Nombres 24

1 Balaam vit que l’Éternel trouvait bon de bénir Israël, et il n’alla point comme les autres fois, à la rencontre des enchantements; mais il tourna son visage du côté du désert.

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord that he should bless Israel. he went not as he had gone before, to seek divination: but setting his face towards the desert,

2 Balaam leva les yeux, et vit Israël campé selon ses tribus. Alors l’esprit de Dieu fut sur lui.

And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in their tents by their tribes: and the spirit of God rushing upon him,

3 Balaam prononça son oracle, et dit: Parole de Balaam, fils de Beor, Parole de l’homme qui a l’œil ouvert,

He took up his parable and said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man hath said, whose eye ire stopped up:

4 Parole de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, De celui qui voit la vision du Tout-Puissant, De celui qui se prosterne et dont les yeux s’ouvrent.

The hearer of the words of God hath said, he that hath beheld the vision of the Almighty, he that falleth, and so his eyes are opened:

5 Qu’elles sont belles, tes tentes, ô Jacob! Tes demeures, ô Israël!

How beautiful are thy tabernacles, O Jacob, and thy tents, O Israel!

6 Elles s’étendent comme des vallées, Comme des jardins près d’un fleuve, Comme des aloès que l’Éternel a plantés, Comme des cèdres le long des eaux.

As woody valleys, as watered gardens near the rivers, as tabernacles which the Lord hath pitched, as cedars by the waterside.

7 L’eau coule de ses seaux, Et sa semence est fécondée par d’abondantes eaux. Son roi s’élève au-dessus d’Agag, Et son royaume devient puissant.

Water shall flow out of his bucket, and his seed shall be in many waters. For Agag his king shall be removed, and his kingdom shall be taken awry.

8 Dieu l’a fait sortir d’Égypte, Il est pour lui comme la vigueur du buffle. Il dévore les nations qui s’élèvent contre lui, Il brise leurs os, et les abat de ses flèches.

God hath brought him out of Egypt, whose strength is like to the rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.

9 Il ploie les genoux, il se couche comme un lion, comme une lionne: Qui le fera lever? Béni soit quiconque te bénira, Et maudit soit quiconque te maudira!

Lying down he hath slept as a lion, and as a lioness, whom none shall dare to rouse. He that blesseth thee, shall also himself be blessed: he that curseth thee shall be reckoned accursed.

10 La colère de Balak s’enflamma contre Balaam; il frappa des mains, et dit à Balaam: C’est pour maudire mes ennemis que je t’ai appelé, et voici, tu les as bénis déjà trois fois.

And Balac being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together and said: I called thee to curse my enemies, and thou on the contrary hast blessed them three times.

11 Fuis maintenant, va-t’en chez toi! J’avais dit que je te rendrais des honneurs, mais l’Éternel t’empêche de les recevoir.

Return to thy place. I had determined indeed greatly to honour thee, but the Lord hath deprived thee of the honour designed for thee.

12 Balaam répondit à Balak: Eh! N’ai-je pas dit aux messagers que tu m’as envoyés:

Balaam made answer to Balac: Did I not say to thy messengers, whom thou sentest to me:

13 Quand Balak me donnerait sa maison pleine d’argent et d’or, je ne pourrais faire de moi-même ni bien ni mal contre l’ordre de l’Éternel; je répéterai ce que dira l’Éternel?

If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to utter any thing of my own head either good or evil: but whatsoever the Lord shall say, that I will speak?

14 Et maintenant voici, je m’en vais vers mon peuple. Viens, je t’annoncerai ce que ce peuple fera à ton peuple dans la suite des temps.

But yet going to my people, I will give thee counsel, what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

15 Balaam prononça son oracle, et dit: Parole de Balaam, fils de Beor, Parole de l’homme qui a l’œil ouvert,

Therefore taking up his parable, again he said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man whose eye is stopped up, hath said:

16 Parole de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, De celui qui connaît les desseins du Très-Haut, De celui qui voit la vision du Tout-Puissant, De celui qui se prosterne et dont les yeux s’ouvrent.

The hearer of the words of God hath said, who knoweth the doctrine of the Highest, and seeth the visions of the Almighty, who falling hath his eyes opened:

17 Je le vois, mais non maintenant, Je le contemple, mais non de près. Un astre sort de Jacob, Un sceptre s’élève d’Israël. Il perce les flancs de Moab, Et il abat tous les enfants de Seth.

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel: and shall strike the chiefs of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth.

18 Il se rend maître d’Édom, Il se rend maître de Séir, ses ennemis. Israël manifeste sa force.

And he shall possess Idumea: the inheritance of Seir shall come to their enemies, but Israel shall do manfully.

19 Celui qui sort de Jacob règne en souverain, Il fait périr ceux qui s’échappent des villes.

Out of Jacob shall he come that shall rule, and shall destroy the remains of the city.

20 Balaam vit Amalek. Il prononça son oracle, et dit: Amalek est la première des nations, Mais un jour il sera détruit.

And when he saw Amalec, he took up his parable, and said: Amalec the beginning of nations, whose latter ends shall be destroyed.

21 Balaam vit les Kéniens. Il prononça son oracle, et dit: Ta demeure est solide, Et ton nid posé sur le roc.

He saw also the Cinite: and took up his parable, and said: Thy habitation indeed is strong: but though thou build thy nest in a rock,

22 Mais le Kénien sera chassé, Quand l’Assyrien t’emmènera captif.

And thou be chosen of the stock of Cin, how long shalt thou be able to continue? For Assur shall take thee captive.

23 Balaam prononça son oracle, et dit: Hélas! Qui vivra après que Dieu l’aura établi?

And taking up his parable, again he said: Alas, who shall live when God shall do these things?

24 Mais des navires viendront de Kittim, Ils humilieront l’Assyrien, ils humilieront l’Hébreu; Et lui aussi sera détruit.

They shall come in galleys from Italy, they shall overcome the Assyrians, and shall waste the Hebrews, and at the last they themselves also shall perish.

25 Balaam se leva, partit, et retourna chez lui. Balak s’en alla aussi de son côté.

And Balaam rose, and returned to his place: Balac also returned the way that he came.