Job 23

NEW JERUSALEM	BIBLES DES PEUPLES
1 Job spoke next. He said:	1 Job prit alors la parole:
2 My lament is stil rebellious; despite my groans, his hand is just as heavy.	2 Aujourd’hui encore ma plainte est rebelle: ma main ne peut la bloquer dans ma bouche!
3 Wil no one help me to know how to travel to his dwel ing?	3 Ah, si je savais où le trouver, j’irais jusqu’à sa demeure!
4 I should set out my case to him, advancing any number of grievances.	4 J’exposerais ma cause devant lui, je lui dirais tous mes arguments.
5 Then I could learn his defence, every word of it, taking note of everything he said to me.	5 Je verrais ce qu’il me répondrait et je pourrais comprendre sa réponse.
6 Would he put al his strength into this debate with me? No, he would only have to give his attention tome,	6 Mettrait-il toute sa force dans le débat? Non! Lui m’écouterait.
7 to recognise his opponent as upright and so I should win my case for ever.	7 Il verrait l’innocence de celui qui l’attaque, et je serais pour toujours libéré de mon juge.
8 If I go to the east, he is not there; or to the west, I stil cannot see him.	8 Mais je peux aller à l’orient, il n’y est pas, à l’occident, je ne l’y verrai pas!
9 If I seek him in the north, he is not to be found, invisible as ever, if I turn to the south.	9 J’ai cherché au nord sans le trouver, retournant au midi je ne l’ai pas vu.
10 And yet he knows every step I take! Let him test me in the crucible: I shall come out pure 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 footsteps have fol owed close in his, I have walked in his way without swerving;	11 Car j’ai maintenu mon pied sur son sentier, j’ai suivi sa route, je n’en suis pas sorti.
12 I have not neglected the commandment of his lips, in my heart I have cherished the words of hismouth.	12 Je n’ai pas ignoré ses commandements, j’ai gardé en moi toutes ses paroles.
13 But once he has made up his mind, who can change it? Whatever he plans, that he carries out.	13 Mais s’il veut quelque chose, qui l’en empêchera? Ce qu’il a désiré, il le fera.
14 No doubt, then, but he wil carry out my sentence, like so many other decrees that he has made.	14 Il fera jusqu’au bout ce qu’il a décrété, ce ne sera qu’une fois de plus.
15 That is why I am ful of fear before him, and the more I think, the greater grows my dread of him.	15 Voilà pourquoi il m’effraie; quand j’y pense, j’ai peur de lui.
16 God has undermined my courage, Shaddai has filled me with fear.	16 Mais si Dieu me fait perdre cœur, si le Puissant me terrifie,
17 The darkness having failed to destroy me, I am plunged back into obscurity by him!	17 je ne me suis pas tu pour autant dans le noir, en dépit des ténèbres qui voilent mon visage.