Jeremiah 50
1 Yahweh gave to [me, ] Jeremiah the prophet, a message about Babylon [city] and the country of Babylonia.
La parole que Yahweh prononça sur Babylone, sur le pays des Chaldéens, par l’intermédiaire de Jérémie, le prophète.
2 [This is what Yahweh says]: “Proclaim [DOU] [a message] among the nations; do not withhold any of it; raise up a signal flag to announce that Babylon will be captured. [Its chief god] Marduk, [whose other name is] Bel, will be completely disgraced, and all the [other] statues and idols will be shattered.
Annoncez-le parmi les nations, publiez-le; élevez un étendard, publiez-le; ne le cachez pas, dites: Babel est prise! Bel est confondu, Mérodach est abattu; ses idoles sont confondues, ses faux dieux sont abattus.
3 [The army of] a nation will come from the north to attack Babylon and destroy the city very thoroughly, [with the result that] no one will live there [again]. Both people and animals will run away.”
Car du septentrion un peuple monte contre elle; il fera de son pays une solitude, il n’y aura plus d’habitant; hommes et bêtes ont fuit, se sont en allés.
4 “But [I, ] Yahweh, say that in the future, when that is about to happen, the people of Israel and the people of Judah will join together. They will be weeping and wanting [to worship] me, their God.
En ces jours-là et en ce temps-là, — oracle de Yahweh, les enfants d’Israël reviendront, eux et les enfants de Juda avec eux; ils marcheront en pleurant, et chercheront Yahweh, leur Dieu.
5 They will inquire about the road to Jerusalem, [and then] they will start traveling [IDM] toward it. They will say [to each other], ‘We must return to Yahweh [again]!’ They will make an everlasting agreement with me that they will never forget.
Ils demanderont Sion, et tourneront leur face vers elle. « Venez et attachons-nous à Yahweh par une alliance éternelle, qui ne soit jamais oubliée. »
6 My people have been [like] [MET] lost sheep. Their [leaders/rulers] have caused them [to abandon me] like [MET] shepherds who have allowed their sheep to wander in the hills and mountains. [My people are like] [MET] sheep that do not know the path to return to the sheepfold.
Mon peuple était un troupeau de brebis qui se perdaient; leurs bergers les égaraient sur des montagnes perfides; elles allaient de montagne en colline, oubliant leur bercail.
7 All their enemies who found them attacked them. They said, ‘We did not sin [by attacking them], because they sinned against Yahweh; he is the one who provides what they need; he is the one to whom they should have remained faithful; he is the one whom their ancestors confidently expected [to help them].’
Tous ceux qui les trouvaient les dévoraient, et leurs ennemis disaient: « Nous ne sommes pas coupables! » Parce qu’elles avaient péché contre Yahweh, la demeure de justice, contre Yahweh, l’espérance de leurs pères.
8 [But now, I say to the leaders of my people], ‘Flee from Babylon! Leave the land of Babylonia! Be like [SIM] male goats [that go] in front of [the rest of] the flock; [lead my people back to their own land].
Fuyez du milieu de Babylone, et sortez du pays des Chaldéens; soyez comme les boucs, à la tête du troupeau.
9 [Do that] because I am going to gather an army of great nations to the north [of Babylon]. They will join together to attack Babylon and will capture it. Their arrows will be like [SIM] skilled warriors that always hit what they aim at.
Car voici que je vais susciter et faire marcher contre Babel une réunion de grands peuples; venant du pays du septentrion. Ils se rangeront contre elle, et de ce côté-là elle sera prise; leurs flèches sont celles d’un guerrier habile, qui ne revient pas à vide.
10 Babylonia will be conquered, and those who conquer it will take away everything they want. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.’”
Et la Chaldée sera mise au pillage, tous ceux qui la pilleront se rassasieront, — oracle de Yahweh.
11 “You people [of Babylon] who (plundered/stole everything valuable from) my chosen people, now you are very happy [DOU]. You run around joyfully like [SIM] a calf in a meadow, and are happy like [SIM] male horses are happy when they are neighing.
Oui, réjouissez-vous; oui, livrez-vous à l’allégresse, pillards de mon héritage; oui, bondissez comme une génisse dans la prairie, hennissez comme des étalons!
