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 Yhwh to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

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

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

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

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

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.

He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

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

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, 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 the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which Yhwh hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

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.

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

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 brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his 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!

He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

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 Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these 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.

Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, Yhwh hath kept thee back from honour.

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

And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

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 Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of Yhwh, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what Yhwh saith, that will I 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.

And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee 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,

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open 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.

He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

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 nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

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

And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

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

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth 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 looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

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

And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

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

Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

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

And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

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

And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

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

And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.