Amos 3
1 Ecoutez cette parole que prononce l’Eternel sur vous, enfants d’Israël, sur toute la famille que j’ai retirée du pays d’Egypte! La voici:
“You people of Israel, I brought all your ancestors out of Egypt; so listen to what I am saying about you.
2 "C’Est vous seuls que j’ai distingués entre toutes les familles de la terre, c’est pourquoi je vous demande compte de toutes vos fautes.
From all the people-groups on the earth, I [chose and] took care of only you. That is the reason that I will punish you for the sins that you have committed.”
3 Deux hommes marchent-ils de concert, s’ils ne se sont pas entendus d’avance?
Two [people] certainly cannot [RHQ] walk together if they have not [already] agreed [about what place they will start walking from].
4 Le lion rugit-il dans la forêt, s’il ne tient une proie? Le lionceau grince-t-il du fond de sa tanière, s’il n’a fait une capture?
A lion certainly does not [RHQ] roar in the bushes/forest if it has not killed another animal. It does not [RHQ] growl in its den if it is not eating [the flesh of an animal that it has caught].
5 Le passereau tomberait-il dans le piège dressé sur le sol, si le piège ne l’attendait? Et le piège se soulèverait-il de terre, s’il n’avait fait une prise?
No one can [RHQ] catch a bird if [he does] not [set] a trap for it. A trap does not spring shut unless some [animal] has not sprung the trap.
6 La trompette sonnera-t-elle dans une ville sans mettre le peuple en émoi? Un malheur atteindra-t-il la cité, si l’Eternel n’en est l’auteur?
[Similarly, all] the people in a city certainly [RHQ] become afraid when [they hear someone] blowing a trumpet [to signal that enemies are attacking]. And when a city experiences disaster, Yahweh is the one who has caused it [RHQ].
7 Ainsi le Seigneur Dieu n’accomplit rien qu’il n’ait révélé son dessein à ses serviteurs, les prophètes.
And whatever Yahweh plans to do, he tells his prophets about it.
8 Le lion a rugi: qui n’aurait peur? Le Seigneur Dieu a parlé: qui ne prophétiserait?
Everyone certainly becomes terrified [RHQ] when they hear a lion roar, and if Yahweh the Lord has given messages [to prophets like me], we certainly must [RHQ] proclaim those messages, [even if they cause people to become terrified].
9 Faites une proclamation près des palais d’Asdod, près des palais du pays d’Egypte, dites: "Venez tous ensemble sur les monts de Samarie, venez voir les grands désordres qui y règnent et les violences qui s’y commettent.
[I said this to the leaders of Samaria] (OR, [Yahweh said this to me]): Send this message to the leaders [MET] in Ashdod [city] and to Egypt: “Come to the hills of Samaria and see [the way that their (leaders/wealthy people)] are causing people in that city to be terrified, and [the way that they] are causing the people to suffer!”
10 Ils ne savent pas agir avec droiture, dit l’Eternel, eux qui entassent dans leurs palais les produits de la rapine et de l’oppression!"
Yahweh says that the people there do not know how to do things that are right. Their homes are filled with [valuable things] that they have stolen or [taken] violently [from others].
11 Eh bien! dit le Seigneur Dieu, c’est l’ennemi! Il enserre le pays, il te dépouillera de ta puissance, tes palais seront pillés.
So Yahweh [our] God says that [soon] their enemies will come and tear down their (defenses/high city walls) and take away those valuable things.
12 Ainsi parle l’Eternel: "De même que le berger n’arrache de la gueule du lion que deux pattes ou un bout d’oreille, ainsi seront sauvés les enfants d’Israël qui, à Samarie, sont assis aux angles des lits et sur des tapis de Damas.
Yahweh has declared this: “When a lion attacks a sheep, [sometimes] a shepherd will be able to snatch from the lion’s mouth only two legs or an ear of the sheep. Similarly, [only] a few people from Samaria will escape, and [they will be able to rescue only] a part of a couch and a part of a bed.”
13 Ecoutez et rendez-en témoignage à la maison de Jacob, dit le Seigneur Dieu, le Dieu-Cebaot:
The Commander of the armies of angels said this: “Proclaim [this message] about the descendants [MTY] of Jacob:
14 Le jour où je punirai Israël pour ses péchés, je sévirai contre les autels de Béthel: les coins de l’autel seront abattus et tomberont à terre.
When I, Yahweh, punish [the people of] Israel because of the sins that they have committed, I will cause the altars at Bethel [town] to be destroyed; even the projections at the corners of the altars will be cut off and fall to the ground.
15 Alors je ferai crouler le palais d’hiver sur le palais d’été, les maisons d’ivoire seront ruinées, et c’en sera fini des habitations imposantes, dit l’Eternel."
I will cause the houses [that they live in during] the (winter/rainy season) and those [in which they live during] the (summer/dry season) to be torn down. [Beautiful] big houses and houses [that are decorated] with ivory will be destroyed. [That will surely happen because I], Yahweh, have said it!”
