< Sophonie 3 >

1 Malheur à celle qui est rebelle et souillée, à la ville oppressive!
Terrible things will [also] happen [to Jerusalem], that city whose people have rebelled [against Yahweh] and who have become unacceptable to him [because of the sins that they have committed]. [They act violently toward others] and they (oppress/treat cruelly) [other people].
2 Elle n'a pas obéi à la voix. Elle n'a pas reçu de correction. Elle ne s'est pas confiée à Yahvé. Elle ne s'est pas approchée de son Dieu.
[The people there] do not pay attention to people who tell them [the wrong things that they are doing] and [try to] (correct them/cause them to quit doing those things). [The people in Jerusalem] do not trust in Yahweh or draw near to ask help from their God.
3 Ses princes sont des lions rugissants. Ses juges sont des loups du soir. Ils ne laissent rien au lendemain.
Their leaders are [like] [MET] roaring lions; they are [like] [MET] wolves that [attack other animals] during the evening, [and eat everything that they kill], with the result that the next morning there is nothing left [of those animals to eat].
4 Ses prophètes sont des gens arrogants et perfides. Ses prêtres ont profané le sanctuaire. Ils ont fait violence à la loi.
The prophets in Jerusalem are proud, [and they give messages that are] not to be trusted. Their priests cause the temple to be unholy by doing things that are opposed to the laws [of Moses].
5 Yahvé, en elle, est juste. Il ne fait pas de mal. Chaque matin, il fait éclater sa justice. Il ne faillit pas, mais les injustes ne connaissent pas la honte.
But Yahweh is [also] in the city; and he never does what is wrong. He treats people justly/fairly; he does that every day, but wicked people are never ashamed [about their doing what is wrong].
6 J'ai exterminé des nations. Leurs remparts sont désolés. J'ai rendu leurs rues désertes, pour que personne n'y passe. Leurs villes sont détruites, il n'y a plus d'homme, il n'y a plus d'habitant.
[Yahweh says this]: “I have destroyed [many] nations; I have destroyed their strong/high city walls and towers. [Now] I have caused the streets in those cities to be completely deserted [DOU]; the cities are ruined. There are no people [still alive] in the cities; they are all dead [LIT].
7 J'ai dit: « Crains-moi seulement. Recevez la correction », afin que sa demeure ne soit pas anéantie, selon tout ce que j'ai prévu à son sujet. Mais ils se sont levés de bonne heure et ont corrompu toutes leurs actions.
[So] I thought [to myself], ‘[Because of what I have done to those other nations], surely the people [of Jerusalem] will revere me [now], and they will accept (my correcting them/my telling them to quit doing what is wrong). [If they do that, I] will not destroy their houses; I will not punish them like I said that I would do.’ But [in spite of knowing how I punished those other nations], they were still eager to get up early each morning and continue to do evil things.
8 « Attendez-moi donc », dit Yahvé, « jusqu'au jour où je me lèverai sur la proie, car ma résolution est de rassembler les nations, d'assembler les royaumes pour répandre sur eux ma fureur, toute mon ardente colère, car toute la terre sera dévorée par le feu de ma jalousie ».
Therefore I, Yahweh, say, ‘Wait for the day in which I will testify [in court about your evil things].’ I have decided to gather the people of the kingdoms [of the earth] [DOU] and cause them to know that I am very angry with them. All [over] the earth I will punish and destroy people; my being angry with them because I (am jealous/want people to worship no other god) is [like] [MET] a (raging/very hot) fire.
9 Car alors je purifierai les lèvres des peuples, afin qu'ils invoquent tous le nom de Yahvé, pour le servir épaule contre épaule.
When that happens, I will cause [all] people [MTY] to be changed and enable them to speak [only] what is (pure/pleasing to me), in order that everyone can worship me [MTY] and unitedly/together serve me [MTY].
