Isaiah 9
1 In earlier times he made the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali of small value, but after that he gave it glory, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
Toutefois, l’accablement ne persistera pas là où est maintenant la détresse: naguère, la honte atteignit la terre de Zabulon et la terre de Nephtali, mais finalement, l’honneur sera rendu au pays qui s’étend vers la mer, ou au delà du Jourdain, au district des gentils.
2 The people who went in the dark have seen a great light, and for those who were living in the land of the deepest night, the light is shining.
Le peuple qui marchait dans l’obscurité voit une grande lueur; ceux qui habitaient une terre ténébreuse, la lumière rayonne sur eux.
3 You have made them very glad, increasing their joy. They are glad before you as men are glad in the time of getting in the grain, or when they make division of the goods taken in war.
Tu élèves ce peuple, Seigneur, tu lui accordes de grandes joies: ils se réjouissent en ta présence comme on se réjouit au temps de la moisson, comme on exulte au partage du butin;
4 For by your hand the yoke on his neck and the rod on his back, even the rod of his cruel master, have been broken, as in the day of Midian.
car le joug qui pesait sur lui, la barre qui courbait son épaule, la verge qui le fustigeait, tu les a brisés comme au jour de Madian.
5 For every boot of the man of war with his sounding step, and the clothing rolled in blood, will be for burning, food for the fire.
Tout l’attirail des guerriers bruyants, les vêtements souillés de sang, tout est consumé, devient la proie du feu.
6 For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace.
C’Est qu’un enfant nous est né, un fils nous est accordé: la souveraineté repose sur son épaule, et on l’a appelé Conseiller merveilleux, Héros divin, Père de la conquête, Prince de la Paix.
7 Of the increase of his rule and of peace there will be no end, on the seat of David, and in his kingdom; to make it strong, supporting it with wise decision and righteousness, now and for ever. By the fixed purpose of the Lord of armies this will be done.
Son rôle est d’agrandir l’empire, d’assurer une paix sans fin au trône de David et à sa dynastie, qui aura pour base et appui le droit et la justice, dès maintenant et à jamais. Le zèle de l’Eternel fera cela.
8 The Lord has sent a word to Jacob, and it has come on Israel;
Le Seigneur a lancé une parole contre Jacob, elle est tombée en Israël.
9 And all the people will have experience of it, even Ephraim and the men of Samaria, who say in the pride of their uplifted hearts,
Le peuple tout entier la connaîtra, Ephraïm et les habitants de Samarie, qui ont dit avec orgueil et d’un cœur arrogant:
10 The bricks have come down, but we will put up buildings of cut stone in their place: the sycamores are cut down, but they will be changed to cedars.
"Des briques sont tombées, nous bâtirons en pierres de taille; des sycomores sont coupés, nous les remplacerons par des cèdres."
11 For this cause the Lord has made strong the haters of Israel, driving them on to make war against him;
Mais le Seigneur fera triompher d’eux les adversaires de Recîn et mettra les ennemis à leurs trousses.
12 Aram on the east, and the Philistines on the west, who have come against Israel with open mouths. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Le Syrien à l’Orient, le Philistin à l’Occident, ils mangeront Israël à pleine bouche… Malgré tout cela, sa colère ne s’apaise point et sa main reste étendue.
13 But the heart of the people was not turned to him who sent punishment on them, and they made no prayer to the Lord of armies.
Or, le peuple ne retourne pas vers Celui qui te frappe, et ne recherche pas l’Eternel-Cebaot.
14 For this cause the Lord took away from Israel head and tail, high and low, in one day.
Aussi le Seigneur arrache-t-il d’Israël tête et queue, palme et roseau, en un seul jour.
15 The man who is honoured and responsible is the head, and the prophet who gives false teaching is the tail.
La tête ce sont les anciens et les notables, la queue ce sont les prophètes qui enseignent le mensonge.
16 For the guides of this people are the cause of their wandering from the right way, and those who are guided by them come to destruction.
Les guides de ce peuple le fourvoient, et ceux qu’ils guident vont à la ruine.
17 For this cause the Lord will have no pleasure in their young men, and no pity on their widows and the children without fathers: for they are all haters of God and evil-doers, and foolish words come from every mouth. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
C’Est pourquoi le Seigneur n’a aucune satisfaction de ses jeunes gens, ni n’éprouve aucune pitié pour ses veuves et ses orphelins, car tous, ils sont dépravés et malfaisants, toutes les bouches profèrent des propos honteux… Malgré tout cela, sa colère ne s’apaise point et sa main reste étendue.
18 For evil was burning like a fire; the blackberries and thorns were burned up; the thick woods took fire, rolling up in dark clouds of smoke.
Car la méchanceté brûle comme le feu, qui dévore ronces et épines, embrase les taillis de la forêt, d’où s’élèvent des tourbillons de fumée.
19 The land was dark with the wrath of the Lord of armies: the people were like those who take men's flesh for food.
Par la colère de l’Eternel-Cebaot le pays est un brasier, et ses habitants deviennent comme un aliment pour le feu: le frère n’a plus pitié de son frère.
20 On the right a man was cutting off bits and was still in need; on the left a man took a meal but had not enough; no man had pity on his brother; every man was making a meal of the flesh of his neighbour.
On déchire à droite et on reste affamé; on dévore à gauche et on n’est pas rassasié; ils vont jusqu’à manger chacun la chair de leur propre bras.
21 Manasseh was making a meal of Ephraim, and Ephraim of Manasseh; and together they were attacking Judah. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Manassé contre Ephraïm, Ephraïm contre Manassé, et tous deux contre Juda!… Malgré tout cela, sa colère ne s’apaise point et sa main reste étendue.
