Job 21
|
Job 21
|
| Job prit la parole et dit: | Then Job made answer and said, |
| Écoutez, écoutez mes paroles, Donnez-moi seulement cette consolation. | Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort. |
| Laissez-moi parler, je vous prie; Et, quand j`aurai parlé, tu pourras te moquer. | Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me. |
| Est-ce contre un homme que se dirige ma plainte? Et pourquoi mon âme ne serait-elle pas impatiente? | As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled? |
| Regardez-moi, soyez étonnés, Et mettez la main sur la bouche. | Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth. |
| Quand j`y pense, cela m`épouvante, Et un tremblement saisit mon corps. | At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear. |
| Pourquoi les méchants vivent-ils? Pourquoi les voit-on vieillir et accroître leur force? | Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power? |
| Leur postérité s`affermit avec eux et en leur présence, Leurs rejetons prospèrent sous leurs yeux. | Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes. |
| Dans leurs maisons règne la paix, sans mélange de crainte; La verge de Dieu ne vient pas les frapper. | Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them. |
| Leurs taureaux sont vigoureux et féconds, Leurs génisses conçoivent et n`avortent point. | Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young. |
| Ils laissent courir leurs enfants comme des brebis, Et les enfants prennent leurs ébats. | They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance, |
| Ils chantent au son du tambourin et de la harpe, Ils se réjouissent au son du chalumeau. | They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe. |
| Ils passent leurs jours dans le bonheur, Et ils descendent en un instant au séjour des morts. | Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. |
| Ils disaient pourtant à Dieu: Retire-toi de nous; Nous ne voulons pas connaître tes voies. | Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways. |
| Qu`est-ce que le Tout Puissant, pour que nous le servions? Que gagnerions-nous à lui adresser nos prières? | What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him? |
| Quoi donc! ne sont-ils pas en possession du bonheur? -Loin de moi le conseil des méchants! | Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.) |
| Mais arrive-t-il souvent que leur lampe s`éteigne, Que la misère fonde sur eux, Que Dieu leur distribue leur part dans sa colère, | How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords? |
| Qu`ils soient comme la paille emportée par le vent, Comme la balle enlevée par le tourbillon? | How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind? |
| Est-ce pour les fils que Dieu réserve le châtiment du père? Mais c`est lui que Dieu devrait punir, pour qu`il le sente; | You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it! |
| C`est lui qui devrait contempler sa propre ruine, C`est lui qui devrait boire la colère du Tout Puissant. | Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all! |
| Car, que lui importe sa maison après lui, Quand le nombre de ses mois est achevé? | For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended? |
| Est-ce à Dieu qu`on donnera de la science, A lui qui gouverne les esprits célestes? | Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high. |
| L`un meurt au sein du bien-être, De la paix et du bonheur, | One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet: |
| Les flancs chargés de graisse Et la moelle des os remplie de sève; | His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones. |
| L`autre meurt, l`amertume dans l`âme, Sans avoir joui d`aucun bien. | And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good. |
| Et tous deux se couchent dans la poussière, Tous deux deviennent la pâture des vers. | Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm. |
| Je sais bien quelles sont vos pensées, Quels jugements iniques vous portez sur moi. | See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me; |
| Vous dites: Où est la maison de l`homme puissant? Où est la tente qu`habitaient les impies? | For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer? |
| Mais quoi! n`avez-vous point interrogé les voyageurs, Et voulez-vous méconnaître ce qu`ils prouvent? | Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience? |
| Au jour du malheur, le méchant est épargné; Au jour de la colère, il échappe. | How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath? |
| Qui lui reproche en face sa conduite? Qui lui rend ce qu`il a fait? | Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it? |
| Il est porté dans un sépulcre, Et il veille encore sur sa tombe. | He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it. |
| Les mottes de la vallée lui sont légères; Et tous après lui suivront la même voie, Comme une multitude l`a déjà suivie. | The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him. |
| Pourquoi donc m`offrir de vaines consolations? Ce qui reste de vos réponses n`est que perfidie. | Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit? |
