Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, 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 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon 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 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

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 hath said, who heard the words of God, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but 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 thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

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

6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and 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 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and 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 brought him forth from Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through 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 crouched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall rouse him? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

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 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, thou hast 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 thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee to great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

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

12 And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not speak also to thy messengers whom thou sentest 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 could not go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

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 And now, behold, I go to my people: come therefore, I will advise thee what this people shall do to thy 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 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

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 hath said, who heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but 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 shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

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 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do 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 come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

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

20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he shall perish for ever.

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 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a 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 the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

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

23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

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

24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

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

25 And Balaam arose, 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.