Job 34
Wycliffe Bible
34 And so Elihu pronounced, and spake also these things, (and said,)
2 Wise men, hear ye my words, and learned men, harken ye (to) me;
3 for the ear proveth words, and the throat deemeth meat by taste (and the tongue judgeth food by taste).
4 Choose we doom to us (Let us use judgement); and see we among us, what is the better.
5 For Job said, I am just, and God hath turned my justness upside-down. (For Job said, I am innocent, but God hath turned my justice, or my sentence, upside-down.)
6 For why leasing is in deeming me, and mine arrow is violent without any sin. (For lies be used in judging me, and my wound is fatal, yet I am without any sin.)
7 Who is a man, as Job is, that drinketh scorning as water? (Who is such a man like Job, who drinketh scorning like water?)
8 that goeth with men working wickedness, and goeth with unfaithful men? (who goeth with those working wickedness, and with the unfaithful?)
9 For he said, A man shall not please God, yea, though he run with God. (For he said, Yea, though one may run with God, he still shall not please God.)
10 Therefore ye wise men, that is, (ye with) understanding, hear ye me; unpiety, either cruelty, be far from God (is far from God), and wickedness from Almighty God.
11 For he shall yield (after) the work of (a) man to him (For he shall yield to someone after their work, or their deeds); and by the ways of each man he shall restore to him.
12 For verily God shall not condemn without cause; neither Almighty God shall destroy doom. (For truly God shall not condemn without a reason; nor shall Almighty God destroy, or pervert, justice.)
13 What other man hath he ordained upon earth? either whom hath he set upon the world, that he hath made? (But hath someone else ordained God upon the earth? or hath someone set him upon the world which he himself hath made? Nay!)
14 If God (ad)dresseth his heart to him, he shall draw to himself his spirit and blast. (If God directed his heart towards people, and he drew back his spirit and his breath unto himself;)
15 Each flesh shall fail together in dying; and a man shall turn again into ashes. (then all flesh would fail together, that is, they would all die, and everyone would return to the dust.)
16 Therefore if thou hast understanding, hear thou that that is said, and harken (to) the voice of my speech.
17 Whether he that loveth not doom may be made whole? and how then condemnest thou so much him, that is just? (Can he who loveth not justice be made whole? so how then condemnest thou him, who is so just, or so fair?)
18 He it is that saith to a king, Thou art apostate, either (a) breaker of religion, when he keepeth not rightfulness and the common good; which calleth the dukes unpious, either unfaithful. (It is he who saith to a king, Thou art an apostate, that is, a breaker of religion, when he keepeth not righteousness and the common good; he who calleth the leaders unpious, or unfaithful.)
19 He accepteth not the persons of princes (He favoureth not princes, or rulers), neither he knoweth a tyrant to spare him, when he striveth against a poor man; for all men be the work of his hands.
20 They shall die suddenly, and at midnight peoples shall be troubled; and shall pass, and shall take away a violent man without hand. (And then suddenly they shall die, yea, at midnight these people shall be troubled, and shall pass away; he shall take away a mighty man, without even raising a hand.)
21 For the eyes of God be on the ways of men, and he beholdeth all the goings of them.
22 No darknesses be, neither no shadow of death is, that they, that work wickedness, be hid there; (There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where they, who work wickedness, can be hid;)
23 for it is no more in the power of man, that he come to God into doom. (for it is not in the power of man, to set the time, when he come before God for judgement.)
24 God shall all-break many men and unnumberable (God shall all-break innumerable powerful men); and shall make other men to stand for them.
25 For he knoweth the works of them; [and] therefore he shall bring in (the) night upon them, and they shall be all-broken.
26 He smote them, as unpious men, in the place of seeing men. (He striketh them, like unpious men, where all can see.)
27 Which went away from him by casting afore/by forecasting (For they went away from him by intention, that is, willfully), and would not understand all his ways.
28 That they should make the cry of a needy man to come to him, and that he should hear the voice of poor men. (Yea, they who maketh the cry of the needy to come to him, so that he heareth the voice of the poor.)
