Job 26

1 Then Job responded by saying:

Job prit la parole et dit:

2 Whose assistant are you? Is he weak-minded? And do you sustain the arm of him that is not strong?

Comme tu sais bien venir en aide à la faiblesse! Comme tu prêtes secours au bras sans force!

3 To whom have you given advice? Perhaps it is to him that has no wisdom or prudence that you have revealed your many ideas.

Quels bons conseils tu donnes à celui qui manque d’intelligence! Quelle abondance de sagesse tu fais paraître!

4 Who is it that you wanted to teach? Was it not him that created the breath of life?

A qui s’adressent tes paroles? Et qui est-ce qui t’inspire?

5 Behold, giant things groan under the waters, and they dwell with them.

Devant Dieu les ombres tremblent Au-dessous des eaux et de leurs habitants;

6 The underworld is naked before him, and there is no covering for perdition. (Sheol h7585)

Devant lui le séjour des morts est nu, L’abîme n’a point de voile. (Sheol h7585)

7 He stretched out the North over emptiness, and he suspended the land over nothing.

Il étend le septentrion sur le vide, Il suspend la terre sur le néant.

8 He secures the waters in his clouds, so that they do not burst forth downward all at once.

Il renferme les eaux dans ses nuages, Et les nuages n’éclatent pas sous leur poids.

9 He holds back the face of his throne, and he stretches his cloud over it.

Il couvre la face de son trône, Il répand sur lui sa nuée.

10 He has set limits around the waters, until light and darkness shall reach their limit.

Il a tracé un cercle à la surface des eaux, Comme limite entre la lumière et les ténèbres.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are frightened at his nod.

Les colonnes du ciel s’ébranlent, Et s’étonnent à sa menace.

12 By his strength, the seas suddenly gather together, and his foresight has struck the arrogant.

Par sa force il soulève la mer, Par son intelligence il en brise l’orgueil.

13 His spirit has adorned the heavens, and his birthing hand has brought forth the winding serpent.

Son souffle donne au ciel la sérénité, Sa main transperce le serpent fuyard.

14 Behold, these things have been said about his ways in part, and, since we barely have heard a small drop of his word, who will be able to gaze upon the thunder of his greatness?

Ce sont là les bords de ses voies, C’est le bruit léger qui nous en parvient; Mais qui entendra le tonnerre de sa puissance?