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 Balaam sees that [it is] good in the eyes of YHWH to bless Israel, and he has not gone as time by time to seek enchantments, and he sets 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 lifts up his eyes, and sees Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is on 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 takes up his allegory and says: “An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor, And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut,

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.

An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God, Who sees a vision of the Almighty, Falling—and eyes uncovered:

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

How good have been your tents, O Jacob, Your dwelling places, 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.

They have been stretched out as valleys, As gardens by a river; As aloes YHWH has planted, As cedars by 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 makes water flow from his buckets, And his seed [is] in many waters; And his King [is] higher than Gog [[or Agag]], And his kingdom is 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 is bringing him out of Egypt, As the swiftness of a wild ox for him, He eats up nations—his adversaries, And he breaks their bones, And he strikes [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 has bent, he has lain down as a lion, And as a lioness, who raises him up? He who is blessing you [is] blessed, And he who is cursing you [is] cursed.”

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 the anger of Balak burns against Balaam, and he strikes his hands; and Balak says to Balaam, “I called you to pierce my enemies, and behold, you have certainly blessed 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.

and now, flee for yourself to your place; I have said, I greatly honor you, and behold, YHWH has kept you back from honor.”

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

And Balaam says to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you have sent to 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 gives to me the fullness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of YHWH, to do good or evil of my own heart; that which YHWH speaks—it 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 am going to my people; come, I counsel you [concerning] that which this people does to your people in the latter end of the 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 takes up his allegory and says: “An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor, And an affirmation of the man whose eyes [are] shut;

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.

An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God, And knowing knowledge of the Most High; He sees a vision of the Almighty, Falling—and eyes uncovered:

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 see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A star has proceeded from Jacob, And a scepter has risen from Israel, And has struck corners of Moab, And has destroyed all sons of Seth.

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

And Edom has been a possession, And Seir has been a possession [for] his enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly;

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

And [One] rules out of Jacob, And has destroyed a remnant from 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 he sees Amalek, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Amalek [is] first [among] nations, But his latter end—destruction forever.”

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

And he sees the Kenite, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Your dwelling [is] enduring, And your nest is being set in a rock,

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

But the Kenite is for a burning; Until when does Asshur keep you captive?”

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

And he takes up his allegory and says: “Woe! Who lives when God does this?

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

But ships [come] from the side of Chittim, And they have humbled Asshur, And they have humbled Eber, But it is also perishing forever.”

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

And Balaam rises, and goes, and turns back to his place, and Balak has also gone on his way.