Jó 41

1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?*41.1 leviathan: probably an extinct animal of some kind*41.1 which…: Heb. which thou drownest? 2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? 8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?*41.13 with: or, within 14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.*41.15 scales: Heb. strong pieces of shields 16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.*41.22 is turned into joy: Heb. rejoiceth 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.*41.23 flakes: Heb. fallings 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. 25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.*41.26 habergeon: or, breastplate 27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.*41.30 Sharp stones: Heb. Sharp pieces of potsherd 31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. 33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.*41.33 is made without fear: or, behave themselves without fear 34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

Continuation de la description du Léviathan.

1 Il n’y a point d’homme assez courageux pour le réveiller ; qui est-ce donc qui se présentera devant moi ? 2 Qui est-ce qui m’a prévenu, et je le lui rendrai ? Ce qui est sous tous les cieux est à moi. 3 Je ne me tairai point de ses membres, ni de ce qui concerne ses forces, ni de la grâce de l’arrangement des parties de son corps. 4 Qui est-ce qui découvrira le dessus de sa couverture, et se jettera entre les deux branches de son mors ? 5 Qui est-ce qui ouvrira les portes de sa gueule ? La terreur se tient autour de ses dents. 6 Les lames de ses boucliers ne sont que magnificence ; elles sont étroitement serrées comme avec un cachet. 7 L’une approche de l’autre, et le vent n’entre point entre-deux. 8 Elles sont jointes l’une à l’autre, elles s’entretiennent, et ne se séparent point. 9 Ses éternuements éclaireraient la lumière, et ses yeux sont comme les paupières de l’aube du jour. 10 Des flambeaux sortent de sa bouche, et il en rejaillit des étincelles de feu. 11 Une fumée sort de ses narines comme d’un pot bouillant, ou d’une chaudière. 12 Son souffle enflammerait des charbons, et une flamme sort de sa gueule. 13 La force est dans son cou, et la terreur marche devant lui. 14 Sa chair est ferme, tout est massif en lui, rien n’y branle. 15 Son coeur est dur comme une pierre, même comme une pièce de la meule de dessous. 16 Les plus forts tremblent quand il s’élève, et ils ne savent où ils en sont, voyant comme il rompt tout. 17 Qui s’en approchera avec l’épée ? ni elle, ni la lance, ni le dard, ni la cuirasse, ne pourront point subsister devant lui. 18 Il ne tient pas plus de compte du fer que de la paille ; et de l’airain, que du bois pourri. 19 La flèche ne le fera point fuir, les pierres d’une fronde lui sont comme du chaume. 20 Il tient les machines de guerre comme des brins de chaume ; et il se moque du javelot qu’on lance sur lui. 21 Il a sous soi des tests aigus, et il abat sous soi des roseaux pointus en se couchant sur la boue. 22 Il fait bouillonner le gouffre comme une chaudière, et rend semblable la mer à un chaudron de parfumeur. 23 Il fait reluire après soi son sentier, et on prendrait l’abîme pour une tête blanchie de vieillesse. 24 Il n’y a rien sur la terre qui lui puisse être comparé, ayant été fait pour ne rien craindre. 25 Il voit au-dessous de lui tout ce qu’il y a de plus élevé ; il est Roi sur tous les plus fiers animaux.