Naum 2
1 It is all over with him, he has been removed, [one] who has been delivered from affliction has come up panting into your presence, watch the way, strengthen [your] loins, be very valiant in [your] strength.
Voyez! sur les montagnes les pieds du messager qui annonce la paix! Juda, célèbre tes fêtes, accomplis tes vœux! Car le destructeur ne t'envahira plus, il est totalement détruit.
2 For the Lord has turned aside the pride of Jacob, as the pride of Israel: for they have utterly rejected them, and have destroyed their branches.
Le ravageur marche sur toi, [Ninive!] Garde la place, aie l'œil sur le chemin, ceins tes reins, fais les plus grands efforts!
3 [They have destroyed] the arms of their power from among men, their mighty men sporting with fire: the reins of their chariots [shall be destroyed] in the day of his preparation, and the horsemen shall be thrown into confusion
Car l'Éternel relève la grandeur de Jacob, aussi bien que la grandeur d'Israël, parce que les dévastateurs les ont dévastés, et ont détruit leurs plants.
4 in the ways, and the chariots shall clash together, and shall be entangled in each other in the broad ways: their appearance is as lamps of fire, and as gleaming lightnings.
Les boucliers de ses héros sont rouges, les guerriers sont vêtus d'écarlate; les faux étincellent sur les chars au jour de son armement, et les lances sont brandies.
5 And their mighty men shall bethink themselves and flee by day; and they shall be weak as they go; and they shall hasten to her walls, and shall prepare their defences.
Dans les rues avec furie les chars sont lancés, ils se croisent dans les places; leur aspect est celui des torches, ils courent comme des éclairs.
6 The gates of the cities have been opened, and the palaces have fallen into ruin,
Il se souvient de ses braves; ils trébuchent dans leur marche: on se précipite contre ses murs et la tortue est dressée.
7 and the foundation has been exposed; and she has gone up, and her maidservants were led [away] as doves moaning in their hearts.
Les portes des fleuves sont ouvertes, et le palais s'écroule.
8 And [as for] Nineve, her waters [shall be] as a pool of water: and they fled, and staid not, and there was none to look back.
C'est arrêté: elle est mise à nu, emmenée, et ses suivantes gémissent comme des colombes, en se frappant la poitrine.
9 They plundered the silver, they plundered the gold, and there was no end of their adorning; they were loaded [with it] upon all their pleasant vessels.
Ninive était comme un réservoir plein d'eau, depuis qu'elle était; mais ils fuient! « Arrêtez! Arrêtez! » mais personne ne se retourné.
10 [There is] thrusting forth, and shaking, and tumult, and heart-breaking, and loosing of knees, and pangs on all loins; and the faces of all [are] as the blackening of a pot.
Pillez l'argent! pillez. l'or! ce sont des trésors sans fin, des richesses, toutes sortes de meubles de prix.
11 Where is the dwelling-place of the lions, and the pasture that belonged to the whelps? where did the lion go, that the lion's whelp should enter in there, and there was none to scare [him] away?
Désastre et dévastation! et abandonnement! les cœurs se fondent, les genoux chancellent, tous les reins souffrent, tous les visages pâlissent.
12 The lion seized enough prey for his whelps, and strangled for his [young] lions, and filled his lair with prey, and his dwelling-place with spoil.
Qu'est devenu le repaire des lions, où les lionceaux trouvaient leur pâture, où se promenaient le lion, la lionne, le petit du lion, sans être troublés?
13 Behold, I am against you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will burn up your multitude in the smoke, and the sword shall devour your lions; and I will utterly destroy your prey from off the land, and your deeds shall no more at all be heard of.
Le lion dépeçait pour ses petits, et déchirait pour ses lionnes; il remplissait de proie ses antres, et ses repaires de dépouilles.
