Numbers 24

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to meet with omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Or lorsque Balaam eut vu qu’il plaisait au Seigneur qu’il bénît Israël, il n’alla nullement comme il était allé auparavant, pour chercher un augure; mais tournant son visage vers le désert,

2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Ruach of God came on him.

Et levant les yeux, il vit Israël dans les tentes, campé selon ses tribus: et l’esprit de Dieu s’emparant de lui,

3 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

Et lui, employant sa parabole, s’écria: Il a dit, Balaam, fils de Béor; il a dit, l’homme dont l’œil fut fermé;

4 he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, and having his eyes open:

Il a dit, celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, qui a contemplé la vision du Tout-Puissant, qui tombe, et ainsi ses yeux sont ouverts:

5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel.

Que tes tabernacles sont beaux, ô Jacob! et tes tentes, ô Israël!

6 As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which the LORD has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.

Elles sont comme des vallées bien boisées, comme des jardins arrosés d’eaux le long des fleuves, comme des tabernacles qu’a dressés le Seigneur, comme des cèdres près des eaux.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.

L’eau coulera de son sceau, et sa postérité se répandra comme des eaux abondantes. Son roi sera rejeté, à cause d’Agag, et son royaume lui sera enlevé.

8 God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.

Dieu l’a retiré de l’Egypte, lui dont la force est semblable à celle du rhinocéros. Ils dévoreront les peuples leurs ennemis, ils briseront leurs os, et ils les perceront de flèches.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed."

Se couchant, il a dormi comme un lion, et comme une lionne que nul n’osera éveiller. Celui qui te bénira, sera aussi lui-même béni: celui qui te maudira sera compris dans la malédiction.

10 Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, look, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

Or, Balac irrité contre Balaam, et frappant des mains, dit: C’est pour maudire mes ennemis que je t’ai appelé, et au contraire tu les a bénis trois fois.

11 Therefore now flee you to your place. I thought to promote you to great honor; but, look, the LORD has kept you back from honor."

Retourne en ton lieu. J’avais résolu de t’honorer magnifiquement; mais le Seigneur t’a privé de l’honneur préparé.

12 Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

Balaam répondit à Balac: N’ai-je pas dit à tes messagers que tu m’as envoyés:

13 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad in my heart. I will say what God says'?

Si Balac me donnait sa maison pleine d’argent et d’or, je ne pourrais aller au-delà de la parole du Seigneur mon Dieu, pour produire de mon propre esprit quelque chose de bien ou de mal; mais tout ce que le Seigneur dira, je le dirai?

14 Now, look, I go to my people: come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."

Cependant, allant vers mon peuple, je donnerai un conseil sur ce que ton peuple doit faire à celui-ci dans le dernier temps.

15 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

Employant donc sa parabole, il dit encore: Il a dit, Balaam, fils de Béor; il a dit, l’homme dont l’œil fut fermé;

16 he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, and having his eyes open:

Il a dit, celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, qui connaît la doctrine du Très-Haut, et voit les visions du Tout-Puissant, qui, tombant, a les yeux ouverts.

17 I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and will crush the forehead of Moab, and the crown of all the sons of tumult.

Je le verrai, mais non maintenant; je le contemplerai, mais non de près. Il se lèvera une étoile de Jacob; et il s’élèvera une vierge d’Israël; et elle frappera les chefs de Moab et ruinera tous les enfants de Seth.

18 Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.

De plus, l’Idumée sera sa possession; l’héritage de Séir passera à ses ennemis, et Israël agira vaillamment,

19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city."

De Jacob sortira celui qui doit dominer, et perdre les restes de la cité.

20 He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his latter end shall come to destruction."

Et lorsqu’il eut vu Amalec, employant sa parabole, il dit: Amalec est le commencement des nations; ses derniers moments seront frappés par la destruction.

21 He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, "Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.

Il vit aussi le Cinéen; et employant sa parabole, il dit: Ton habitation, à la vérité, est solide; mais si c’est sur la pierre que tu as posé ton nid,

22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive."

Et si tu as été choisi de la race de Cin, combien de temps pourras-tu durer? Car Assur te prendra.

23 He took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

Et employant sa parabole, il dit encore: Hélas! qui vivra, quand Dieu fera ces choses?

24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction."

Ils viendront d’Italie dans des trirèmes; ils vaincront les Assyriens; ils ruineront les Hébreux, et à la fin, eux-mêmes aussi périront.

25 Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

Après cela Balaam se leva, et retourna en son lieu; Balac aussi s’en retourna par la même voie qu’il était venu.