< 2 Corinthians 1 >
1 [I], Paul, who [write this letter to you], became an apostle of Christ Jesus because God chose me for that. [Timothy, our] fellow believer, [is with me. I am sending this letter] to you who are God’s people in the congregations in Corinth [city. I want] the believers who live in [other places] in Achaia [province to also read this letter].
Paul, apôtre de Jésus-Christ, par la volonté de Dieu, et Timothée, son frère, à l’Eglise de Dieu qui est à Corinthe, et à tous les saints qui sont dans toute l’Achaïe.
2 [We(exc) desire] that you will [experience] God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ [acting] kindly toward you and causing you to have [inner] peace.
Grâce à vous, et paix par Dieu notre Père, et par Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ.
3 [We should] praise God, who is the father of our [(inc)] Lord Jesus Christ. He always pities us and helps us [because he is like] [MET] a father to us [and we are like his children]. He always encourages us [(inc)].
Béni le Dieu et Père de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, le Père des miséricordes et le Dieu de toute consolation!
4 He has encouraged us [(exc)] whenever we suffered hardships. As a result, we [(exc)] are able to encourage others whenever they suffer hardships, just as/just like God has encouraged us [(exc)].
Qui nous console dans toutes nos afflictions, afin que nous puissions nous-mêmes, par l’encouragement que Dieu nous donne, consoler aussi ceux qui sont sous le poids de toute sorte de maux.
5 It is true that just like Christ suffered, we [who serve him] also continually suffer [because we belong to him]. But also, because we [belong to] Christ, God greatly strengthens us (just as/just like) [God strengthened him].
Car, comme les souffrances du Christ abondent en nous, c’est aussi par le Christ que notre consolation abonde.
6 So, whenever we [(exc)] experience sufferings, we [learn how to encourage] you [when you experience sufferings. As a result, you will become more and more the kind of people God] wants you to be. Whenever [God] strengthens us [(exc) when we are suffering, he] does that in order that you [may see how he makes us strong when we are suffering. Then, as God] encourages [you in that way], you will learn to continue patiently [trusting him] when you suffer as we do.
Or si nous sommes dans l’affliction, c’est pour votre encouragement et votre salut; si nous sommes consolés, c’est pour votre consolation; si nous sommes encouragés, c’est pour votre encouragement et votre salut qui s’accomplit par votre patience à supporter les mêmes souffrances que nous supportons nous-mêmes.
7 As a result, we [(exc)] strongly expect that because you suffer just as/just like we do, [God] will encourage you (just as/just like) [he] encourages us.
Ce qui nous donne une ferme espérance pour vous, sachant que, comme vous avez part aux souffrances, vous l’aurez aussi à la consolation.
8 [Our] fellow believers, we [(exc)] want you to know [LIT] about the trouble that we suffered in Asia [province]. That trouble was so very great that it was much more than we were able to endure. As a result, we [(exc)] thought that we would certainly die.
Car nous ne voulons pas, mes frères, que vous ignoriez, touchant la tribulation qui nous est survenue en Asie, que le poids en a été excessif et au-dessus de nos forces, au point que nous étions las de vivre.
9 Indeed, we felt [like a person feels when he has heard a judge say], “I condemn you to die/be executed [MET].” But [God allowed us to think that we were going to die] so that we would not (rely on/trust in) our own [strength. He wanted us] instead [to rely] only on his [strength, because he] is the one who [has power even to make] those who have died live [again].
Mais nous, nous avons reçu en nous-mêmes l’arrêt de la mort, afin que nous ne mettions pas notre confiance en nous, mais en Dieu qui ressuscite les morts,
10 And [even though] we [(exc)] were [in terrible danger and were] about to die, God rescued us. And he will continue to rescue us [whenever we are in trouble]. We confidently expect that he will continue to rescue us [time after time].
Qui nous a délivrés de si grands périls, qui nous en délivre, et qui, comme nous l’espérons de lui, nous en délivrera encore,
11 [And we are also relying on] you to help us by praying for us [(exc)]. [If many people pray for us], many people will also thank [God] when [he] kindly answers those many prayers [and delivers us from danger].
Surtout vous nous aidant en priant pour nous, afin que, comme le don qui est en nous a été fait en considération d’un grand nombre, un grand nombre en rende grâces pour nous.
12 I am happy [to say] that I have behaved toward all people [MTY] in an honest and sincere way. My conscience assures me [that this is true]. Especially, I have behaved toward you [honestly and sincerely because that is what] God wants us to do. As I have done that, [my thoughts] have not been the thoughts that unbelieving people [MTY] [think are] wise. Instead, [I have behaved toward people only as God wants me to, depending on] God to help me in ways that I do not deserve.
