1 Samuel 24
1 Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.
Or, quand Saül revint de poursuivre les Philistins, on lui annonça que David se trouvait dans le désert d’En-Ghedi.
2 Then Saul took three thousand of the best men out of all Israel, and went in search of David and his men on the rocks of the mountain goats.
Saül prit alors trois mille hommes choisis entre tout Israël, et alla à la recherche de David et de ses hommes, en parcourant les sentiers escarpés des chamois.
3 And on the way he came to a place where sheep were kept, where there was a hollow in the rock; and Saul went in for a private purpose. Now David and his men were in the deepest part of the hollow.
Il arriva près des parcs à brebis qui se trouvaient sur la route. Là était une caverne, où Saül entra pour satisfaire un besoin; or, David et ses hommes se trouvaient au fond de cette caverne.
4 And David's men said to him, Now is the time when the Lord says to you, I will give up your hater into your hands to do with him whatever seems good to you. Then David, getting up, took the skirt of Saul's robe in his hand, cutting off the end of it without his knowledge.
"Ah! dirent ces hommes à David, voici le moment dont le Seigneur t’a dit: Vois, je mettrai ton ennemi en ta main, tu le traiteras comme bon te semblera." Et David alla couper sans bruit le bord du manteau de Saül.
5 And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.
Mais ensuite le cœur lui battit d’avoir coupé le vêtement de Saül,
6 And David said to his men, Before the Lord, never let it be said that my hand was lifted up against my lord, the man of the Lord's selection, for the Lord's holy oil has been put on him.
et il dit à ses hommes: "Dieu me préserve d’agir ainsi envers mon souverain, de porter la main sur l’oint du Seigneur! Oui, il est l’oint du Seigneur."
7 So with these words David kept his servants back, and did not let them make an attack on Saul. And Saul got up and went on his way.
Il rompit par ces paroles le dessein de ses gens et ne leur permit pas d’attaquer Saül. Celui-ci sortit de la caverne et poursuivit son chemin.
8 And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.
David se leva alors, sortit de la caverne et suivit Saül en criant: "Mon seigneur le roi!" Saül se retourna, David s’inclina et se prosterna la face contre terre.
9 And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?
Et il dit à Saül: "Pourquoi écoutes-tu les propos des gens qui disent: David cherche à te nuire?
10 Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.
Certes, aujourd’hui même, tu le vois, aujourd’hui le Seigneur t’a mis en mon pouvoir dans la caverne, me permettant ainsi de te tuer; mais je t’ai épargné et j’ai dit: Je ne porterai pas la main sur mon maître, car il est l’oint du Seigneur.
11 And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.
Regarde, ô mon père, regarde le bord de ton manteau dans ma main; puisque je l’ai coupé et ne t’ai pas tué, juge et comprends que je n’ai rien à me reprocher et que je ne t’ai manqué en rien, tandis que toi, tu cherches insidieusement à prendre ma vie!
12 May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
Que Dieu juge entre toi et moi! Il pourra me venger de toi, mais je ne porterai pas la main sur toi.
13 There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
Comme dit le proverbe des anciens, c’est des mauvais que vient le mal; mais ma main ne te touchera pas.
14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.
Contre qui le roi d’Israël s’est-il mis en campagne? Qui poursuis-tu? Un chien mort, un insecte!
15 So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.
Oui, l’Eternel sera juge et prononcera entre nous deux! Qu’il voie, qu’il prenne ma cause en main et qu’il me fasse justice de toi!"
16 Now when David had said these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, David, my son? And Saul was overcome with weeping.
Quand David eut cessé de parler ainsi à Saül, Saül lui dit: "Est-ce là ta voix, David, mon fils?" Et Saül éclata en pleurs.
17 And he said to David, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you evil.
Puis il dit à David: "Tu vaux mieux que moi; car tu m’as fait du bien, et moi je t’ai fait du mal.
18 And you have made clear to me how good you have been to me today: because, when the Lord gave me up into your hands, you did not put me to death.
Tu as attesté aujourd’hui que tu as bien agi à mon égard, puisque le Seigneur m’a livré en ta main et que tu ne m’as pas tué.
19 If a man comes across his hater, will he let him get away safe? so may you be rewarded by the Lord for what you have done for me today.
Lorsqu’un homme surprend son ennemi, le laisse-t-il aller sain et sauf?… Dieu te rende le bien que tu m’as fait en ce jour!
20 And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.
Or, je sais que certainement tu régneras, et que la royauté d’Israël te restera acquise.
21 So give me your oath by the Lord, that you will not put an end to my seed after me or let my name be cut off from my father's family.
Jure-moi donc par l’Eternel que tu ne détruiras pas ma postérité après moi et que tu ne retrancheras pas mon nom de la maison de mon père."
22 And David gave Saul his oath. And Saul went back to his house; but David and his men went up to their safe place.
David en fit le serment à Saül. Celui-ci retourna dans sa maison, et David et ses hommes montèrent vers leur abri.
