1 Chronicles 19
1 Now it came to pass that Naas the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned is his stead.
Sur ces entrefaites, Nahach, le roi des Ammonites, mourut, et son fils lui succéda.
2 And David said: I will shew kindness to Hanon the son of Naas: for his father did a favour to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him upon the death of his father. But when they were come into the land of the children of Ammon, to comfort Hanon,
David se dit: "Je veux agir amicalement avec Hanoun, fils de Nahach, comme son père a agi à mon égard." Et David envoya des émissaires pour lui présenter des condoléances au sujet de son père, et les serviteurs de David se rendirent au pays des Ammonites pour porter des condoléances à Hanoun.
3 The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon: Thou thinkest perhaps that David to do honour to thy father hath sent comforters to thee: and thou dost not take notice, that his servants are come to thee to consider, and search, and spy out thy land.
Mais les princes ammonites dirent à Hanoun: "Est-ce, à ton avis, pour honorer ton père que David t’a envoyé des consolateurs? N’Est-ce pas plutôt pour explorer, troubler et espionner le pays que ses serviteurs sont venus te trouver?"
4 Wherefore Hanon shaved the heads and beards of the servants of David, and cut away their garments from the buttocks to the feet, and sent them away.
Alors Hanoun fit saisir les serviteurs de David, ordonna de les raser et de couper la moitié de leurs vêtements jusqu’aux hanches, puis il les congédia.
5 And when they were gone, they sent word to David, who sent to meet them (for they had suffered a great affront) and ordered them to stay at Jericho till their beards grew and then to return.
Ceux-ci partis, on mit David au courant de ce qui était arrivé à ces hommes, et il envoya au-devant d’eux car ces hommes étaient accablés de honte et leur fit dire: "Restez à Jéricho jusqu’à ce que votre barbe ait repoussé, puis vous reviendrez."
6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had done an injury to David, Hanon and the rest of the people sent a thousand talents of silver, to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria Maacha, and out of Soba.
Les Ammonites, voyant qu’ils s’étaient mis en mauvaise odeur auprès de David, envoyèrent, de concert avec Hanoun, mille kikkar d’argent pour soudoyer dans la Syrie du Double-Fleuve, dans la Syrie de Maakha et de Çoba des chars et des cavaliers.
7 And they hired two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of Maacha, with his people. And they came and camped over against Medaba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their cities, and came to battle.
Ils soudoyèrent ainsi trente-deux mille chars ainsi que le roi de Maakha et son peuple, qui vinrent camper devant Mèdeba; de leur côté, les Ammonites sortirent ensemble de leurs villes et entrèrent en campagne.
8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of valiant men:
A cette nouvelle, David envoya Joab avec toute son armée de vaillants.
9 And the children of Ammon came out and put their army in array before the gate of the city: and the kings, that were come to their aid, stood apart in the field.
Les Ammonites s’avancèrent et se mirent en bataille à l’entrée de la ville, tandis que les rois qui étaient accourus restaient séparés dans la campagne.
10 Wherefore Joab understanding that the battle was set against him before and behind, chose out the bravest men of all Israel, and marched against the Syrians,
Joab, voyant que la bataille le menaçait par-devant et par-derrière, fit choix des meilleurs guerriers d’Israël et les disposa devant les Syriens.
11 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abisai his brother, and they went against the children of Ammon.
Pour le reste de l’armée, il le mit sous les ordres de son frère Abchaï et le rangea devant les Ammonites.
12 And he said: If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, I will help thee.
Et il dit: "Si les Syriens l’emportent sur moi, tu viendras à mon secours; si les Ammonites l’emportent sur toi, c’est moi qui viendrai te secourir.
13 Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves manfully for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord will do that which is good in his sight.
Sois fort, soyons forts pour notre peuple et pour les villes de notre Dieu, et que le Seigneur agisse selon sa volonté!"
14 So Joab and the people that were with him, went against the Syrians to the battle: and he put them to flight.
Joab, avec la troupe qui l’accompagnait, engagea la bataille contre les Syriens, qui s’enfuirent devant lui.
15 And the children of Ammon seeing that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled from Abisai his brother, and went into the city: and Joab also returned to Jerusalem.
Les Ammonites, voyant fuir les Syriens, lâchèrent pied devant son frère Abchaï et rentrèrent dans la ville; et Joab revint à Jérusalem.
16 But the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, sent messengers, and brought to them the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Sophach, general of the army of Adarezer, was their leader.
Mais les Syriens, se voyant battus par les Israélites, envoyèrent des messagers et firent avancer les Syriens de delà le Fleuve, sous le commandement de Chopakh, chef de l’armée de Hadadézer.
17 And it was told David, and he gathered together all Israel, and passed the Jordan, and came upon them, and put his army in array against them, and they fought with him.
Quand David en fut informé, il rassembla tout Israël, traversa le Jourdain, arriva à Hélam et aligna ses troupes en face d’eux. Il commença à combattre les Syriens, qui acceptèrent la bataille.
18 But the Syrian fled before Israel: and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and Sophach the general of the army.
Aram prit la fuite devant Israël, et David lui tua sept mille attelages et quarante mille hommes de pied. Il fit périr aussi Chopakh, chef de l’armée.
19 And when the servants of Adarezer saw themselves overcome by Israel, they went over to David, and served him: and Syria would not help the children of Ammon any more.
Les serviteurs de Hadadézer, voyant qu’Israël les avait défaits, firent la paix avec David et devinrent ses tributaires; et les Syriens ne furent plus disposés à venir en aide aux Ammonites.