Car notre gloire, la voici: Le témoignage de notre conscience, que c’est dans la simplicité du cœur et dans la sincérité de Dieu, et non point selon la sagesse de la chair, mais avec la grâce de Dieu, que nous nous sommes conduits dans ce monde, mais plus particulièrement envers vous.
13 [I say that] because [in all my letters to you] I have always written [LIT] clearly in a way that you can easily and completely understand [when you] read them.
En effet, nous ne vous écrivons que les choses que vous avez lues et reconnues. Or j’espère que vous reconnaîtrez jusqu’à la fin,
14 [Previously some of] you, but not all of you, have completely understood [that I am always honest and sincere with you]. But I confidently expect that [soon] you will all be fully convinced [about that]. Then when the Lord Jesus [MTY] [returns, you will all be able to say that] you are pleased with me, just like I will [be able to say that] I am pleased with you.
Comme vous l’avez reconnu en partie, que nous sommes votre gloire, de même que vous serez la nôtre au jour de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ.
15 It was because I felt sure [that all of you were pleased with me] that I was planning to visit you on my way from [here] to Macedonia [province]. I also planned to visit you again on my way back from there, so that I could [spend time with you] twice, and be able to help you more, and I was hoping that you would [give me things that I needed] [EUP] for my journey to Judea [province].
C’est dans cette confiance que je voulais venir d’abord vous voir, pour que vous reçussiez une seconde grâce;
Passer par chez vous en allant en Macédoine, et revenir de Macédoine près de vous, et par vous être conduit en Judée.
17 So then, even though I [changed my mind later and did not do what] I [first] planned to do, [it was not because I did not have an important reason for changing my plans]. Surely you do not [really think] that I decide what I am going to do like people who do not know God do! [RHQ] I am [not like that]. I am not [a person who] says [to people], “Yes, [certainly I will do that],” and then [for no good reason changes his mind and says], “No, [I will not do it].”
Ayant donc eu ce dessein, ai-je été inconstant? ou bien, ce que je projette, le projetai-je selon la chair, de sorte qu’en moi il y ait OUI et NON?
18 Just as surely as God always does what he says [he will do, it is true that I have never said], “Yes, [I will do this]” when I [really meant] “No.”
Mais Dieu est fidèle témoin que la parole que nous vous avons annoncée n’a point été dans ce OUI et NON.
19 [I follow the example of] God’s Son, Jesus Christ. When I, along with Silas and Timothy, taught you [about Christ], we told you that he was not [someone who said that he] would do [something] and [then] did not [do it]. Jesus Christ never [said to anyone], “Yes, [I will do what you desire],” and [then did] not [do it].
Car le fils de Dieu, Jésus-Christ, que nous vous avons prêché, moi, Silvain et Timothée, ne fut point oui et non; mais oui fut seul en lui.
20 [We(inc) know that is true], because everything that God promised to do [for his people], he has done completely by [sending] Christ [to save us]. That is why we say, “Yes, it is true! [God has done everything that he promised to do]!” And we praise him for that!
En effet, toutes les promesses quelconques de Dieu sont en lui le oui; c’est pourquoi nous disons aussi par lui Amen à Dieu pour notre gloire.
21 Now it is only God himself who causes us [(exc)], as well as you, to keep on [believing] strongly in Christ. God is the one who chose us [(inc) to belong to him and to have a close relationship] with Christ.
Or celui qui nous affermit avec vous dans le Christ, et qui nous a oints, c’est Dieu,
22 He also sent his Holy Spirit into our [(inc)] lives to mark us as belonging to himself [MET]. Also, since he has sent his Spirit to live in us [(inc)], [he wants us to know by this that] he guarantees [MET] [to give us every other] ([blessing/good thing]) [that he has promised].
Qui nous a aussi marqués de son sceau, et a donné le gage de l’Esprit dans nos cœurs.
23 So now [I will tell you why I changed my mind and did not visit you as I intended to do]: God himself knows [that what I am telling you is true]. The reason that I did not return to Corinth was so that I might not have to [speak to you severely about the wrong that you had done].
Pour moi, je prends Dieu à témoin sur mon âme, que c’est pour vous épargner, que je ne suis point encore venu à Corinthe;
24 It is not that Silas, Timothy and I want to boss you [and tell you that you must] believe only what we say. [Not at all]! On the contrary, we [(exc)] are working as partners [with you] in order to make you happy. [We do not try to force you to believe everything that we believe, because we are sure that you are continuing to] trust [the Lord Jesus Christ] and that you are remaining firmly committed to him.
ce n’est pas que nous dominions sur votre foi; au contraire, nous coopérons à votre joie, car vous êtes fermes dans la foi.