Jérémie 18
1 La parole qui fut adressée à Jérémie par Yahweh, en ces termes:
Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],
2 « Lève-toi et descends à la maison du potier, et là je te ferai entendre ma parole. »
“Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”
3 Je descendis à la maison du potier; et voici qu’il faisait son ouvrage sur les roues.
So I went to that shop, and I saw the man who makes pots. He was working at the wheel [that he uses to form pots].
4 Et le vase qu’il faisait manqua, comme il arrive à l’argile dans la main du potier; et il refit un autre vase, comme il parut bon aux yeux du potier de le faire.
But when he finished making one jar, it was not as good as he hoped/wanted it to be. [So], he took that clay and formed it into another jar, shaping it as he desired.
5 Et la parole de Yahweh me fut adressée en ces termes:
Then Yahweh gave me this message:
6 Est-ce que je ne puis pas vous faire comme a fait ce potier, maison d’Israël; — oracle de Yahweh? Oui, comme l’argile est dans la main du potier, ainsi vous êtes dans ma main, maison d’Israël.
“Perhaps the people of Israel [think that] I cannot do to them like this man who makes pots has done [RHQ]. [But what they think is wrong]. I [can control what happens to them like] this man [controls what he does with the clay] in his hands.
7 Tantôt je parle, touchant une nation et touchant un royaume, d’arracher, d’abattre et de détruire.
There may be a time when I proclaim that I will get rid of a nation or kingdom, [like someone] pulls up [a plant with its roots], and smashes it, and destroys it.
8 Mais cette nation, contre laquelle j’ai parlé, revient-elle de sa méchanceté, alors je me repens du mal que j’avais résolu de lui faire.
But if [the people of] that nation repent of doing evil things, I will not send to them the disasters that I planned to send.
9 Tantôt je parle, touchant une nation et touchant un royaume, de bâtir et de planter.
And there may be a time when I proclaim that I will establish a nation or kingdom and cause it to be strong [MET].
10 Mais cette nation fait-elle ce qui est mal à mes yeux, en n’écoutant pas ma voix, alors je me repens du bien que j’avais dit que je lui ferais.
But if [the people of] that nation [start to] do evil things and refuse to obey me, then I will not bless them as I said that I would do.
11 Et maintenant parle donc aux hommes de Juda, et aux habitants de Jérusalem, en ces termes: Ainsi parle Yahweh: Voici que je façonne contre vous un malheur, et que je médite un dessein contre vous. Revenez donc chacun de votre voie mauvaise, et réformez vos voies et vos œuvres.
Therefore, [Jeremiah, go and warn all] the people in Jerusalem and [in other places] in Judah. Say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh says: “I am planning to cause you to experience a disaster [DOU]. [So], each of you should turn from your evil behavior and start doing what is right, [in order that you will not experience that disaster].”’’”
12 Mais ils disent: « C’est en vain! Nous suivrons nos pensées, nous agirons chacun selon l’obstination de notre mauvais cœur. »
[So I told that message to the people], but they replied, “It is useless [for you to tell us that]. We will [continue to] be stubborn and behave as we want to.”
13 C’est pourquoi ainsi parle Yahweh: Interrogez les nations: Qui a jamais entendu pareille chose? Elle a commis d’horribles abominations, la vierge d’Israël!
So, this is what Yahweh says: “Ask the [people who live in other] nations if they have [RHQ] ever heard of such a thing. My Israeli people, who [have been pure like] [MET] virgins, have done a terrible thing!
14 Quitte-t-elle le rocher de la plaine, la neige du Liban? Voit-on tarir les eaux qui viennent de loin, fraîches et courantes?
The snow certainly never [RHQ] completely disappears/melts from the rocky slopes of the mountains in Lebanon. The cold streams that flow down from those distant mountains never [RHQ] cease flowing.
15 Or mon peuple m’a oublié; il offre de l’encens au néant. Les idoles les font chanceler dans leurs voies, les chemins d’autrefois, pour suivre des sentiers, une route non frayée;
But my people [are not as reliable as those streams: ] They have abandoned me. They burn incense to [honor/worship] worthless idols. [It is as though] they have stumbled as they walked along very old roads that are good roads, and now, instead, they are walking on dirt paths.
16 Pour faire de leur pays une désolation, un objet d’éternelle moquerie; tous ceux qui y passeront seront stupéfaits; et hocheront la tête.
Therefore, their land will become desolate, and people who see it will hiss [to ridicule it]. Everyone who passes by will be appalled; they will shake their heads [to show that they are shocked].
17 Pareil au vent d’orient, je les disperserai devant l’ennemi; je leur montrerai le dos et non la face, au jour de leur désastre.
I will scatter the people when their enemies [attack them] like dust is scattered by an east wind. And when they experience all those difficulties/disasters, I will turn my back on them [and refuse] to help them.”
18 Et ils ont dit: « Venez, formons un complot contre Jérémie; car la loi ne périra pas chez le prêtre, ni le conseil chez le sage, ni la parole de Dieu chez le prophète! Venez, frappons-le avec la langue, et ne prêtons pas l’oreille à tous ses discours. »
Then some of the people said, “Come, let’s plan to attack Jeremiah. We have [many] priests who teach us God’s laws, and wise men who give us good advice, and prophets who tell us [what will happen. We do not need Jeremiah!] So, let’s slander him and not pay attention to anything that he says.”
19 Prête moi l’oreille, Yahweh, et entends la voix de mes adversaires!
[Then I prayed], “Yahweh, [please] listen to me! And listen to what my enemies are saying about me.
20 Le mal sera-t-il rendu pour le bien, qu’ils creusent une fosse pour mon âme? souviens-toi comment je me suis tenu devant toi, pour te parler en leur faveur, pour détourner d’eux ta colère.
I am doing things that are good, so it is disgusting that [RHQ] they are paying me back by doing evil [things to me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into] and die. Do not forget that [one time] I stood in front of you and pleaded for you [to help them], and I tried to prevent you from [punishing them] [MTY], even though you were very angry with them.
21 C’est pourquoi, livre leurs enfants à la famine, et abandonne-les au tranchant du glaive! Que leurs femmes perdent leurs enfants et leurs époux; que leurs hommes meurent par la peste, et que leurs jeunes gens soient frappés par l’épée dans le combat!
So [now], allow their children to die from hunger! Or cause them to be killed by [their enemies’] swords! Cause their wives to become widows, whose children are all dead! Cause their [old] men to die in a plague, and cause their young men to be killed in battles!
22 Qu’on entende leur cri sortir de leurs maisons, quand tu feras venir subitement sur eux des bandes armées! Car ils ont creusé une fosse pour me prendre, et ils ont caché des filets devant mes pieds.
Cause people to scream in their homes when enemy soldiers suddenly come into their houses! [Cause all those things to happen to them] because they [want to kill me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into], and they have hidden traps along my path.
23 Et toi, Yahweh, tu connais tous leurs complots pour me faire mourir. Ne pardonne pas leur iniquité, n’efface pas leur péché de devant toi; qu’ils s’affaissent devant toi; agis contre eux au temps de ta colère!
Yahweh, you know all the things that they are planning to do to kill me. Do not forgive them for their crimes or blot out [the record of] their sins. Cause them to be destroyed; punish them because of your being angry [with them]!”
