Numbers 24
1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
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.
2 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.
Et Balaam levant les yeux vit Israël campé par tribus; alors vint sur lui l'esprit de Dieu.
3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
Et il prononça son oracle et dit: Ainsi parle Balaam, fils de Behor, ainsi parle l'homme dont l'œil est ouvert,
4 He hath said, who heard the words of God, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
ainsi parle l'auditeur des paroles de Dieu, qui voit les visions du Tout-Puissant, qui se prosterne et a les yeux dessillés:
5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
Que tes tentes sont belles, ô Jacob! tes demeures, ô Israël! Elles s'étendent comme des vallées,
6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
comme des jardins le long d'un fleuve, comme des aloès que planta l'Éternel, comme des cèdres le long des eaux.
7 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.
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.
8 God brought him forth from 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.
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.
9 He crouched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall rouse him? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
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.
10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
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.
11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee to great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
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.
12 And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not speak also to thy messengers whom thou sentest to me, saying,
Et Balaam dit à Balak: Même aux messagers que tu m'as envoyés, n'ai-je pas dit en propres termes:
13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
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.
14 And now, behold, I go to my people: come therefore, I will advise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
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.
15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
Puis Balaam prononça son oracle et dit: Ainsi parle Balaam, fils de Behor, ainsi parle l'homme dont l'œil est ouvert,
16 He hath said, who heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
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:
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: 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.
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,
18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
et Edom devient sa conquête, et Séïr la conquête de ses ennemis, et Israël fait des actes de vaillance.
19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
Issu de Jacob il aura l'empire, et fera périr les réchappés des villes.
20 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 shall perish for ever.
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.
21 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.
Et à la vue des Kénites, il prononça son oracle et dit: Que ta demeure soit permanente, et place ton aire sur le rocher!
22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
Mais Kain est voué à la ruine: Quelle sera sa durée? Assur te fera prisonnier.
23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
Et il prononça son oracle et dit: Hélas! qui vivra, quand Il fera ces choses?…
24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
Et des navires partis de la côte de Kittim humilieront Assur, humilieront Eber, lui aussi est voué à la ruine.
25 And Balaam arose, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
Et Balaam se leva, et partit et retourna chez lui; de même Balak s'en alla de son côté.
