Nombres 24

1 Or lorsque Balaam eut vu qu’il plaisait au Seigneur qu’il bénît Israël, il n’alla nullement comme il était allé auparavant, pour chercher un augure; mais tournant son visage vers le désert,

And when Balaam had seen that it was pleasing to the Lord that he should bless Israel, he by no means went out as he had gone before, to seek divination. But directing his face opposite the desert,

2 Et levant les yeux, il vit Israël dans les tentes, campé selon ses tribus: et l’esprit de Dieu s’emparant de lui,

and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel dwelling in tents by their tribes. And with the Spirit of God rushing into him,

3 Et lui, employant sa parabole, s’écria: Il a dit, Balaam, fils de Béor; il a dit, l’homme dont l’œil fut fermé;

taking up his parable, he said: “Balaam, the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,

4 Il a dit, celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, qui a contemplé la vision du Tout-Puissant, qui tombe, et ainsi ses yeux sont ouverts:

the hearer of the sermon of God, he who has gazed upon a vision of the Almighty, he who falls down and so his eyes are opened, has declared:

5 Que tes tabernacles sont beaux, ô Jacob! et tes tentes, ô Israël!

‘How beautiful are your tabernacles, O Jacob, and your tents, O Israel!

6 Elles sont comme des vallées bien boisées, comme des jardins arrosés d’eaux le long des fleuves, comme des tabernacles qu’a dressés le Seigneur, comme des cèdres près des eaux.

They are like forested valleys, like gardens irrigated next to rivers, like tabernacles which the Lord has fixed, like cedars close to waters.

7 L’eau coulera de son sceau, et sa postérité se répandra comme des eaux abondantes. Son roi sera rejeté, à cause d’Agag, et son royaume lui sera enlevé.

Water shall flow from his jar, and his offspring shall be amid many waters, because Agag, his king, shall be taken, and his kingdom shall be removed.

8 Dieu l’a retiré de l’Egypte, lui dont la force est semblable à celle du rhinocéros. Ils dévoreront les peuples leurs ennemis, ils briseront leurs os, et ils les perceront de flèches.

Away from Egypt, God has led him, whose strength is like the rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.

9 Se couchant, il a dormi comme un lion, et comme une lionne que nul n’osera éveiller. Celui qui te bénira, sera aussi lui-même béni: celui qui te maudira sera compris dans la malédiction.

Lying down, he has slept like a lion, and like a lioness, whom no one would dare to awaken. He who blesses you, shall himself also be blessed. He who curses you, shall be considered cursed.”

10 Or, Balac irrité contre Balaam, et frappant des mains, dit: C’est pour maudire mes ennemis que je t’ai appelé, et au contraire tu les a bénis trois fois.

And Balak, being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together and said: “I called you to curse my enemies, and, to the contrary, you have blessed them three times.

11 Retourne en ton lieu. J’avais résolu de t’honorer magnifiquement; mais le Seigneur t’a privé de l’honneur préparé.

Return to your place. I had decided, indeed, to honor you greatly, but the Lord has deprived you of the designated honor.”

12 Balaam répondit à Balac: N’ai-je pas dit à tes messagers que tu m’as envoyés:

Balaam responded to Balak: “Did I not say to your messengers, whom you sent to me:

13 Si Balac me donnait sa maison pleine d’argent et d’or, je ne pourrais aller au-delà de la parole du Seigneur mon Dieu, pour produire de mon propre esprit quelque chose de bien ou de mal; mais tout ce que le Seigneur dira, je le dirai?

Even if Balak would give me his house, filled with silver and gold, I still could not go away from the word of the Lord my God, so as to offer anything, either good or evil, from my own heart; but whatever the Lord will speak, this, too, I shall speak.

14 Cependant, allant vers mon peuple, je donnerai un conseil sur ce que ton peuple doit faire à celui-ci dans le dernier temps.

Yet truly, as I continue on to my own people, I will give you counsel as to what this people shall do to your people in the end times.”

15 Employant donc sa parabole, il dit encore: Il a dit, Balaam, fils de Béor; il a dit, l’homme dont l’œil fut fermé;

Therefore, taking up his parable, he again spoke: “Balaam the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,

16 Il a dit, celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, qui connaît la doctrine du Très-Haut, et voit les visions du Tout-Puissant, qui, tombant, a les yeux ouverts.

the hearer of the sermon of God, he who knows the doctrine of the Most High, and who sees the visions of the Almighty, who, falling down, has his eyes opened, has declared:

17 Je le verrai, mais non maintenant; je le contemplerai, mais non de près. Il se lèvera une étoile de Jacob; et il s’élèvera une vierge d’Israël; et elle frappera les chefs de Moab et ruinera tous les enfants de Seth.

I shall see him, but not presently. I shall gaze upon him, but not soon. A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a rod shall spring up from Israel. And he shall strike down the commanders of Moab, and he shall devastate all the sons of Seth.

18 De plus, l’Idumée sera sa possession; l’héritage de Séir passera à ses ennemis, et Israël agira vaillamment,

And he shall possess Idumea; the inheritance of Seir shall fall to their enemies. Yet truly, Israel shall act with strength.

19 De Jacob sortira celui qui doit dominer, et perdre les restes de la cité.

From Jacob will be he who shall be ruler. And he shall perish the remnants of the city.”

20 Et lorsqu’il eut vu Amalec, employant sa parabole, il dit: Amalec est le commencement des nations; ses derniers moments seront frappés par la destruction.

And when he saw Amalek, taking up his parable, he said: “Amalek, first among the Gentiles, whose very end shall be perdition.”

21 Il vit aussi le Cinéen; et employant sa parabole, il dit: Ton habitation, à la vérité, est solide; mais si c’est sur la pierre que tu as posé ton nid,

Likewise, he saw the Kainites, and taking up his parable, he said: “Robust, indeed, is your habitation. But though you will set your nest in a rock,

22 Et si tu as été choisi de la race de Cin, combien de temps pourras-tu durer? Car Assur te prendra.

and you will be elect among the stock of Kain, how long will you be able to remain? For Assur shall take you captive.”

23 Et employant sa parabole, il dit encore: Hélas! qui vivra, quand Dieu fera ces choses?

And taking up his parable once more he said: “Alas! Who will be able to survive, when God will do these things?

24 Ils viendront d’Italie dans des trirèmes; ils vaincront les Assyriens; ils ruineront les Hébreux, et à la fin, eux-mêmes aussi périront.

They shall arrive in Greek warships from Italy. They shall overcome the Assyrians, and they shall devastate the Hebrews, and yet, at the very end, even they themselves shall perish.”

25 Après cela Balaam se leva, et retourna en son lieu; Balac aussi s’en retourna par la même voie qu’il était venu.

And Balaam rose up, and he returned to his place. Likewise, Balak went back, along the way by which he had arrived.