2 Kings 4

1 One day the widow of one of [Yahweh’s] prophets came to Elisha and cried out to him, “My husband, who worked with you, is dead. You know that he revered Yahweh [very much]. But now a man to whom he owed a lot of money has come to me. [And because I cannot pay back the money, he is threatening] to take away my two sons to be his slaves [as payment for what I owe him]!”

Or une certaine femme d’entre les femmes des prophètes criait à Élisée, disant: Ton serviteur, mon mari, est mort; et toi, tu sais que ton serviteur fut craignant le Seigneur: et voilà qu’un créancier vient, afin de prendre mes deux fils pour le servir.

2 Elisha replied, “What can I do to help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” She replied, “We have only a container of [olive] oil; we have nothing else.”

Élisée lui dit: Que veux-tu que je fasse pour toi? Dis-moi, qu’as-tu dans ta maison? Et elle répondit: Je n’ai, moi ta servante, dans ma maison qu’un peu d’huile dont je m’oins.

3 Elisha said, “Go to your neighbors and borrow from them as many empty jars as you can.

Il lui dit: Va, emprunte de tes voisines un grand nombre de vases vides,

4 Then take the jars into your house with your sons. Shut the door. Then pour olive oil from your container into the other jars. When each jar is full, set it aside [and fill another jar. Keep doing that until all the jars are full].”

Puis rentre, et ferme ta porte, lorsque tu seras dedans, toi et tes fils; verse de cette huile dans tous ces vases; et quand ils seront pleins, tu les emporteras.

5 [So she did what Elisha told her to do]. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she kept filling them.

C’est pourquoi cette femme s’en alla et ferma la porte sur elle et sur ses fils; ceux-ci lui présentaient les vases, et elle y versait l’huile.

6 Soon all the jars were full. So she said to one of her sons, “Bring me another jar!” But he replied, “There are no more jars!” And then the olive oil stopped flowing.

Et lorsque les vases furent pleins, elle dit à son fils: Apporte-moi encore un vase. Et il lui répondit: Je n’en ai point. Et l’huile s’arrêta.

7 When she told Elijah [what had happened], he said to her, “Now sell the jars of oil. And [with the money you get, ] pay what you owe, and there will be enough extra money to keep buying food for yourself and your sons.” [So she did that].

Or cette femme vint et raconta tout à l’homme de Dieu. Et lui: Va, dit-il, vends l’huile, et rends à ton créancier ce qui lui est dû; mais toi et tes fils, vivez avec le reste.

8 One day Elisha went to Shunem [town]. There was a wealthy woman who lived there [with her husband]. One day she invited Elisha to her house for a meal. [Elisha went there and] from then on, every time Elisha was in Shunem, he went to their house to eat a meal.

Or un certain jour arriva, et Élisée passait par Sunam: or il y avait là une femme considérable, laquelle le retint pour qu’il mangeât du pain; et comme il passait souvent par là, il allait loger chez elle pour manger du pain.

9 One day the woman said to her husband, “I am sure that this man who often comes here is a prophet [who brings messages] from God.

Cette femme dit à son mari: Je m’aperçois que c’est un saint, cet homme de Dieu qui passe par chez nous fréquemment.

10 I think we should make a small room for him on our [flat] roof, and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp in it. If we do that, whenever he comes here, he will have a place to stay.” [So they did that].

Faisons-lui donc une petite chambre, et mettons-y un lit, une table, un siège et un chandelier, afin que, lorsqu’il viendra chez nous, il demeure là.

11 One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to that room to rest.

Un certain jour arriva donc, et Élisée venant, alla loger en cette chambre et s’y reposa.

12 He said to his servant Gehazi, “Tell the woman that I want to speak to her.” [So the servant went and told her]. When she came [to the doorway of Elisha’s room],

Et il dit à Giézi, son serviteur: Appelle cette Sunamite, Lorsque Giézi l’eut appelée, et qu’elle se tenait devant lui,

13 Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her that we both appreciate all the kind things that she has done for us. Then ask her what we can do for her. Ask, ‘Do you want [me to go to] the king or the army commander, to request something for you?’” [Gehazi told her, ] and she replied, “No, [he does not need to do that, because] my family/relatives are able to give me what I need.”

Il dit à son serviteur: Dis-lui: Voilà que tu nous as servis soigneusement; que veux-tu que je fasse pour toi? As-tu quelque affaire, et veux-tu que je parle au roi ou au prince de la milice? Elle lui répondit: J’habite au milieu de mon peuple.

14 [Later, ] Elisha asked Gehazi, “What do you think that we can do for that woman?” He replied, “She does not have a son, and her husband is an old man. [So maybe we should ask Yahweh to enable her to have a son].”

Il dit encore: Que veut-elle donc que je fasse pour elle? Et Giézi répondit: Ne cherchez pas; car elle n’a point de fils, et son mari est vieux.

