Job 29
1 And Job again took up the word and said,
Job, poursuivant l’exposé de son thème, dit:
2 If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
Ah! Que ne suis-je tel que j’étais aux temps passés, aux jours où Dieu me protégeait;
3 When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
où son flambeau brillait sur ma tête, et où sa lumière me guidait dans les ténèbres;
4 As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
tel que j’étais aux jours de mon automne, alors que l’amitié de Dieu s’étendait sur ma demeure;
5 While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
que le Tout-Puissant était encore avec moi et que j’étais entouré de mes jeunes gens;
6 When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
quand je baignais mes pieds dans la crème, et que le rocher ruisselait pour moi de flots d’huile!
7 When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
Quand je me dirigeais vers la Porte, au seuil de la cité, et fixais mon siège sur la place publique,
8 The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
les jeunes, en me voyant, se cachaient; les vieillards se levaient et se tenaient debout.
9 The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
Les grands retenaient leurs paroles et posaient la main sur la bouche.
10 The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
La voix des seigneurs expirait sur leurs lèvres, et leur langue se collait à leur palais;
11 For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
car l’oreille qui m’entendait me proclamait heureux, et l’œil qui me voyait rendait témoignage pour moi.
12 For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
C’Est que je sauvais le pauvre, criant au secours, et l’orphelin sans soutien.
13 The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
La bénédiction du désespéré allait à moi, et je mettais de la joie au cœur de la veuve.
14 I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
Je me revêtais d’équité comme d’une parure, mon esprit de justice était mon manteau et mon turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
J’Étais les yeux de l’aveugle, j’étais les pieds du boiteux.
16 I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
J’Étais un père pour les malheureux; la cause de l’inconnu, je l’étudiais à fond.
17 By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
Je brisais la mâchoire du malfaiteur, et j’arrachais la proie d’entre ses dents.
18 Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
Et je disais: "Je finirai avec mon nid; comme le phénix je vivrai de longs jours.
19 My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
Ma racine sera en contact avec l’eau, la rosée se posera, la nuit, sur mon branchage.
20 My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
Ma gloire se renouvellera sans cesse, et mon arc se rajeunira dans ma main."
21 Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
Ils m’écoutaient, pleins d’attente; ils faisaient silence pour entendre mon avis.
22 After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
Quand j’avais fini de parler, ils ne répliquaient pas, et mes discours s’épandaient sur eux.
23 They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
Ils m’attendaient comme la pluie; ils ouvraient la bouche comme pour l’ondée printanière.
24 I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
Je leur souriais et ils n’osaient y croire; jamais ils n’éteignaient le rayonnement de ma face.
25 I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
Volontiers j’allais vers eux, m’asseyant à leur tête, et j’étais comme un roi dans son armée, comme quelqu’un: qui console des affligés.
