< Ezra 9 >
1 Some time later, the Jewish leaders came to me and said, “Many Israelis, and even some priests and [other men who are] descendants of Levi [who work in the temple], have not kept themselves from [doing what] the other people who are living in this land [do]. They are practicing the detestable things that the Canaan, Heth, Periz, Jebus, Ammon, and Amor people-groups, and the people from Moab and Egypt do.
Et quand ces choses furent accomplies, les chefs s'approchèrent de moi en disant: Le peuple d'Israël et les Prêtres et les Lévites ne se séparent point des populations du monde, imitant leurs abominations qui sont celles des Cananéens, des Héthiens, des Phérésiens, des Jébusites, des Ammonites, des Moabites, des Égyptiens et des Amoréens.
2 [Specifically, some] Israeli men have married women who are not Israelis, and they have allowed their sons to do the same thing. So we, God’s sacred people, have become (contaminated/polluted in God’s sight). And some of our leaders and officials have been the first/worst ones to do this.”
Car ils ont pris de leurs filles pour eux et leurs fils et ont mélangé la race sainte avec les populations du monde. Et les chefs et les grands ont les premiers prêté la main à ce crime.
3 When I heard that, [I became very angry, with the result that] I tore my clothes and tore some hair from my head and from my beard. Then I sat down, very shocked/dismayed. [The Israelis knew that God had warned us that he would punish us if we disobeyed] what he had said to us [about marrying women who are not Israelis].
Et lorsque j'entendis ce discours, je déchirai mon habit et mon manteau, et je m'arrachai les cheveux de ma tête et la barbe, et je m'assis stupéfait.
4 [So] many of the Israelis trembled/were afraid when they heard that some of those who had returned from Babylonia had sinned by disobeying the God of us Israelis like that. They came and sat with me until it was time to offer the evening sacrifices [of grain].
Et vers moi se réunirent tous ceux qui révéraient les paroles du Dieu d'Israël, à cause du crime des captifs, et je restai stupéfait jusqu'à l'oblation du soir.
5 When it was time to offer those sacrifices, I was still sitting there, wearing those torn clothes and mourning/sad. I stood up, and then I quickly prostrated myself on the ground. I lifted up my hands to Yahweh, my God,
Et à l'oblation du soir je me levai de mon état d'humiliation, avec mon habit et mon manteau déchirés, et je tombai à genoux et étendis mes mains vers l'Éternel, mon Dieu,
6 and this is what I prayed: “Yahweh my God, I am very ashamed to raise my head in front of you. The sins that we Israelis have committed [are very great; it is as though they] have risen up higher than our heads, and our guilt [for committing those sins, it is as though it] rises up to the heavens.
et je m'écriai: O mon Dieu, je suis honteux et confus à n'oser, ô mon Dieu, lever mon front vers toi. Car nos crimes par leur nombre dépassent notre tête, et notre iniquité par sa grandeur atteint jusqu'aux cieux.
7 Since the time that our ancestors lived until now, we have been very guilty. That is the reason that we and our kings and our priests have been defeated by [the armies of] the kings of other lands. They killed [some of our people], they captured [some], they robbed [some], and they [caused them all to be] disgraced, just like we are today.
Dès les jours de nos pères jusqu'aujourd'hui nous avons été grandement coupables, et à cause de nos crimes, nous, nos rois et nos Prêtres avons été livrés aux mains des rois des nations, à l'épée, à la captivité et au pillage et à l'opprobre, comme nous le sommes aujourd'hui.
8 “But now, Yahweh God, you have been very kind to us. You have allowed some of us to (survive/continue to live). You have revived our spirits [IDM] and allowed us to escape from being slaves [in Babylonia] and to return safely [IDM] to live in this sacred place.
Cependant un instant de grâce nous est accordé de par l'Éternel, notre Dieu, qui nous laisse quelques réchappés et nous accorde le pilier d'une tente dans le lieu de son Sanctuaire, notre Dieu récréant ainsi nos yeux et nous faisant un peu reprendre vie dans notre servitude.
9 We were slaves, but you did not abandon us. Instead, because you faithfully love us, you caused the kings of Persia to be very kind to us. You have allowed us to continue to live and to rebuild your temple which had been completely destroyed. You have allowed us to start to live safely here in Jerusalem and in [other towns in] Judah.
Car nous sommes esclaves; mais dans notre esclavage notre Dieu ne nous a pas abandonnés, et Il nous a concilié la faveur des rois de Perse, pour nous redonner la vie, pour relever la Maison de notre Dieu, pour restaurer ses ruines et nous permettre d'avoir des murs en Juda et à Jérusalem.
10 “Our God, what more can we say now [RHQ]? In spite of all that [you have done for us], we have disobeyed your commands.
Et maintenant, ô notre Dieu, que dirons-nous après cela? Car nous avons déserté tes commandements
11 They are commands that you gave to your servants, the prophets, to tell to us. They said that the land that we would occupy was polluted because of the detestable/disgusting things that were done by the people who lived there. They said that in the land there were people from one end to the other who did immoral/shameful things.
que tu nous avais prescrits par tes serviteurs les prophètes en disant: Le pays où vous entrez pour l'occuper est un pays souillé de la souillure des peuples du monde, des abominations dont ils l'ont rempli d'un bout à l'autre bout par leur impureté.
12 They said, ‘Do not allow your daughters to marry their sons! Do not allow your sons to marry their daughters! Do not even try to cause things to go well for those people-groups! If you obey these instructions, your nation will be strong, and you will enjoy the good crops that grow on the land, and the land will belong to your descendants forever.’
Vous ne marierez donc point vos filles à leurs fils, ni leurs filles à vos fils, et vous ne chercherez jamais ni leur amitié, ni leur prospérité, si vous voulez être forts et jouir des biens du pays et le transmettre par héritage à vos fils à jamais.
13 “You punished us because we were very guilty for having done wicked things. But you have not punished us as much as we deserve to be punished. [I say this because] you, our God, have allowed some of us to survive.
Et après tout ce qui nous est advenu par suite de nos méchantes actions et de notre grande culpabilité (car, ô notre Dieu, tu nous as ménagés plus que ne le méritaient nos forfaits, et tu nous as procuré le salut de cette manière),
14 However, some of us are again disobeying your commands, and we are marrying women who do those detestable things. If we continue to do that, surely you will get rid of all of us [RHQ], with the result that none of us will remain alive.
reviendrions-nous à enfreindre tes commandements et à nous allier à ces peuples abominables? Ne t'irriteras-tu pas contre nous jusqu'à notre extinction: jusqu'à nous ôter tout reste, et tous réchappés?
15 Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship/belong to], you are fair/just. We are guilty. We are only a few people who have escaped [from Babylonia], but we pray to you, even though we do not deserve to stand in your presence.”
Éternel, Dieu d'Israël, tu es juste. Car nous sommes conservés et avons échappé, comme c'est aujourd'hui: Nous voici devant ta face dans notre état de coupables; car nul ne saurait subsister devant toi dans cette condition.