15 Elisha told Gehazi, “Call her back again.” [So Gehazi went and called her]. And when the woman returned, as she stood in the doorway,

C’est pourquoi il ordonna de l’appeler; et lorsqu’elle eut été appelée, et qu’elle se tenait devant la porte,

16 Elisha said to her, “About this time next year you will be holding your [infant] son in your arms.” But she protested, “O, sir, you are a prophet [who brings messages] from God, so please do not deceive/lie to me by saying things like that!”

Il lui dit: Dans ce temps et à cette même heure, si tu vis encore, tu auras en ton sein un fils. Mais elle répondit: Non, je te prie, mon seigneur, homme de Dieu, non, ne mens pas à ta servante.

17 But a few months later, the woman became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son at that time the following year, just like Elisha had predicted.

Et cette femme conçut, et elle enfanta un fils dans le temps et à la même heure qu’Élisée avait dit.

18 When the child was older, one day he went out to the fields to see his father, who was [working] with the men who were harvesting [grain].

Or l’enfant grandit; et comme il arriva un certain jour qu’il était sorti vers son père, vers les moissonneurs,

19 [Suddenly] the boy exclaimed, “My head [hurts]! My head [hurts a lot]!” His father said to one of the servants, “Carry him home to his mother!”

Il dit à son père: J’ai mal à la tête, j’ai mal à la tête. Celui-ci dit à son serviteur: Prends cet enfant, et conduis-le à sa mère.

20 So the servant carried him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But at noontime the boy died.

Lorsque le serviteur l’eut pris et l’eut conduit à sa mère, celle-ci le mit sur ses genoux jusqu’à midi, et il mourut.

21 She carried him up [the steps] to the prophet’s room and laid him on the bed. She left him there and went out and shut the door.

Or elle monta et le plaça sur le lit de l’homme de Dieu, et elle ferma la porte; et, étant sortie,

22 She then called out to her husband, saying, “Send to me one of the servants and a donkey, so that I can ride [on it] quickly to the prophet, and then come back!” [But she did not tell her husband that their son had died].

Elle appela son mari, et dit: Envoie avec moi, je te conjure, un de tes serviteurs et une ânesse, pour que je coure jusqu’à l’homme de Dieu, et je reviendrai.

23 Her husband [called out to her and] said, “Why [do you want to go] today? This is not the day when we celebrate the Festival of the New Moon, and it is not a Sabbath day!” But she only replied, “[Just do what I requested and] everything will be all right.”

Son mari lui demanda: Pour quel motif vas-tu vers lui? Aujourd’hui ce ne sont point des calendes ni un sabbat. Elle répondit: J’irai.

24 So she [told the servant to] put saddles on [two] donkeys, and as they left, she said, “Hurry! Do not slow down unless t tell you to do that!”

Et elle sella l’ânesse, et ordonna à son serviteur: Conduis, et hâte-toi, ne me retarde point en allant, et fais ce que je t’ordonne.

25 As they approached Carmel Mountain, where Elisha was, Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, “Look, the woman from Shunem is coming!

Elle partit donc, et vint vers l’homme de Dieu sur la montagne du Carmel; et lorsque l’homme de Dieu l’eut vue en face de lui, il dit à Giézi son serviteur: Voilà cette Sunamite.

26 Run to her, and ask her if everything is all right with her and her husband and with her child!” [So Gehazi ran to her and asked her, but she did not tell Gehazi anything.] She only said, “Yes, everything is fine.”

Va donc à sa rencontre, et dis-lui: Tout va-t-il bien pour vous, pour votre mari et pour votre fils? Elle répondit: Bien.

27 But when she came to where Elisha was, she [prostrated herself on the ground in front of Elisha and] took hold of his feet. Gehazi started to push her away, but Elisha said, “(Do not push her away/Leave her alone)! Something is troubling her very much, but Yahweh has not told me what it is.”

Et, lorsqu’elle fut venue vers l’homme de Dieu sur la montagne, elle saisit ses pieds, et Giézi s’approcha pour l’écarter. Mais l’homme de Dieu dit: Laissez-la: car son âme est dans l’amertume, et le Seigneur me l’a caché et ne me l’a point fait connaître.

28 Then she said to Elisha, “O, sir, I did not ask you to enable me to give birth to a son [RHQ]. And I told you not to lie to me about that!” [RHQ]

Cette femme lui dit: Ai-je demandé un fils à mon seigneur? Ne t’ai-je pas dit: Ne me trompe point?

29 Then Elisha [realized that something must have happened to her son. So he] said to Gehazi, “Get ready [to leave immediately]. Take my staff/walking stick and go [to her home]. Do not [stop to] talk to anyone on the way. Go quickly [to where her son is] and lay the staff on the child’s face. [If you do that, perhaps Yahweh will enable him to be well].”

Élisée dit à Giézi: Ceins tes reins, et prends mon bâton en ta main, et va. Si un homme te rencontre, ne le salue point; et si quelqu’un te salue, ne lui réponds point, et mets mon bâton sur la face de l’enfant.

30 But the boy’s mother said, “Just [as certain] as Yahweh lives and you live, I will not go home if you do not go with me.” So Elisha returned with her [to her home].

Or la mère de l’enfant dit: Le Seigneur vit et ton âme vit! Je ne te quitterai point. Il se leva donc et la suivit.

