Livre de Job 23

JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Job prit la parole et dit:	1 Again Job answered and said:
2 C'est toujours une révolte que ma plainte; sa main reste pesante, malgré mon gémissement.	2 Though I know my complaint is bitter, his hand is heavy upon me in my groanings.
3 Oh! Si je savais comment l'atteindre, parvenir jusqu'à sa demeure,	3 Oh, that today I might find him, that I might come to his judgment seat!
4 j'ouvrirais un procès devant lui, ma bouche serait pleine de griefs.	4 I would set out my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;
5 Je connaîtrais les termes de sa réponse, attentif à ce qu'il me dirait.	5 I would learn the words with which he would answer, and understand what he would reply to me.
6 Jetterait-il toute sa force dans ce débat avec moi? Non, il lui suffirait de me prêter attention.	6 Even should he contend against me with his great power, yet, would that he himself might heed me!
7 Il reconnaîtrait dans son adversaire un homme droit, et je ferais triompher ma cause à jamais.	7 There the upright man might reason with him, and I should once and for all preserve my rights.
8 Si je vais vers l'orient, il est absent; vers l'occident, je ne l'aperçois pas.	8 But if I go to the east, he is not there; or to the west, I cannot perceive him;
9 Quand je le cherche au nord, il n'est pas discernable, il reste invisible, si je me tourne au midi.	9 Where the north enfolds him, I behold him not; by the south he is veiled, and I see him not.
10 Et pourtant, toutes mes démarches, il les connaît! Qu'il me passe au creuset: or pur j'en sortirai!	10 Yet he knows my way; if he proved me, I should come forth as gold.
11 Mon pied s'est attaché à ses pas, j'ai suivi sa route sans dévier;	11 My foot has always walked in his steps; his way I have kept and have not turned aside.
12 je n'ai pas négligé le commandement de ses lèvres, j'ai abrité dans mon sein les paroles de sa bouche.	12 From the commands of his lips I have not departed; the words of his mouth I have treasured in my heart.
13 Mais lui décide, qui le fera changer? Ce qu'il a projeté, il l'accomplit.	13 But he had decided, and who can say him nay? What he desires, that he does.
14 Il exécutera donc ma sentence, comme tant d'autres de ses décrets!	14 For he will carry out what is appointed for me; and many such things may yet be in his mind.
15 C'est pourquoi, devant lui, je suis terrifié; plus j'y songe, plus il me fait peur.	15 Therefore am I dismayed before him; when I take thought, I fear him.
16 Dieu a brisé mon courage, Shaddaï me remplit d'effroi.	16 Indeed God has made my courage fail; the Almighty has put me in dismay.
17 Car je n'ai pas été anéanti devant les ténèbres, mais il a recouvert ma face d'obscurité.	17 Yes, would that I had vanished in darkness, and that thick gloom were before me to conceal me.