12 But [soon] your people will be very disgraced [DOU] [as a result of being conquered]. Your country will be the most insignificant nation; it will be a desert, a dry and deserted land.
Votre mère est couverte de confusion; celle qui vous a enfantés rougit de honte. Voici qu’elle est la dernière des nations, un désert, une steppe, une terre aride.
13 Because [I, ] Yahweh, am angry [with you people of Babylon], I will cause your city to become completely deserted. All who pass by will be horrified and will (gasp/be shocked) because of the destruction there.
A cause de la colère de Yahweh, elle ne sera plus habitée, ce ne sera plus qu’une solitude; quiconque passera près de Babel s’étonnera et sifflera à la vue de ses plaies.
14 [All you nations that surround Babylon, ] prepare to attack it! Tell your archers to shoot at their enemies; shoot all of your arrows at them [LIT], because [the people/leaders of Babylon have sinned against me, ] Yahweh.
Rangez-vous contre Babel, tout autour, vous tous, archers! Tirez contre elle, n’épargnez pas les flèches, car elle a péché contre Yahweh.
15 Shout [war-cries] against Babylon from all sides [of the city]. [The soldiers of] Babylon will surrender; the towers and walls will be torn down. It is [I, ] Yahweh, who will be getting revenge [on the people of Babylon], [so help me to] get revenge. Do to [the people of] Babylon what they have done to others!
Poussez de tous côtés contre elle un cri de guerre; elle tend les mains; ses tours s’écroulent, ses murs sont renversés. Car c’est la vengeance de Yahweh: vengez-vous sur elle; faites-lui comme elle a fait!
16 Take away from Babylon those who plant [crops] and those who reap the harvests! Because of the swords carried by those who will attack [Babylon], [those people in Babylon who have come from other countries] should all run away, back to their own countries [DOU]!”
Exterminez de Babel celui qui sème, et celui qui manie la faucille au jour de la moisson. Devant le glaive destructeur, que chacun se tourne vers son peuple, que chacun fuie vers son pays.
17 “The Israeli [people] are [like] [MET] sheep that have been scattered by lions. First [the army of] the King of Assyria defeated them. Then [the army of] King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon smashed them.
Israël est une brebis égarée a qui les lions ont fait la chasse; le premier l’a dévorée: le roi d’Assyrie; puis cet autre lui a brisé les os: Nabuchodonosor, roi de Babel.
18 So this is what I, the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom the Israeli people [worship], say: ‘Now I will punish the King of Babylon and the people of his land, like I punished the King of Assyria.
C’est pourquoi ainsi parle Yahweh des armées, Dieu d’Israël: Voici que je vais visiter le roi de Babel et son pays, comme j’ai visité le roi d’Assyrie.
19 And I will bring the people of Israel back to their own land where they will eat [the food that grows] in the fields of the Carmel and Bashan [regions], and [the people in] the hilly areas of Ephraim and Gilead will have all they want to eat.
Et je ramènerai Israël dans sa demeure; et il paîtra au Carmel et en Basan; et sur la montagne d’Ephraïm et de Galaad, il ira se rassasier.
20 At that time, there will not be people in Israel and in Judah who [are still guilty for having] sinned [DOU], because I will forgive the small group of people whom I enable to still be alive.’”
En ces jours-là et en ce temps-là, — oracle de Yahweh, on cherchera l’iniquité d’Israël, et elle ne sera plus; le péché de Juda, et on ne le trouvera plus; car je pardonnerai au reste que j’aurai laissé.
21 “[So, I, Yahweh, say to the enemies of Babylonia, ]‘Attack [the people who live in] the Merathaim [region] and the people in the Pekod [region of Babylonia]. Pursue them, kill them, and completely get rid of them, as I have commanded you to do.
Monte contre le pays de Rébellion et contre les habitants de Punition; détruis, extermine-les, les uns après les autres, — oracle de Yahweh, et fais-leur tout ce que je t’ai ordonné.
22 Shout your battle cries throughout the land; shout [when you are causing] great destruction.
Bruit de bataille dans le pays et grand massacre!
