Job 23

NEW JERUSALEM	JERUSALEM
1 Job spoke next. He said:	1 Job prit la parole et dit:
2 My lament is stil rebellious; despite my groans, his hand is just as heavy.	2 C'est toujours une révolte que ma plainte; sa main reste pesante, malgré mon gémissement.
3 Wil no one help me to know how to travel to his dwel ing?	3 Oh! Si je savais comment l'atteindre, parvenir jusqu'à sa demeure,
4 I should set out my case to him, advancing any number of grievances.	4 j'ouvrirais un procès devant lui, ma bouche serait pleine de griefs.
5 Then I could learn his defence, every word of it, taking note of everything he said to me.	5 Je connaîtrais les termes de sa réponse, attentif à ce qu'il me dirait.
6 Would he put al his strength into this debate with me? No, he would only have to give his attention tome,	6 Jetterait-il toute sa force dans ce débat avec moi? Non, il lui suffirait de me prêter attention.
7 to recognise his opponent as upright and so I should win my case for ever.	7 Il reconnaîtrait dans son adversaire un homme droit, et je ferais triompher ma cause à jamais.
8 If I go to the east, he is not there; or to the west, I stil cannot see him.	8 Si je vais vers l'orient, il est absent; vers l'occident, je ne l'aperçois 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 Quand je le cherche au nord, il n'est pas discernable, il reste invisible, si je me tourne au midi.
10 And yet he knows every step I take! Let him test me in the crucible: I shall come out pure gold.	10 Et pourtant, toutes mes démarches, il les connaît! Qu'il me passe au creuset: or pur j'en sortirai!
11 My footsteps have fol owed close in his, I have walked in his way without swerving;	11 Mon pied s'est attaché à ses pas, j'ai suivi sa route sans dévier;
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 négligé le commandement de ses lèvres, j'ai abrité dans mon sein les paroles de sa bouche.
13 But once he has made up his mind, who can change it? Whatever he plans, that he carries out.	13 Mais lui décide, qui le fera changer? Ce qu'il a projeté, il l'accomplit.
14 No doubt, then, but he wil carry out my sentence, like so many other decrees that he has made.	14 Il exécutera donc ma sentence, comme tant d'autres de ses décrets!
15 That is why I am ful of fear before him, and the more I think, the greater grows my dread of him.	15 C'est pourquoi, devant lui, je suis terrifié; plus j'y songe, plus il me fait peur.
16 God has undermined my courage, Shaddai has filled me with fear.	16 Dieu a brisé mon courage, Shaddaï me remplit d'effroi.
17 The darkness having failed to destroy me, I am plunged back into obscurity by him!	17 Car je n'ai pas été anéanti devant les ténèbres, mais il a recouvert ma face d'obscurité.