Psaumes 18
1 Au chef des chantres. Du serviteur de l’Éternel, de David, qui adressa à l’Éternel les paroles de ce cantique, lorsque l’Éternel l’eut délivré de la main de tous ses ennemis et de la main de Saül. Il dit: Je t’aime, ô Éternel, ma force!
Yahweh, I love you, the one who enables me to be strong.
2 Éternel, mon rocher, ma forteresse, mon libérateur! Mon Dieu, mon rocher, où je trouve un abri! Mon bouclier, la force qui me sauve, ma haute retraite!
Yahweh is like an [overhanging] rock [DOU, MET] [under which I can hide from my enemies]; he is like a strong fortress, the one who protects me; he protects me like a shield [MET] [protects a soldier]; he is the one to whom I go (for refuge/to be protected/safe), and he defends me by his great power [IDM].
3 Je m’écrie: Loué soit l’Éternel! Et je suis délivré de mes ennemis.
I called out to Yahweh, who deserves to be praised, and he rescued me from my enemies.
4 Les liens de la mort m’avaient environné, Et les torrents de la destruction m’avaient épouvanté;
All around me were dangerous situations in which I might be killed [PRS]; it was as though there were huge waves [MET] that almost crashed on me and killed me.
[It was as though] the place where dead people are had ropes that were wrapped around me, or [it was as though] there was a trap [MET] that would [seize and] kill me. (Sheol h7585)
6 Dans ma détresse, j’ai invoqué l’Éternel, J’ai crié à mon Dieu; De son palais, il a entendu ma voix, Et mon cri est parvenu devant lui à ses oreilles.
But when I was very distressed, I called out to Yahweh, and from his temple he heard me. He listened to me when I cried out [for help].
7 La terre fut ébranlée et trembla, Les fondements des montagnes frémirent, Et ils furent ébranlés, parce qu’il était irrité.
Then the earth quaked/shook strongly [DOU]; the mountains shook very strongly from their centers [DOU] because Yahweh was angry.
8 Il s’élevait de la fumée dans ses narines, Et un feu dévorant sortait de sa bouche: Il en jaillissait des charbons embrasés.
[It was as though] smoke poured out from his nostrils, and [as though] burning coals came out of his mouth.
9 Il abaissa les cieux, et il descendit: Il y avait une épaisse nuée sous ses pieds.
He opened the sky and came down with a black cloud under his feet.
10 Il était monté sur un chérubin, et il volait, Il planait sur les ailes du vent.
He flew, riding on the back of a creature that had wings, traveling [fast], blown along by the wind.
11 Il faisait des ténèbres sa retraite, sa tente autour de lui, Il était enveloppé des eaux obscures et de sombres nuages.
Darkness was all around him [like a blanket] [MET]; dark clouds, full of moisture, covered him [MET].
12 De la splendeur qui le précédait s’échappaient les nuées, Lançant de la grêle et des charbons de feu.
Hailstones and flashes of lightning were around him; hail and burning coals fell from the sky.
13 L’Éternel tonna dans les cieux, Le Très-Haut fit retentir sa voix, Avec la grêle et les charbons de feu.
Then Yahweh [spoke in a loud voice] from the sky, and [his enemies] heard his voice that sounded like thunder.
14 Il lança ses flèches et dispersa mes ennemis, Il multiplia les coups de la foudre et les mit en déroute.
He shot his arrows at them and caused them to scatter; His flashes of lightning caused them to become very confused (OR, to run away).
15 Le lit des eaux apparut, Les fondements du monde furent découverts, Par ta menace, ô Éternel! Par le bruit du souffle de tes narines.
The bottom of the ocean became visible, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered, when Yahweh rebuked his enemies when he snorted.
16 Il étendit sa main d’en haut, il me saisit, Il me retira des grandes eaux;
[It was as though] he reached down from heaven and grabbed me and pulled me up out of the deep ocean.
17 Il me délivra de mon adversaire puissant, De mes ennemis qui étaient plus forts que moi.
He rescued me from my strong enemies who hated me; they were very strong, with the result that I [could not defeat them].
18 Ils m’avaient surpris au jour de ma détresse; Mais l’Éternel fut mon appui.
When I (was distressed/had troubles), they attacked me, but Yahweh defended/protected me.
19 Il m’a mis au large, Il m’a sauvé, parce qu’il m’aime.
He led me to a place where I was safe; he rescued me because he was pleased with me.
20 L’Éternel m’a traité selon ma droiture, Il m’a rendu selon la pureté de mes mains;
Yahweh has rewarded me because I do what is right; he has blessed me because I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong).
21 Car j’ai observé les voies de l’Éternel, Et je n’ai point été coupable envers mon Dieu.
I have obeyed Yahweh’s laws; I have not abandoned him.
22 Toutes ses ordonnances ont été devant moi, Et je ne me suis point écarté de ses lois.
My behavior was directed by his rules; I have not stopped obeying them.
23 J’ai été sans reproche envers lui, Et je me suis tenu en garde contre mon iniquité.
He knows that I have not done what is wrong; I have kept myself from sinning.
24 Aussi l’Éternel m’a rendu selon ma droiture, Selon la pureté de mes mains devant ses yeux.
So he rewards me because I do what is right; he knows that I [SYN] have not committed sins.
