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11 Tsophar de Naama prit la parole et dit:

Cette multitude de paroles ne trouvera-t-elle point de réponse, Et suffira-t-il d'être un discoureur pour avoir raison?

Tes vains propos feront-ils taire les gens? Te moqueras-tu, sans que personne te confonde?

Tu dis: Ma manière de voir est juste, Et je suis pur à tes yeux.

Oh! si Dieu voulait parler, S'il ouvrait les lèvres pour te répondre,

Et s'il te révélait les secrets de sa sagesse, De son immense sagesse, Tu verrais alors qu'il ne te traite pas selon ton iniquité.

Prétends-tu sonder les pensées de Dieu, Parvenir à la connaissance parfaite du Tout Puissant?

Elle est aussi haute que les cieux: que feras-tu? Plus profonde que le séjour des morts: que sauras-tu?

La mesure en est plus longue que la terre, Elle est plus large que la mer.

10 S'il passe, s'il saisit, S'il traîne à son tribunal, qui s'y opposera?

11 Car il connaît les vicieux, Il voit facilement les coupables.

12 L'homme, au contraire, a l'intelligence d'un fou, Il est né comme le petit d'un âne sauvage.

13 Pour toi, dirige ton coeur vers Dieu, Étends vers lui tes mains,

14 Éloigne-toi de l'iniquité, Et ne laisse pas habiter l'injustice sous ta tente.

15 Alors tu lèveras ton front sans tache, Tu seras ferme et sans crainte;

16 Tu oublieras tes souffrances, Tu t'en souviendras comme des eaux écoulées.

17 Tes jours auront plus d'éclat que le soleil à son midi, Tes ténèbres seront comme la lumière du matin,

18 Tu seras plein de confiance, et ton attente ne sera plus vaine; Tu regarderas autour de toi, et tu reposeras en sûreté.

19 Tu te coucheras sans que personne ne trouble, Et plusieurs caresseront ton visage.

20 Mais les yeux des méchants seront consumés; Pour eux point de refuge; La mort, voilà leur espérance!

11 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

12 For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

Zophar Urges Job to Repent

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

“Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should [a]a man full of talk be vindicated?
Should your empty talk make men [b]hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
For you have said,
(A)‘My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.’
But oh, that God would speak,
And open His lips against you,
That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that (B)God [c]exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.

“Can(C) you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than [d]Sheol—what can you know?
Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.

10 “If(D) He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can [e]hinder Him?
11 For (E)He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?
12 For an (F)empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

13 “If you would (G)prepare your heart,
And (H)stretch out your hands toward Him;
14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And (I)would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 (J)Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
16 Because you would (K)forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away,
17 And your life (L)would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
18 And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and (M)take your rest in safety.
19 You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor.
20 But (N)the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And (O)their hope—[f]loss of life!”

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:2 Lit. a man of lips
  2. Job 11:3 be silent
  3. Job 11:6 Lit. forgets some of your iniquity for you
  4. Job 11:8 The abode of the dead
  5. Job 11:10 restrain
  6. Job 11:20 Lit. the breathing out of life

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

11 Then (A)Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

“Should (B)a multitude of words go unanswered,
    and a man full of talk be judged right?
Should your babble silence men,
    and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
For (C)you say, ‘My (D)doctrine is pure,
    and I am clean in God's[a] eyes.’
But oh, that God would speak
    and open his lips to you,
and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
    For he is manifold in (E)understanding.[b]
Know then that God (F)exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

(G)“Can you find out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
It is (H)higher than heaven[c]—what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
Its measure is longer than the earth
    and broader than the sea.
10 If he (I)passes through and (J)imprisons
    and summons the court, who can (K)turn him back?
11 For he knows (L)worthless men;
    when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get understanding
    when (M)a wild donkey's colt is (N)born a man!

13 “If you (O)prepare your heart,
    you will (P)stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
    and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you will (Q)lift up your face without (R)blemish;
    you will be secure and will not fear.
16 You will (S)forget your misery;
    you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17 And your life will be (T)brighter than the noonday;
    its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
    you will look around and (U)take your rest in security.
19 You will (V)lie down, and none will make you afraid;
    many will (W)court your favor.
20 But (X)the eyes of the wicked will fail;
    all way of escape will be lost to them,
    and their hope is (Y)to breathe their last.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:4 Hebrew your
  2. Job 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  3. Job 11:8 Hebrew The heights of heaven