23 [The army of Babylon is like] [MET] the most powerful hammer on the earth, but it will be completely shattered. Babylon will be deserted among the [other] nations.’
Comment a été rompu et brisé, le marteau de toute la terre? Comment Babel, est-elle devenue un objet d’horreur, au milieu des nations?
24 You [people of] Babylon, [listen, ] [because] I have set a trap for you; you will be caught [in that trap], because you fought against me.
J’ai tendu des lacets, et tu as été prise, Babel, sans t’en douter; tu as été trouvée et saisie, parce que tu t’es mise en guerre contre Yahweh.
25 [It is as though] I have opened the place where I store my weapons, and I have brought out [all] the weapons [to use against the people with whom] I am angry. [I, ] the Commander of the armies of angels, have [a lot of] work to do [to punish] the people of Babylonia.
Yahweh a ouvert son arsenal, et il en a tiré les armes de sa colère; car le Seigneur Yahweh des armées, a affaire au pays des Chaldéens.
26 [So, you enemies of Babylonia, ] come from distant lands and attack it. Break open the places where they store the grain. Crush the walls of the city and the houses and pile up [the rubble like] [SIM] heaps of grain. Destroy everything; do not leave anything that is not destroyed.
Arrivez contre elle de toutes parts, ouvrez ses greniers, entassez tout comme des gerbes, et exterminez; qu’il n’en reste rien!
27 Destroy all the [young men who are as strong as] [MET] bulls; take them to where you will slaughter them. It will be terrible for them, because it will be time for them to be punished.
Tuez tous les taureaux, qu’ils descendent à la boucherie! Malheur à eux car leur jour est arrivé, le temps où ils seront visités.
28 Listen to the people who have fled and escaped from Babylon while they tell in Jerusalem how [I, ] Yahweh, have gotten revenge against those who destroyed my temple [in Jerusalem].
Cris des fuyards et de ceux qui se sauvent du pays de Babel! ils annoncent en Sion la vengeance de Yahweh, notre Dieu, la vengeance de son temple.
29 Summon archers [DOU] to come to attack Babylon; surround the city in order that no one will escape. Do to [the people of] Babylon what they have done to others [DOU], because they have defied [me, ] the Holy One of the Israeli [people].
Appelez contre Babel des archers, tous ceux qui bandent l’arc; campez autour d’elle: que personne n’échappe! Rendez-lui selon ses œuvres, tout ce qu’elle a fait, faites-le lui; car elle s’est élevée contre Yahweh, contre le Saint d’Israël.
30 The young men of Babylon will fall in the streets; all their soldiers will be killed in one day.
C’est pourquoi ses jeunes gens tomberont sur ses places, et tous ses hommes de guerre périront en ce jour, — oracle de Yahweh.
31 [I, ] the Commander of the armies of angels, say this: ‘You arrogant/proud people, it is now the time; it is the time [DOU] when I will punish you.
Me voici contre toi, insolente! — oracle du Seigneur Yahweh des armées; car ton jour est venu, le temps où je visite.
32 [Your land is full of] proud people, but you will stumble and fall, and no one will lift you up [again]. I will light a fire in the cities in Babylonia that will burn up everything that is nearby.’
Elle chancellera, l’insolente, elle tombera, et personne ne la relèvera; je mettrai le feu à ses villes, et il dévorera tous ses alentours.
33 [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, also say this: ‘The people of Israel and Judah were (oppressed/treated cruelly); those who captured them guarded them carefully and would not allow them to leave [Babylon].
Ainsi parle Yahweh des armées: Les enfants d’Israël sont opprimés et avec eux les enfants de Juda; tous ceux qui les ont emmenés captifs les retiennent; et refusent de les lâcher.
34 But I am strong, and I will free them. I am the Commander of the armies of angels; I will defend my people and enable them [to return to] their land where they will have peace, but the people of Babylonia will not have peace.
Mais leur vengeur est fort; Yahweh des armées est son nom; il défendra puissamment leur cause, pour donner le repos à la terre, et faire trembler les habitants de Babel.
35 [I will send enemy soldiers carrying] swords [PRS] to strike the people of Babylonia; they will strike the officials and wise men and all the [other] people who live in Babylon.
