Job 26

1 Then responded Job, and said: —

Job prit la parole et dit:

2 How hast thou given help to one of no-strength? given victory to an arm of no-power?

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

3 How hast thou given counsel to one of no-wisdom? or, effective wisdom, abundantly made known?

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

4 Whom hast thou taught speech? Whose inspiration hath come from thee?

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

5 The shades, tremble, beneath the waters and their inhabitants;

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

6 Naked is hades before him, and there is no covering to destruction; (Sheol h7585)

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

7 Who stretcheth out the north over emptiness, hangeth the earth upon nothingness;

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

8 Who bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not rent beneath them;

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

9 Who shutteth-in the face of the throne, he spreadeth over it his cloud;

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

10 A, boundary, hath he encircled on the face of the waters, as far as where light ends in darkness;

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

11 The pillars of the heavens, are shaken, and are terrified at his rebuke:

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

12 By his strength, hath he excited the sea, and, by his skill, hath he shattered the Crocodile:

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

13 By his spirit, hath he arched the heavens, His hand hath pierced the fleeing serpent.

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

14 Lo! these, are the fringes of his way, and what a whisper of a word hath been heard of him! But, the thunder of his might, who could understand?

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?