Numbers 24
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Et Balaam voyant qu'il plaisait à l'Éternel de bénir Israël, n'alla point cette fois, comme la première, à la recherche des enchantements, mais il tourna sa face du côté du désert.
2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
Et Balaam levant les yeux vit Israël campé par tribus; alors vint sur lui l'esprit de Dieu.
3 He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
Et il prononça son oracle et dit: Ainsi parle Balaam, fils de Behor, ainsi parle l'homme dont l'œil est ouvert,
4 he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
ainsi parle l'auditeur des paroles de Dieu, qui voit les visions du Tout-Puissant, qui se prosterne et a les yeux dessillés:
5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!
Que tes tentes sont belles, ô Jacob! tes demeures, ô Israël! Elles s'étendent comme des vallées,
6 As valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which Yahweh has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
comme des jardins le long d'un fleuve, comme des aloès que planta l'Éternel, comme des cèdres le long des eaux.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.
Des ondes s'épanchent de son seau, et sa race, en flots abondants. Au-dessus d'Agag s'élève son Roi, et son royaume a la prééminence.
8 God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall consume the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
Dieu le retira de l'Egypte, et il a la vélocité du buffle. Il dévore les peuples, ses adversaires, ronge leurs os, et fracasse leurs flèches.
9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
Il se couche, il repose, pareil au lion ou à la lionne: Qui le fera lever? Qui te bénira, sera béni, et qui te maudira, sera maudit.
10 Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
Alors la colère de Balak s'enflamma contre Balaam, et frappant ses mains l'une contre l'autre Balak dit à Balaam: Je t'ai mandé pour maudire mes ennemis, et voilà que tu as béni, béni déjà par trois fois.
11 Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.”
Fuis donc maintenant et va-t'en chez toi! Je disais: Je t'accorderai des honneurs, mais voilà que l'Éternel t'empêche de les recevoir.
12 Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
Et Balaam dit à Balak: Même aux messagers que tu m'as envoyés, n'ai-je pas dit en propres termes:
13 ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’?
Quand Balak me donnerait sa maison pleine d'argent et d'or, je ne pourrais transgresser l'ordre de l'Éternel en faisant de par moi du bien ou du mal! ce que l'Éternel dira, c'est ce que je répéterai.
14 Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”
Et maintenant, voici, je reprends le chemin de mon peuple. Mais viens! je veux t'avertir de ce que ce peuple fera à ton peuple dans la suite des temps.
15 He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
Puis Balaam prononça son oracle et dit: Ainsi parle Balaam, fils de Behor, ainsi parle l'homme dont l'œil est ouvert,
16 he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
ainsi parle l'auditeur des paroles de Dieu, qui connaît les vues du Très-Haut, qui voit les visions du Tout-Puissant, qui se prosterne et a les yeux dessillés:
17 I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth.
Je le vois, quoique non présent, Je le vois, mais dans le lointain… Un astre surgit de Jacob, et un sceptre s'élève d'Israël; il ébranle Moab de fond en comble, et extermine tous les fils de Seth,
18 Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
et Edom devient sa conquête, et Séïr la conquête de ses ennemis, et Israël fait des actes de vaillance.
19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”
Issu de Jacob il aura l'empire, et fera périr les réchappés des villes.
20 He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall come to destruction.”
Et à la vue d'Amalek, il prononça son oracle et dit: Amalek est en tête des peuples, mais son avenir aboutit à la ruine.
21 He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.
Et à la vue des Kénites, il prononça son oracle et dit: Que ta demeure soit permanente, et place ton aire sur le rocher!
22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”
Mais Kain est voué à la ruine: Quelle sera sa durée? Assur te fera prisonnier.
23 He took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
Et il prononça son oracle et dit: Hélas! qui vivra, quand Il fera ces choses?…
24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”
Et des navires partis de la côte de Kittim humilieront Assur, humilieront Eber, lui aussi est voué à la ruine.
25 Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
Et Balaam se leva, et partit et retourna chez lui; de même Balak s'en alla de son côté.
