Nombres 24

1 Et Balaam voyant qu'il plaisait à l'Éternel de bénir Israël, n'alla point cette fois, comme la première, à la recherche des enchantements, mais il tourna sa face du côté du désert.

Now when Balaam saw that it was the Lord's pleasure to give his blessing to Israel, he did not, as at other times, make use of secret arts, but turning his face to the waste land,

2 Et Balaam levant les yeux vit Israël campé par tribus; alors vint sur lui l'esprit de Dieu.

And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel there, with their tents in the order of their tribes: and the spirit of God came on him.

3 Et il prononça son oracle et dit: Ainsi parle Balaam, fils de Behor, ainsi parle l'homme dont l'œil est ouvert,

And moved by the spirit, he said, These are the words of Balaam, son of Beor, the words of the man whose eyes are open:

4 ainsi parle l'auditeur des paroles de Dieu, qui voit les visions du Tout-Puissant, qui se prosterne et a les yeux dessillés:

He says, whose ears are open to the words of God, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down, but having his eyes open:

5 Que tes tentes sont belles, ô Jacob! tes demeures, ô Israël! Elles s'étendent comme des vallées,

How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your houses, O Israel!

6 comme des jardins le long d'un fleuve, comme des aloès que planta l'Éternel, comme des cèdres le long des eaux.

They are stretched out like valleys, like gardens by the riverside, like flowering trees planted by the Lord, like cedar-trees by the waters.

7 Des ondes s'épanchent de son seau, et sa race, en flots abondants. Au-dessus d'Agag s'élève son Roi, et son royaume a la prééminence.

Peoples will be in fear before his strength, his arm will be on great nations: his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom made great in honour.

8 Dieu le retira de l'Egypte, et il a la vélocité du buffle. Il dévore les peuples, ses adversaires, ronge leurs os, et fracasse leurs flèches.

It is God who has taken him out of Egypt; his horns are like those of the mountain ox; the nations warring against him will be his food, their bones will be broken, they will be wounded with his arrows.

9 Il se couche, il repose, pareil au lion ou à la lionne: Qui le fera lever? Qui te bénira, sera béni, et qui te maudira, sera maudit.

He took his sleep stretched out like a lion, and like a she-lion: by whom will his rest be broken? May a blessing be on everyone who gives you blessing, and a curse on everyone by whom you are cursed.

10 Alors la colère de Balak s'enflamma contre Balaam, et frappant ses mains l'une contre l'autre Balak dit à Balaam: Je t'ai mandé pour maudire mes ennemis, et voilà que tu as béni, béni déjà par trois fois.

Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.

11 Fuis donc maintenant et va-t'en chez toi! Je disais: Je t'accorderai des honneurs, mais voilà que l'Éternel t'empêche de les recevoir.

Go back quickly to the place you came from: it was my purpose to give you a place of honour, but now the Lord has kept you back from honour.

12 Et Balaam dit à Balak: Même aux messagers que tu m'as envoyés, n'ai-je pas dit en propres termes:

Then Balaam said to Balak, Did I not say to the men you sent to me,

13 Quand Balak me donnerait sa maison pleine d'argent et d'or, je ne pourrais transgresser l'ordre de l'Éternel en faisant de par moi du bien ou du mal! ce que l'Éternel dira, c'est ce que je répéterai.

Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say?

14 Et maintenant, voici, je reprends le chemin de mon peuple. Mais viens! je veux t'avertir de ce que ce peuple fera à ton peuple dans la suite des temps.

So now I will go back to my people: but first let me make clear to you what this people will do to your people in days to come.

15 Puis Balaam prononça son oracle et dit: Ainsi parle Balaam, fils de Behor, ainsi parle l'homme dont l'œil est ouvert,

Then he went on with his story and said, These are the words of Balaam, the son of Beor, the words of him whose eyes are open:

16 ainsi parle l'auditeur des paroles de Dieu, qui connaît les vues du Très-Haut, qui voit les visions du Tout-Puissant, qui se prosterne et a les yeux dessillés:

He says, whose ear is open to the words of God, who has knowledge of the Most High, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down and having his eyes open:

17 Je le vois, quoique non présent, Je le vois, mais dans le lointain… Un astre surgit de Jacob, et un sceptre s'élève d'Israël; il ébranle Moab de fond en comble, et extermine tous les fils de Seth,

I see him, but not now: looking on him, but not near: a star will come out of Jacob, and a rod of authority out of Israel, sending destruction to the farthest limits of Moab and on the head of all the sons of Sheth.

18 et Edom devient sa conquête, et Séïr la conquête de ses ennemis, et Israël fait des actes de vaillance.

Edom will be his heritage, and he will put an end to the last of the people of Seir.

19 Issu de Jacob il aura l'empire, et fera périr les réchappés des villes.

And Israel will go on in strength, and Jacob will have rule over his haters.

20 Et à la vue d'Amalek, il prononça son oracle et dit: Amalek est en tête des peuples, mais son avenir aboutit à la ruine.

Then, turning his eyes to Amalek, he went on with his story and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his part will be destruction for ever.

21 Et à la vue des Kénites, il prononça son oracle et dit: Que ta demeure soit permanente, et place ton aire sur le rocher!

And looking on the Kenites he went on with his story and said, Strong is your living-place, and your secret place is safe in the rock.

22 Mais Kain est voué à la ruine: Quelle sera sa durée? Assur te fera prisonnier.

But still the Kenites will be wasted, till Asshur takes you away prisoner.

23 Et il prononça son oracle et dit: Hélas! qui vivra, quand Il fera ces choses?…

Then he went on with his story and said, But who may keep his life when God does this?

24 Et des navires partis de la côte de Kittim humilieront Assur, humilieront Eber, lui aussi est voué à la ruine.

But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur and troubling Eber, and like the others their fate will be destruction.

25 Et Balaam se leva, et partit et retourna chez lui; de même Balak s'en alla de son côté.

Then Balaam got up and went back to his place: and Balak went away.