sa force, et de la beauté de sa structure.

Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?

(41:4) Qui soulèvera son vêtement? Qui pénétrera entre ses mâchoires?

Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.

(41:5) Qui ouvrira les portes de sa gueule? Autour de ses dents habite la terreur.

His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.

(41:6) Ses magnifiques et puissants boucliers Sont unis ensemble comme par un sceau;

One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.

(41:7) Ils se serrent l`un contre l`autre, Et l`air ne passerait pas entre eux;

They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

(41:8) Ce sont des frères qui s`embrassent, Se saisissent, demeurent inséparables.

By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

(41:9) Ses éternuements font briller la lumière; Ses yeux sont comme les paupières de l`aurore.

Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.

(41:10) Des flammes jaillissent de sa bouche, Des étincelles de feu s`en échappent.

Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

(41:11) Une fumée sort de ses narines, Comme d`un vase qui bout, d`une chaudière ardente.

His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

(41:12) Son souffle allume les charbons, Sa gueule lance la flamme.

In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.

(41:13) La force a son cou pour demeure, Et l`effroi bondit au-devant de lui.

The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.

(41:14) Ses parties charnues tiennent ensemble, Fondues sur lui, inébranlables.

His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.

(41:15) Son coeur est dur comme la pierre, Dur comme la meule inférieure.

When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.

(41:16) Quand il se lève, les plus vaillants ont peur, Et l`épouvante les fait fuir.

The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.

(41:17) C`est en vain qu`on l`attaque avec l`épée; La lance, le javelot, la cuirasse, ne servent à rien.

He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.

(41:18) Il regarde le fer comme de la paille, L`airain comme du bois pourri.

The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.

(41:19) La flèche ne le met pas en fuite, Les pierres de la fronde sont pour lui du chaume.

Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.

(41:20) Il ne voit dans la massue qu`un brin de paille, Il rit au sifflement des dards.

Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.

(41:21) Sous son ventre sont des pointes aiguës: On dirait une herse qu`il étend sur le limon.

He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

(41:22) Il fait bouillir le fond de la mer comme une chaudière, Il l`agite comme un vase rempli de parfums.

He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.

(41:23) Il laisse après lui un sentier lumineux; L`abîme prend la chevelure d`un vieillard.

Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

(41:24) Sur la terre nul n`est son maître; Il a été créé pour ne rien craindre.

He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

(41:25) Il regarde avec dédain tout ce qui est élevé, Il est le roi des plus fiers animaux.