Jérémie 18
1 La parole qui fut adressée à Jérémie de la part de l’Éternel, en ces mots:
Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],
2 Lève-toi, et descends dans la maison du potier; Là, je te ferai entendre mes paroles.
“Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”
3 Je descendis dans la maison du potier, Et voici, il travaillait sur un tour.
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 Le vase qu’il faisait ne réussit pas, Comme il arrive à l’argile dans la main du potier; Il en refit un autre vase, Tel qu’il trouva bon 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 l’Éternel me fut adressée, en ces mots:
Then Yahweh gave me this message:
6 Ne puis-je pas agir envers vous comme ce potier, maison d’Israël? Dit l’Éternel. Voici, 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 Soudain je parle, sur une nation, sur 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 si cette nation, sur laquelle j’ai parlé, revient de sa méchanceté, Je me repens du mal que j’avais pensé 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 Et soudain je parle, sur une nation, sur 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 si cette nation fait ce qui est mal à mes yeux, Et n’écoute pas ma voix, Je me repens du bien que j’avais eu l’intention de lui faire.
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 Parle maintenant aux hommes de Juda et aux habitants de Jérusalem, et dis: Ainsi parle l’Éternel: Voici, je prépare contre vous un malheur, Je médite un projet contre vous. Revenez chacun de votre mauvaise voie, 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! Car nous suivrons nos pensées, Nous agirons chacun selon les penchants 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 l’Éternel: Interrogez les nations! Qui a jamais entendu pareilles choses? La vierge d’Israël a commis d’horribles excès.
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 La neige du Liban abandonne-t-elle le rocher des champs? Ou 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 Cependant mon peuple m’a oublié, il offre de l’encens à des idoles; Il a été conduit à chanceler dans ses voies, à quitter les anciens sentiers, Pour suivre des sentiers, des chemins non frayés.
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 Ils ont fait de leur pays, un objet de désolation, d’éternelle moquerie; Tous ceux qui y passent sont stupéfaits et secouent 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 tournerai le dos, je ne les regarderai pas au jour de leur détresse.
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, complotons contre Jérémie! Car la loi ne périra pas faute de sacrificateurs, Ni le conseil faute de sages, ni la parole faute de prophètes. Venez, tuons-le avec la langue; Ne prenons pas garde 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 Écoute-moi, Éternel! 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? Car ils ont creusé une fosse pour m’ôter la vie. Souviens-t’en, je me suis tenu devant toi, Afin de parler en leur faveur, Et de 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, Précipite-les par le glaive; Que leurs femmes soient privées d’enfants et deviennent veuves, Et que leurs maris soient enlevés par la peste; 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 des cris sortir de leurs maisons, Quand soudain tu feras fondre sur eux des bandes armées! Car ils ont creusé une fosse pour me prendre, Ils ont tendu des filets sous 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, Éternel, tu connais tous leurs complots pour me faire mourir; Ne pardonne pas leur iniquité, N’efface pas leur péché de devant toi! Qu’ils soient renversés en ta présence! 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]!”