31 Gehazi hurried quickly, and [when he got to the woman’s home, ] he laid the staff/walking stick on the child’s face, but the child did not move or say anything. So Gehazi returned to meet Elisha [along the road], and told him, “The child is still dead.”

Or Giézi était allé devant eux, et il avait mis le bâton d’Élisée sur la face de l’enfant; mais il n’y avait en lui ni parole ni sentiment. Aussi il retourna à la rencontre de son maître, et il le lui annonça, disant: L’enfant ne s’est pas levé.

32 When Elisha reached the house, he saw that the boy was lying dead on his bed.

Élisée entra donc dans la maison, et voilà que l’enfant mort gisait sur son lit.

33 Elisha went into the room by himself and shut the door and prayed to Yahweh.

Et étant entré, il ferma la porte sur lui et sur l’enfant, et adressa des prières au Seigneur.

34 Then he lay down on the boy’s body, and put his mouth on the boy’s mouth, and put his eyes on the boy’s eyes, and put his hands on the boy’s hands. Then the boy’s body started to become warm!

Puis il monta sur le lit et se coucha sur l’enfant; et il mit sa bouche sur sa bouche, ses yeux sur ses yeux, et ses mains sur ses mains; et il se courba sur lui, et la chair de l’enfant fut échauffée.

35 Elisha got up and walked back and forth in the room [several times]. Then he stretched his body on the boy’s body again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!

Or étant revenu du lit, il se promena dans la maison une fois ici et une fois là, et il monta et se coucha sur l’enfant; et l’enfant bâilla sept fois et il ouvrit les yeux.

36 Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. He said, “Call the boy’s mother!” [So Gehazi went and called her, ] and when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!”

Cependant Élisée appela Giézi, et lui dit: Appelle cette Sunamite. Elle ayant été appelée, entra auprès d’Élisée, et Élisée dit: Emmène ton fils.

37 She [gratefully] prostrated herself at Elisha’s feet. Then she picked up her son and carried him downstairs.

Cette femme vint, et se jeta à ses pieds, et se prosterna jusqu’à terre; et elle prit son fils et sortit.

38 Then Elisha returned to Gilgal. But at that time there was (a famine/very little food) in that area. One day as the group of prophets was sitting in front of Elisha [listening to what he was teaching], he said to his servant, “Put a large pot on [the stove] and make some stew for these men.”

Et Élisée retourna à Galgala. Or la famine était sur la terre, et les fils des prophètes habitaient auprès de lui; il dit donc à l’un de ses serviteurs: Prends la grande marmite, et fait cuire un mets pour les fils des prophètes.

39 One of the prophets went out to the fields to gather some vegetables. But he gathered [only] some wild gourds and put them in his cloak and brought them back. He shredded them and put them in the pot, but he did not know that the gourds were poisonous.

Et l’un d’eux sortit dans la campagne pour cueillir des herbes des champs; et il trouva comme une vigne sauvage, et il en cueillit des coloquintes sauvages, et il remplit son manteau; et, étant revenu, il les coupa par morceaux dans la marmite pour le mets; car il ne savait ce que c’était.

40 He served the stew to the prophets, but after the men had eaten only a couple bites, they cried out, “Elisha, there is something in the pot that will kill us!” So they would not eat it.

Il les versa ensuite de la marmite pour les serviteurs d’Élisée; mais lorsqu’ils eurent goûté de ce mets, ils crièrent, disant: La mort est dans la marmite, homme de Dieu. Et ils ne purent manger.

41 Elisha said, “Bring me some flour.” [They brought him some, and] he threw it in the pot and he said, “It is all right now. You can eat it.” And they ate it, and it did not harm them.

Mais Élisée: Apportez, dit-il, de la farine. Et lorsqu’ils en eurent apporté, il la mit dans la marmite, et dit: Versez-en pour la troupe, afin qu’ils en mangent. Et il n’y eut plus aucune amertume dans la marmite.

42 One day a man from Baal-Shalishah [town] brought to Elisha a sack of freshly cut grain and 20 loaves of barley bread, made from the first grain that they harvested [that year]. Elisha said [to his servant], “Give it to the group of prophets, so that they can eat it.”

Or un certain homme vint de Baalsalisa, portant à l’homme de Dieu des pains des prémices, vingt pains d’orge et du blé nouveau dans sa besace. Élisée dit à son serviteur: Donne au peuple, afin qu’il mange.

43 But his servant exclaimed, “Do you think that we can feed 100 of us prophets with only that much?” [RHQ] But Elisha replied, “Give it to the prophets so that they can eat it, because Yahweh says that there will be plenty for all of them, and there will be some left over!”

Et son serviteur lui répondit: Qu’est-ce que cela pour que je le serve à cent hommes? Élisée dit de nouveau: Donne au peuple, afin qu’il mange; car voici ce que dit le Seigneur: Ils mangeront, et il en restera.

44 After his servant gave it to the prophets, they ate [all that they wanted], and there was food left over, just as Yahweh had promised.

Il mit donc les pains devant eux, et ils mangèrent, et il en resta, selon la parole du Seigneur.