Epée contre les Chaldéens, — oracle de Yahweh, et contre les habitants de Babel, et contre ses chefs et contre ses sages!
36 They will strike their false prophets with swords and they will become foolish. They will strike the [strongest] warriors of Babylonia, and they will all be terrified.
Epée contre les imposteurs, et qu’ils perdent le sens! Epée contre ses braves, et qu’ils tremblent!
37 They will strike their horses and chariots and the foreigners who are in the army of Babylonia, and they will [all] become [as weak] as [MET] women. They will seize [MTY] all the valuable things there in Babylon and take them away.
Epée contre ses chevaux et ses chars, et contre toute la tourbe des gens qui sont au milieu d’elle, et qu’ils soient comme des femmes! Epée contre ses trésors, et qu’ils soient pillés!
38 [I] cause the streams to become dry. [I will do all those things] because the [entire] land [of Babylonia] is filled with idols, and those [horrible] idols have caused the people [who worship them] to become crazy.
Sécheresse sur ses eaux, et qu’elles tarissent! Car c’est un pays d’idoles, et devant ces épouvantails ils délirent.
39 [Soon only] hyenas and [other] wild creatures will live there; and it will be a place where owls live. People will never live there again; it will be uninhabited forever [DOU].
Aussi les animaux du désert s’y établiront avec les chacals; les autruches y feront leur demeure; elle ne sera jamais plus peuplée; elle ne sera plus habitée d’âge en âge.
40 [I will destroy Babylon] like I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the nearby towns; no one will [ever] live there [again] [DOU].
Comme lorsque Dieu détruisit Sodome, Gomorrhe et les villes voisines, — oracle de Yahweh, personne n’y demeurera, aucun fils d’homme n’y séjournera.
41 Look! A [great] army will come from the north. A great nation far away with many kings is preparing [to attack you people of Babylon].
Voici qu’un peuple arrive du Septentrion; une grande nation et des rois nombreux se lèvent des extrémités de la terre.
42 Their [army] has bows [and arrows] and spears; they are [very] cruel, and do not act mercifully [to anyone]. [As] they ride along on [their] horses, the sound of the horses’ hooves is like [SIM] the roaring of the ocean [waves]; they are riding in battle formation to attack you, you people of Babylon.
Ils tiennent à la main l’arc et le javelot; ils sont cruels et sans pitié. Leur voix gronde comme la mer; ils sont montés sur des chevaux, rangés comme un seul homme pour la guerre, contre toi, fille de Babel.
43 The King of Babylon says, “[I] have heard reports about the enemy [approaching]; [so I am very frightened, with the result that] I am weak. I am [very fearful, and] anguished/worried, like [SIM] a woman who is about to give birth to a baby.”
Le roi de Babel a appris la nouvelle, et ses mains ont défailli; l’angoisse l’a saisi, les douleurs d’une femme qui enfante.
44 I, [Yahweh], will come to Babylon [suddenly] like a lion comes out of the jungle and [leaps on the sheep that are eating] the good pastureland. I will quickly chase the people of Babylonia from their land. And [then] I will appoint for them [a leader] whom I will choose; [I will do that] because there is no one [RHQ] like me who can say that what I have done is not right. No ruler can [RHQ] oppose me.
Pareil à un lion, voici qu’il monte des halliers du Jourdain au pâturage perpétuel; et soudain je les en ferai fuir, et j’y établirai celui que j’ai choisi. Car qui est semblable à moi? Qui me provoquerait, et quel est le berger qui me tiendrait tête?
45 Listen to what I have planned to do to the people of Babylon [city] and the rest of Babylonia: [even] the little children will be dragged away, and I will completely destroy the people [MET] who live there.
Ecoutez donc la résolution de Yahweh qu’il a prise contre Babel, et les desseins qu’il a médités contre le pays des Chaldéens: Oui, on les entraînera comme de faibles brebis; oui, le pâturage en sera dans la stupeur!
46 When Babylon is destroyed, the noise will be extremely loud, with the result that the earth will shake, and the wailing of the people will be heard by the [people of other] nations.’”
Au bruit de la prise de Babel, la terre tremble, un cri se fait entendre chez les nations!
