Numbers 24

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to meet with omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Or, Balaam, voyant que l'Éternel trouvait bon de bénir Israël, n'alla point, comme les autres fois, chercher des enchantements; mais il tourna son visage vers le désert.

2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.

Et Balaam, levant les yeux, vit Israël campé selon ses tribus; et l'esprit de Dieu fut sur lui.

3 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

Et il prononça son discours sentencieux, et dit: Oracle de Balaam, fils de Béor, oracle de l'homme qui a l'œil ouvert:

4 he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, and having his eyes open:

Oracle de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, qui voit la vision du Tout-Puissant, qui se prosterne et dont les y eux sont ouverts:

5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel.

Que tes tentes sont belles, ô Jacob! et tes demeures, ô Israël!

6 As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which the LORD has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.

Elles s'étendent comme des vallées, comme des jardins près d'un fleuve, comme des aloès que l'Éternel a plantés, comme des cèdres auprès des eaux.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.

L'eau coulera de ses seaux, et sa postérité sera comme de grandes eaux; son roi s'élèvera au-dessus d'Agag, et son royaume sera exalté.

8 God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.

Dieu l'a fait sortir d'Égypte; il est pour lui comme la vigueur du buffle; il dévorera les nations, ses ennemies; il brisera leurs os, et les frappera de ses flèches.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed."

Il s'est courbé, il s'est couché comme le lion, comme la lionne: qui le fera lever? Ceux qui te bénissent seront bénis, et ceux qui te maudissent seront maudits!

10 Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, look, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

Alors la colère de Balak s'enflamma contre Balaam, et il frappa des mains; puis Balak dit à Balaam: Je t'ai appelé pour maudire mes ennemis, et voici, tu les as bénis déjà trois fois!

11 Therefore now flee you to your place. I thought to promote you to great honor; but, look, the LORD has kept you back from honor."

Et maintenant, fuis dans ton pays! J'avais dit que je te ferais beaucoup d'honneurs; mais voici, l'Éternel t'a empêché d'être honoré.

12 Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

Et Balaam répondit à Balak: N'avais-je pas dit aussi aux messagers que tu avais envoyés vers moi:

13 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad in my heart. I will say what God says'?

Quand Balak me donnerait sa maison pleine d'argent et d'or, je ne pourrais pas transgresser l'ordre de l'Éternel, pour faire du bien ou du mal de moi-même; je dirai ce que l'Éternel dira?

14 Now, look, I go to my people: come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."

Et maintenant, voici, je m'en vais vers mon peuple. Viens, que je te déclare ce que ce peuple fera à ton peuple dans la suite des temps.

15 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

Alors il prononça son discours sentencieux, et dit: Oracle de Balaam, fils de Béor, oracle de l'homme qui a l'œil ouvert;

16 he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, and having his eyes open:

Oracle de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, qui connaît la science du Très-Haut, qui voit la vision du Tout-Puissant, qui se prosterne et dont les yeux sont ouverts.

17 I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and will crush the forehead of Moab, and the crown of all the sons of tumult.

Je le vois, mais non maintenant; je le contemple, mais non de près; une étoile est sortie de Jacob, et un sceptre s'est élevé d'Israël; il frappera les deux régions de Moab, il détruira tous les enfants du tumulte.

18 Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.

Édom sera possédé, Séir sera possédé par ses ennemis, et Israël agira vaillamment.

19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city."

Et celui qui vient de Jacob dominera, et extirpera les réchappés des villes.

20 He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his latter end shall come to destruction."

Il vit aussi Amalek. Et il prononça son discours sentencieux, et dit: Amalek est la première des nations; mais son avenir est la perdition.

21 He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, "Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.

Puis il vit les Kéniens. Et il prononça son discours sentencieux, et dit: Ta demeure est solide, et ton nid placé dans le rocher.

22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive."

Toutefois, Kaïn sera ravagé, jusqu'à ce qu'Assur t'emmène en captivité.

23 He took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

Et il prononça encore son discours sentencieux, et dit: Malheur à qui vivra, après que Dieu l'aura établi!

24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction."

Mais des navires viendront du côté de Kittim, et ils humilieront Assur, ils humilieront Héber, et lui aussi sera détruit.

25 Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

Puis Balaam se leva, et s'en alla, et retourna en son pays. Et Balak aussi s'en alla son chemin.