Habacuc 3
1 Prière d’Habacuc, le prophète. (Sur le mode des complaintes.)
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 Éternel, j’ai entendu ce que tu as annoncé, je suis saisi de crainte. Accomplis ton œuvre dans le cours des années, ô Éternel! Dans le cours des années manifeste-la! Mais dans ta colère souviens-toi de tes compassions!
3 Dieu vient de Théman, Le Saint vient de la montagne de Paran… (Pause) Sa majesté couvre 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 comme l’éclat de la lumière; Des rayons partent de sa main; Là réside sa force.
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 peste est sur ses traces.
He sent plagues in front of him, and [other] plagues came behind him.
6 Il s’arrête, et de l’œil il mesure la terre; Il regarde, et il fait trembler les nations; Les montagnes éternelles se brisent, Les collines antiques s’abaissent; Les sentiers d’autrefois s’ouvrent devant lui.
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 dans la détresse les tentes de l’Éthiopie, Et les tentes du pays de Madian sont dans l’épouvante.
[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 L’Éternel est-il irrité contre les fleuves? Est-ce contre les fleuves que s’enflamme ta colère, Contre la mer que se répand ta fureur, Pour que tu sois monté sur tes chevaux, Sur ton char 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 est mis à nu; Les malédictions sont les traits de ta parole… (Pause) Tu fends la terre pour donner cours aux 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, les montagnes tremblent; Des torrents d’eau se précipitent; L’abîme fait entendre sa voix, Il lève ses mains en haut.
[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 et la lune s’arrêtent dans leur demeure, A la lumière de tes flèches qui partent, A la clarté de ta lance qui brille.
The sun and moon stopped moving in the sky while your [lightning] flashed [past like] a swift arrow, and your glittering spear flashed.
12 Tu parcours la terre dans ta fureur, Tu écrases les nations dans ta colère.
Being very angry [DOU], you walked across the earth and trampled the [armies of many] nations.
13 Tu sors pour délivrer ton peuple, Pour délivrer ton oint; Tu brises le faîte de la maison du méchant, Tu la détruis de fond en comble. (Pause)
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 perces de tes traits la tête de ses chefs, Qui se précipitent comme la tempête pour me disperser, Poussant des cris de joie, Comme s’ils dévoraient déjà le malheureux dans leur repaire.
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 Avec tes chevaux tu foules la mer, La boue des grandes eaux.
You walked through the sea with your horses [to destroy our enemies], and caused the waves to surge.
16 J’ai entendu… Et mes entrailles sont émues. A cette voix, mes lèvres frémissent, Mes os se consument, Et mes genoux chancellent: En silence je dois attendre le jour de la détresse, Le jour où l’oppresseur marchera contre le peuple.
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 Car le figuier ne fleurira pas, La vigne ne produira rien, Le fruit de l’olivier manquera, Les champs ne donneront pas de nourriture; Les brebis disparaîtront du pâturage, Et il n’y aura 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 Toutefois, je veux me réjouir en l’Éternel, Je veux me réjouir dans le Dieu de mon salut.
I will rejoice because [I know] Yahweh. I will be joyful because Yahweh my God is the one who saves me!
19 L’Éternel, le Seigneur, est ma force; Il rend mes pieds semblables à ceux des biches, Et il me fait marcher sur mes lieux élevés. Au chef des chantres. Avec instruments à cordes.
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.)
