Job 23

New American Bible	La Bible des Peuples
¹ Again Job answered and said:	¹ Job prit alors la parole:
² Though I know my complaint is bitter, his hand is heavy upon me in my groanings.	² Aujourd’hui encore ma plainte est rebelle: ma main ne peut la bloquer dans ma bouche!
³ Oh, that today I might find him, that I might come to his judgment seat!	³ Ah, si je savais où le trouver, j’irais jusqu’à sa demeure!
⁴ I would set out my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;	⁴ J’exposerais ma cause devant lui, je lui dirais tous mes arguments.
⁵ I would learn the words with which he would answer, and understand what he would reply to me.	⁵ Je verrais ce qu’il me répondrait et je pourrais comprendre sa réponse.
⁶ Even should he contend against me with his great power, yet, would that he himself might heed me!	⁶ Mettrait-il toute sa force dans le débat? Non! Lui m’écouterait.
⁷ There the upright man might reason with him, and I should once and for all preserve my rights.	⁷ Il verrait l’innocence de celui qui l’attaque, et je serais pour toujours libéré de mon juge.
⁸ But if I go to the east, he is not there; or to the west, I cannot perceive him;	⁸ Mais je peux aller à l’orient, il n’y est pas, à l’occident, je ne l’y verrai pas!
⁹ Where the north enfolds him, I behold him not; by the south he is veiled, and I see him not.	⁹ J’ai cherché au nord sans le trouver, retournant au midi je ne l’ai pas vu.
¹⁰ Yet he knows my way; if he proved me, I should come forth as gold.	¹⁰ Il me connaît pourtant, que je marche ou m’arrête: s’il m’éprouve au creuset, je passerai avec l’or.
¹¹ My foot has always walked in his steps; his way I have kept and have not turned aside.	¹¹ Car j’ai maintenu mon pied sur son sentier, j’ai suivi sa route, je n’en suis pas sorti.
¹² From the commands of his lips I have not departed; the words of his mouth I have treasured in my heart.	¹² Je n’ai pas ignoré ses commandements, j’ai gardé en moi toutes ses paroles.
¹³ But he had decided, and who can say him nay? What he desires, that he does.	¹³ Mais s’il veut quelque chose, qui l’en empêchera? Ce qu’il a désiré, il le fera.
¹⁴ For he will carry out what is appointed for me; and many such things may yet be in his mind.	¹⁴ Il fera jusqu’au bout ce qu’il a décrété, ce ne sera qu’une fois de plus.
¹⁵ Therefore am I dismayed before him; when I take thought, I fear him.	¹⁵ Voilà pourquoi il m’effraie; quand j’y pense, j’ai peur de lui.
¹⁶ Indeed God has made my courage fail; the Almighty has put me in dismay.	¹⁶ Mais si Dieu me fait perdre cœur, si le Puissant me terrifie,
¹⁷ Yes, would that I had vanished in darkness, and that thick gloom were before me to conceal me.	¹⁷ je ne me suis pas tu pour autant dans le noir, en dépit des ténèbres qui voilent mon visage.