25 Avec celui qui est bon tu te montres bon, Avec l’homme droit tu agis selon la droiture,
Yahweh, you are faithful to those who faithfully [do what you tell them to do]; you always do what is good/right to those who do what you want them to do.
26 Avec celui qui est pur tu te montres pur, Et avec le pervers tu agis selon sa perversité.
You are kind to those who are kind to others, but you act wisely toward those who (act perversely/do bad things).
27 Tu sauves le peuple qui s’humilie, Et tu abaisses les regards hautains.
You save those who are humble, but you cause those who are proud to be humiliated/ashamed.
28 Oui, tu fais briller ma lumière; L’Éternel, mon Dieu, éclaire mes ténèbres.
You give light to my [soul/spirit]; you take away the darkness of my soul.
29 Avec toi je me précipite sur une troupe en armes, Avec mon Dieu je franchis une muraille.
You enable me to be strong, with the result that I can run and attack a line of enemy soldiers; with your help I can (scale/climb up) the walls [that surround my enemies’ cities].
30 Les voies de Dieu sont parfaites, La parole de l’Éternel est éprouvée; Il est un bouclier pour tous ceux qui se confient en lui.
Everything that Yahweh my God does is perfect. We can depend on him to do what he promises. He is like a shield [MET] to protect all those who go to him for refuge.
31 Car qui est Dieu, si ce n’est l’Éternel; Et qui est un rocher, si ce n’est notre Dieu?
Yahweh is [RHQ] the only one who is God; only he is like an [overhanging] rock [under which we can be safe].
32 C’est Dieu qui me ceint de force, Et qui me conduit dans la voie droite.
God is the one who enables me to be strong and who keeps me safe on the roads that I walk on.
33 Il rend mes pieds semblables à ceux des biches, Et il me place sur mes lieux élevés.
He enables me to [walk swiftly without stumbling], like a deer walks/runs in the mountains.
34 Il exerce mes mains au combat, Et mes bras tendent l’arc d’airain.
He teaches me how to use a strong/metal bow in order that I can use it to fight in battles.
35 Tu me donnes le bouclier de ton salut, Ta droite me soutient, Et je deviens grand par ta bonté.
Yahweh, you protect and save me with your shield; you have made me safe by your power [MTY]. I have become (strong/a great [king]) because you have helped me.
36 Tu élargis le chemin sous mes pas, Et mes pieds ne chancellent point.
You have cleared the road for me, with the result that now I do not slip/stumble.
37 Je poursuis mes ennemis, je les atteins, Et je ne reviens pas avant de les avoir anéantis.
I have pursued my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until I had defeated/killed them all.
38 Je les brise, et ils ne peuvent se relever; Ils tombent sous mes pieds.
When I strike them, they are not able to get up again; they lie on the ground, defeated.
39 Tu me ceins de force pour le combat, Tu fais plier sous moi mes adversaires.
You have enabled me to be strong in order that I can fight battles and defeat my enemies.
40 Tu fais tourner le dos à mes ennemis devant moi, Et j’extermine ceux qui me haïssent.
You caused my enemies to run away (OR, you enabled me to put my foot on my enemies’ necks [after I captured them and forced them to lie on the ground]); I have gotten rid of all those who hated me.
41 Ils crient, et personne pour les sauver! Ils crient à l’Éternel, et il ne leur répond pas!
They called out for someone to help them, but no one saved them.
42 Je les broie comme la poussière qu’emporte le vent, Je les foule comme la boue des rues.
I pulverize them, with the result that they become like [MET] the dust that the wind [blows away]; I throw them out like [SIM] [people throw] dirt out into the streets.
43 Tu me délivres des dissensions du peuple; Tu me mets à la tête des nations; Un peuple que je ne connaissais pas m’est asservi.
You enabled me to defeat those who fought against me, and appointed me to be the ruler of [many]; people whom I did not know about previously are now slaves [in my kingdom].
44 Ils m’obéissent au premier ordre, Les fils de l’étranger me flattent;
When foreigners hear about me, they (cringe/bow low before me) and they obey me.
45 Les fils de l’étranger sont en défaillance, Ils tremblent hors de leurs forteresses.
They are no longer courageous, and from their forts [where they were hiding] they come [to me] trembling.
46 Vive l’Éternel, et béni soit mon rocher! Que le Dieu de mon salut soit exalté,
Yahweh is alive! Praise the one who is like an [overhanging] rock [MET] [under which I am safe] Exalt the God who saves me!
47 Le Dieu qui est mon vengeur, Qui m’assujettit les peuples,
He enables me to get revenge on my enemies; he causes me to defeat nations and to rule over them,
48 Qui me délivre de mes ennemis! Tu m’élèves au-dessus de mes adversaires, Tu me sauves de l’homme violent.
and he rescues me from my enemies. He has lifted me up high so that violent men could not reach me [and harm me].
49 C’est pourquoi je te louerai parmi les nations, ô Éternel! Et je chanterai à la gloire de ton nom.
So I praise him [and I tell] the nations [the great things that he has done].
50 Il accorde de grandes délivrances à son roi, Et il fait miséricorde à son oint, A David, et à sa postérité, pour toujours.
He has enabled me, his king, to powerfully defeat my enemies; he faithfully loves me, David, the one he has chosen [to be king], and he will faithfully love my descendants forever.
