Habacuc 3
1 Prière du prophète Habacuc, sur le mode des Chighionot;
Yahweh, I have heard about you; I revere you because of [all the amazing] things that you have done. In our time, do again [some of] those things that you did long ago! Even when you are angry [with us], be merciful [to us]!
2 "Seigneur, j’ai entendu ton message et j’ai été pris de crainte; l’œuvre que tu as projetée, Seigneur, fais-la surgir au cours des années, au cours des années, fais-la connaître! Mais, au milieu de la colère, souviens-toi de la clémence.
3 L’Eternel s’avance du Têmân; le Saint, du mont Parân, (Sélah) Sa splendeur se répand sur les cieux, et sa gloire remplit la terre.
[In the vision, I saw] God, the Holy One, coming from the Teman [district in Edom]; [and I also saw] him coming from the Paran Hills [in the Sinai area]. His glory filled the sky, and the earth was full of [people who were] praising him.
4 C’Est un éclat éblouissant comme la lumière, des rayons jaillissent de ses côtés et servent de voile à sa grandeur.
His glory was like [SIM] a sunrise; rays flashed from his hands where he hides his power.
5 Devant lui marche la peste, et la fièvre brûlante suit ses pas.
He sent plagues in front of him, and [other] plagues came behind him.
6 Il se lève et la terre vacille, il regarde et fait sursauter les peuples; les antiques montagnes éclatent, les collines éternelles s’affaissent montagnes et collines qui sont ses routes séculaires.
When he stopped, the earth shook. When he looked at the nations, [all the people] trembled. The hills and mountains that have existed for a very long time [HYP] collapsed and crumbled. Yahweh is the one who exists eternally/forever!
7 Je vois les huttes de Couchân ployer sous le malheur et frissonner les tentes du pays de Madian.
[In the vision] I saw the [people who live in] tents in the Cushan [region] being afflicted, and the people in the Midian [region] trembling.
8 Est-ce contre les fleuves que s’irrite l’Eternel, aux fleuves qu’en veut ta colère? Est-ce à la mer que ton courroux s’adresse, quand tu t’avances avec tes coursiers, sur tes chars de victoire?
Yahweh, was it because you were angry with the rivers and streams that you were angry with them? Did the seas cause you to be furious, with the result that you rode through them with horses that were pulling chariots that enabled you to defeat them?
9 Ton arc se montre nu, tes serments sont des traits lancés par ton verbe, (Sélah) La terre, s’ouvrant, livre passage à des fleuves.
[It was as though] you uncovered your bow, took arrows from your quiver, [and prepared to shoot them]. [Then with lightning] you split open the earth, and streams burst forth.
10 A ton aspect, elles tremblent, les montagnes, les eaux roulent impétueuses, l’Abîme fait retentir sa voix, élève ses vagues jusqu’au ciel.
[It is as though] the mountains saw you [doing that], and they trembled. Floods rushed by; [it was as though] the deep ocean roared and caused its waves to rise up high.
11 Le soleil, la lune s’arrêtent dans leur orbite, à la lumière de tes traits qui volent, à la clarté fulgurante de ta lance.
The sun and moon stopped moving in the sky while your [lightning] flashed [past like] a swift arrow, and your glittering spear flashed.
12 Dans ta fureur tu piétines la terre, dans ton courroux tu broies les nations.
Being very angry [DOU], you walked across the earth and trampled the [armies of many] nations.
13 Tu marches au secours de ton peuple, au secours de ton élu; tu abats les sommités dans la maison du méchant, de la base au faîte tu la démolis, (Sélah)
But you [also] went to rescue us, your people, and to save the [king] (Or, [people]) whom you had chosen [MTY]. You struck down the leader [MTY] of those wicked people and stripped off his clothes, from his head to his feet.
14 Tu transperces avec leurs propres traits ses premiers dignitaires, qui s’élancent comme l’ouragan pour me perdre. Ils triomphent déjà, comptant dévorer le faible dans l’ombre.
With his own spear you destroyed the leader of those soldiers who rushed like [SIM] a whirlwind to [attack and] scatter us, thinking that they could conquer us [Israelis] easily.
15 Tu foules la mer avec tes chevaux, les grandes vagues amoncelées.
You walked through the sea with your horses [to destroy our enemies], and caused the waves to surge.
16 J’Ai entendu… Et mon sein en frémit; à cette nouvelle mes lèvres s’entrechoquent. Une langueur s’empare de mes os, je m’affaisse sur moi-même. Puis-je en effet rester calme devant ce jour de malheur qui va se lever sur un peuple pour le décimer?
When I saw that vision, my heart pounded and my lips quivered [because I became afraid]. My legs became weak and I shook, [because I was terrified]. But I will wait quietly for the people [of Babylonia], those who invaded our country, to experience disasters!
17 C’Est qu’on ne verra pas fleurir le figuier, ni les vignes donner des fruits; l’olivier refusera son produit et les champs leur tribut nourricier: plus de brebis au bercail, plus de bœufs dans les étables!
[Therefore, ] even if there are no blossoms on the fig trees, and there are no grapes on the grapevines, and even if there are no olives growing on the olive trees, and there are no crops in the fields, and even if the flocks [of sheep and goats] die in the fields, and there are no cattle in the stalls/barns,
18 Et cependant moi, grace à l’Eternel je retrouverai le bonheur, je medélecterai en Dieu qui me protège.
I will rejoice because [I know] Yahweh. I will be joyful because Yahweh my God is the one who saves me!
19 Dieu, mon Seigneur, est ma force; il rend mes pieds agiles comme ceux des biches, et il me fait cheminer sur les hauteurs! Au chorège qui dirige l’exécution de mes chants."
Yahweh the Lord is the one who causes me to be strong; he enables me to climb [(safely/without falling)] in the [rocky] mountains, like [SIM] a deer does. (This message is for the choir director: [When this prayer is sung, it is to be accompanied by people playing] stringed instruments.)