29 For when he granteth peace, who is it that condemneth him? And since he hideth his cheer, who is (it) that seeth him? And on folks, and on all men, he hath power to do such things. (And if he granteth peace, who is it that condemneth him? But when he hideth his face, then who can find him? And he hath power to do such things over the nations, yea, over all people.)
30 Which maketh a man, hypocrite, to reign, for the sins of the people. (And he maketh a man, who is a hypocrite, to reign, for the sins of the people.)
31 Therefore for I have spoken to God, I shall not forbid thee to speak. (And so now I have spoken for God, and remember, I did not forbid thee to speak for him.)
32 If I have erred, teach thou me; if I have spoken wickedness, I shall no more add to (it).
33 Whether God asketh that wickedness of thee, for it displeased thee? For thou hast begun to speak, and not I; (so) that if thou knowest anything better, speak thou that.
34 Men (of) understanding, speak to me; and a wise man, hear me.
35 Forsooth Job hath spoken follily, and his words sound not (like) teaching. (For Job hath spoken foolishly, and his words be not sound teaching.)
36 My father (God), be Job proved unto the end; cease thou not from the man of wickedness, (My father God, let Job be proved evil unto the end; cease thou not from this wicked man,)
37 that addeth blasphemy over his sins. Be he constrained among us in the meantime; and then by his words stir he God to the doom. (who addeth blasphemy on top of his sins. Let him be constrained among us in the meantime; and then, with his words, stir he God to judgement.)
Job 34
La Bible du Semeur
Dieu est toujours juste
34 Elihou reprit la parole et dit :
2 O vous qui êtes sages, ╵écoutez mes paroles,
vous qui avez la connaissance ╵prêtez votre attention !
3 Car l’oreille discerne ╵la valeur des paroles,
comme le palais juge ╵du goût des aliments.
4 Choisissons donc pour nous le droit
et reconnaissons entre nous ╵ce qui est bien.
5 Voici ce qu’a prétendu Job : ╵« Je suis dans mon bon droit[a],
mais Dieu me refuse justice[b].
6 Alors que je suis juste ╵je passe pour menteur[c].
Des flèches m’ont percé ╵me causant des plaies incurables ╵sans que j’aie commis de péché[d]. »
7 Quel homme est comme Job,
pour boire l’insolence ╵comme on boirait de l’eau ?
8 Il fait cause commune ╵avec les malfaiteurs
et marche en compagnie ╵de ceux qui sont méchants.
9 N’a-t-il pas dit lui-même : ╵« L’homme ne gagne rien
à vouloir plaire à Dieu[e] » ?
10 Aussi, écoutez-moi, ╵vous qui êtes sensés :
il est inconcevable ╵que Dieu fasse le mal,
et que le Tout-Puissant ╵pratique l’injustice,
11 car il rend à chaque homme ╵selon ce qu’il a fait,
et il traite chacun ╵selon son attitude.
12 Oh, non en vérité, ╵Dieu n’agit jamais mal,
jamais le Tout-Puissant ╵ne fausse la justice.
13 Qui donc lui a confié ╵la charge de la terre
ou qui lui a remis ╵le soin du monde entier ?
14 S’il portait sur lui-même ╵toute son attention,
s’il ramenait à lui ╵son Esprit et son souffle,
15 toutes les créatures ╵expireraient ensemble ;
l’homme retournerait ╵aussi à la poussière.
16 Si tu as du bon sens, ╵écoute donc ceci,
et sois bien attentif ╵à mes paroles.
17 Un ennemi du droit ╵pourrait-il gouverner ?
Oses-tu condamner ╵le Juste, le Puissant ?
18 Celui qui dit aux rois : ╵« Tu n’es qu’un scélérat »,
et qui traite les grands ╵de criminels,
19 ne favorise pas les princes,
ni ne privilégie ╵le riche par rapport au pauvre.
Ils sont tous, en effet, ╵l’ouvrage de ses mains.
20 En un instant, ils meurent :
au milieu de la nuit, ╵un peuple se révolte, ╵alors ils disparaissent ;
on dépose un tyran ╵sans qu’une main se lève,
21 car Dieu observe ╵la conduite de l’homme,
et il a les regards ╵sur tous ses faits et gestes.
