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.

Et Balaam vit qu’il était bon aux yeux de l’Éternel de bénir Israël, et il n’alla pas, comme d’autres fois, à la rencontre des enchantements, mais il tourna sa face 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 Balaam leva ses yeux et vit Israël habitant dans ses tentes selon ses tribus; et l’Esprit de Dieu fut sur 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 il proféra son discours sentencieux, et dit: Balaam, fils de Béor, dit, et l’homme qui a l’œil ouvert, dit:

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:

Celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, qui voit la vision du Tout-puissant, qui tombe et qui a les yeux ouverts, dit:

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy tabernacles, O Israel!

Que tes tentes sont belles, ô Jacob! et tes demeures, 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.

Comme des vallées elles s’étendent, comme des jardins auprès d’un fleuve, comme des arbres d’aloès que l’Éternel a plantés, comme des cèdres auprès 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 ses seaux; et sa semence sera au milieu de grandes eaux; Et son roi sera élevé au-dessus d’Agag, et son royaume sera haut élevé.

8 God brought him forth from Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce [them] through with his arrows.

Dieu l’a fait sortir d’Égypte; il a comme la force des buffles; il dévorera les nations, ses ennemis; il cassera leurs os, et les frappera de ses flèches.

9 He couched, 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.

Il s’est courbé, il s’est couché comme un lion, et comme une lionne: qui le fera lever? Bénis sont ceux qui te bénissent, et maudits sont ceux qui te maudissent.

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.

Alors la colère de Balak s’embrasa contre Balaam, et il frappa des mains; et Balak dit à Balaam: C’est pour maudire mes ennemis que je t’ai appelé, et voici, tu les as bénis expressément ces trois fois.

11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee to great honor; but lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honor.

Et maintenant, fuis en ton lieu. J’avais dit que je te comblerais d’honneurs; et voici, l’Éternel t’a empêché d’en recevoir.

12 And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not speak also to thy messengers whom thou sentest to me, saying,

Et Balaam dit à Balak: N’ai-je pas aussi parlé à tes messagers que tu as envoyés vers moi, disant:

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?

Quand Balak me donnerait plein sa maison d’argent et d’or, je ne pourrais transgresser le commandement de l’Éternel pour faire de mon propre mouvement du bien ou du mal; ce que l’Éternel dira, je le dirai.

14 And now, behold, I go to my people: come [therefore], I will advertise thee what this people will do to thy people in the latter days.

Et maintenant, voici, je m’en vais vers mon peuple; viens, je t’avertirai de ce que ce peuple fera à ton peuple à la fin des jours.

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:

Et il proféra son discours sentencieux, et dit: Balaam, fils de Béor, dit, et l’homme qui a l’œil ouvert, dit:

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:

Celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, et qui connaît la connaissance du Très-haut, qui voit la vision du Tout-puissant, qui tombe et qui a les yeux ouverts, dit:

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Je le verrai, mais pas maintenant; je le regarderai, mais pas de près. Une étoile surgira de Jacob, et un sceptre s’élèvera d’Israël, et transpercera les coins de Moab, et détruira tous les fils de tumulte.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

Et Édom sera une possession, et Séhir sera une possession, … [eux], ses ennemis; et Israël agira avec puissance.

19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

Et celui qui sortira de Jacob dominera, et il fera périr de la ville le résidu.

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 il vit Amalek, et proféra son discours sentencieux, et dit: Amalek était la première des nations; et sa fin sera la destruction.

21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

Et il vit le Kénien, et il proféra son discours sentencieux, et dit: Forte est ta demeure, et tu as placé ton nid dans le rocher.

22 Nevertheless, the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asher shall carry thee away captive.

Toutefois le Kénien doit être consumé, jusqu’à ce qu’Assur t’emmène captif.

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

Et il proféra son discours sentencieux, et dit: Malheur! Qui vivra, quand Dieu fera ces choses?

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

Et des navires viendront de la côte de Kittim, et affligeront Assur, et affligeront Héber, et lui aussi ira à la destruction.

25 And Balaam arose, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

Et Balaam se leva, et s’en alla, et s’en retourna en son lieu; et Balak aussi s’en alla son chemin.