10 De l'autre côté des fleuves de Cusch, mes adorateurs, les filles de mon peuple dispersé, apporteront mon offrande.
[Then] my people who [were forced to go to other countries], those who live along the upper part of the [Nile] River in Ethiopia will come to me and bring offerings to me.
11 En ce jour-là, vous ne serez pas déçus pour toutes les actions que vous avez commises contre moi; car alors j'ôterai du milieu de vous vos orgueilleux, et vous ne serez plus arrogants sur ma montagne sainte.
At that time, you [people in Jerusalem] will no [longer] be ashamed [about what has happened to you], because you no longer will be rebelling against me. I will get rid of all the people among you who are very proud [DOU]. No one on [Zion], my holy hill, will [strut around] proudly.
12 Mais je laisserai parmi vous un peuple affligé et pauvre, et il se réfugiera dans le nom de l'Éternel.
Those who are still alive in Israel will be poor and humble; they will be people who trust in me [MTY].
13 Le reste d'Israël ne commettra pas d'iniquité, ne dira pas de mensonges, et il ne se trouvera pas de langue mensongère dans leur bouche; ils paîtront et se coucheront, et personne ne leur fera peur. »
Those people who are still alive [there] in Israel will not do [things that are] wrong; they will not tell lies or deceive [MTY] people. They will eat and sleep [safely], [because] no one will cause them to be afraid.”
14 Chante, fille de Sion! Crie, Israël! Sois dans l'allégresse et réjouis-toi de tout ton cœur, fille de Jérusalem!
You people who live in Jerusalem [DOU] and [other places in] Israel, sing and shout loudly! Be glad, and rejoice [DOU] greatly,
15 L'Éternel a ôté tes jugements, Il a chassé ton ennemi. Il a chassé ton ennemi. Le roi d'Israël, Yahvé, est au milieu de toi. Tu ne craindras plus le mal.
[because] Yahweh will stop punishing [MTY] you, and he will send away from you [the armies of] your enemies! And Yahweh [himself], the king of [us] Israeli people, will live among us, and never again will we be afraid that [others will] harm us.
16 En ce jour-là, on dira à Jérusalem: « Ne crains pas, Sion. Ne laisse pas tes mains s'affaiblir. »
At that time, [other people] will say to us people of Jerusalem, “[You people of] [APO] Jerusalem, do not be afraid; do not become afraid or discouraged,
17 Yahvé, ton Dieu, est au milieu de toi, un puissant qui sauve. Il se réjouira de toi dans l'allégresse. Il te calmera dans son amour. Il se réjouira de toi en chantant.
[because] Yahweh your God is [living] among you. He is mighty, and he will rescue/save you. He will be very happy with you; because he loves you, he will cause you to not be afraid; he will sing loudly to rejoice over you.”
18 J'éloignerai de toi ceux qui s'affligent au sujet des fêtes fixées. Ils sont pour toi un fardeau et un opprobre.
[Yahweh says, ] “You people were sad and ashamed because [you were unable to attend] your religious festivals; but I will cause you to no longer be disgraced.
19 Voici, en ce temps-là, je m'occuperai de tous ceux qui t'affligent, je sauverai les boiteux et je rassemblerai ceux qui ont été chassés. Je leur donnerai la louange et l'honneur, eux dont la honte a été dans toute la terre.
Truly, I will [severely] punish all those who (oppressed you/caused you to suffer). I will rescue those who are helpless and those who were forced to go to other countries. I will enable them to be praised and honored in every country to which they were (exiled/forced to go), places where they were disgraced.
20 En ce temps-là, je vous ferai entrer, et en ce temps-là, je vous rassemblerai, car je vous rendrai honneur et louange parmi tous les peuples de la terre, quand je rétablirai votre fortune sous vos yeux, dit l'Éternel.
At that time, I will gather you together and bring you [back] home [to Israel]. I will cause you to (have a good reputation/be honored) and be [greatly] praised among all the nations of the earth. You [MTY] will see me causing you to prosper again. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.”

< Sophonie 3 >