22 Car il n’y a pour lui ╵aucune obscurité, ╵pas d’épaisses ténèbres
où pourraient se cacher ╵les artisans du mal.
23 Oui, Dieu n’a pas besoin ╵d’épier longtemps un homme
pour le faire assigner ╵devant lui en justice.
24 Sans une longue enquête, ╵il brise les tyrans
et met d’autres gens à leur place.
25 Car il connaît leurs œuvres.
Aussi, en pleine nuit[f], ╵soudain, il les renverse, ╵les voilà écrasés.
26 Comme des criminels,
il les frappe en public.
27 Ils lui tournaient le dos
et ignoraient ╵toutes ses directives.
28 Car ils ont fait monter vers lui ╵le cri des pauvres
et il a entendu ╵les cris des opprimés.
29 S’il garde le silence[g], ╵qui le condamnera ?
Et s’il cache sa face, ╵qui pourra le voir malgré tout ?
Pourtant, pour les nations et pour les hommes,
30 Dieu fait en sorte d’empêcher ╵que règne un souverain impie
et qu’on tende des pièges au peuple.
31 Cet homme va-t-il dire à Dieu :
« J’ai eu mon châtiment, ╵je ne me rendrai plus coupable.
32 Ce que je ne vois pas, ╵toi, enseigne-le-moi.
Si j’ai commis des injustices, ╵je ne le ferai plus » ?
33 Pour rétribuer un tel homme, ╵Dieu devrait-il consulter ton avis, ╵toi qui critiques ?
Si toi tu choisis de penser ainsi, ╵pour ma part, ce n’est pas mon cas[h].
Allez, dis donc ce que tu sais !
34 Les hommes de bon sens ╵aussi bien que les sages ╵qui m’auront entendu
conviendront avec moi :
35 Job parle sans savoir
et ses paroles ╵manquent d’intelligence.
36 Que son épreuve ╵aille jusqu’à son terme
puisqu’il répond ╵à la manière des injustes.
37 Car il ajoute à son péché
et abonde en révolte parmi nous[i] ;
et puis il multiplie ╵ses propos contre Dieu.
Footnotes
- 34.5 Voir 10.15 ; 13.18.
- 34.5 Voir 19.7 ; 27.2.
- 34.6 Voir 10.17 ; 16.8.
- 34.6 Voir 6.4 ; 16.13.
- 34.9 Voir 9.22-24 ; 21.7-34.
- 34.25 C’est-à-dire à l’improviste (voir v. 20).
- 34.29 Autre traduction : s’il donne le repos.
- 34.33 Hébreu peu clair. Plus litt. : c’est toi qui choisis, pas moi. On peut comprendre de trois manières : 1. Elihou dit à Job : « C’est toi qui penses ainsi, mais ce n’est pas mon cas ». 2. Elihou dit à Job : « C’est à toi de choisir (de changer d’attitude), pas à moi ». 3. Elihou place ces paroles dans la bouche de Dieu : « Dieu devrait-il te dire : “c’est à toi de décider, pas à moi” ? »
- 34.37 Autre traduction : Car, en plus de sa faute, voilà qu’il se révolte, il sème le doute parmi nous.
Job 34
New King James Version
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
34 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 (A)For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, (B)‘I am righteous,
But (C)God has taken away my justice;
6 (D)Should I lie concerning my right?
My [a]wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
(E)Who drinks [b]scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 For (F)he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
That he should delight in God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you [c]men of understanding:
(G)Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 (H)For He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty (I)pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it,
If He should (J)gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 (K)All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17 (L)Should one who hates justice govern?
Will you (M)condemn Him who is most just?
18 (N)Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’
And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He (O)is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For (P)they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, (Q)in the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For(R) His eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 (S)There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 (T)He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they (U)turned back from Him,
And (V)would not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they (W)caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He (X)hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.
34 “Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job(Y) speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds (Z)rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”
2001 by Terence P. Noble
La Bible Du Semeur (The Bible of the Sower) Copyright © 1992, 1999 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
