< Nahum 1 >

1 Oracle sur Ninive. Livre de la Vision de Nahum d’Elqosch.
[I am] Nahum, from Elkosh [village]. [This is] a message about Nineveh [city, the capital of Assyria that was given] to me in a vision [by Yahweh].
2 C’est un Dieu jaloux et vengeur que Yahweh; vengeur est Yahweh et connaissant le courroux; Yahweh se venge de ses adversaires, et garde rancune à ses ennemis.
Yahweh our God (is jealous/does not want people to worship any other god). He is very angry [with those who worship other gods], and he gets revenge [DOU] [on all] those who oppose him [DOU].
3 Yahweh est patient et grand en force, et il n’accorde pas l’impunité. Yahweh marche dans la tempête et dans l’ouragan, et la nuée est la poussière de ses pieds.
Yahweh does not quickly become angry; but he is very powerful, and he will certainly punish [LIT] those who have done evil things [MTY]. He shows his power by sending whirlwinds and storms, and clouds are [like] [MET] the dust [stirred up by] his feet.
4 Il menace la mer et il la dessèche, et il fait tarir tous les fleuves. Basan et le Carmel sont flétris, flétrie est la végétation du Liban.
When he commands oceans and rivers to become dry, they dry up. [He causes the grass in the fields in] the Bashan [region] and [on the slopes of] Carmel [Mountain] to wither, [and causes] the flowers in Lebanon to fade.
5 Les montagnes tremblent devant lui, et les collines se fondent; la terre se soulève devant sa face, le monde et tous ceux qui l’habitent.
When he appears, [it is as though] the mountains shake and the hills melt; the earth quakes and [the people on] the earth tremble.
6 Devant sa fureur qui subsistera, qui tiendra contre l’ardeur de sa colère? Son courroux se répand comme le feu, et les rochers se brisent devant lui.
There is no one [RHQ] who can resist him when he becomes extremely angry; there is no one [RHQ] who can survive when his anger is very hot. When he is very angry, [it is as though] his anger is like [SIM] a blazing fire, and [it is as though] mountains are shattered into pieces.
7 Yahweh est bon; il est un refuge au jour de la détresse, et il connaît ceux qui se confient en lui.
But he is good; he protects [us his people] when we experience troubles. He takes care of those who trust in him.
8 Par un flot débordant il détruira entièrement ce lieu, et il poursuivra ses ennemis jusque dans les ténèbres.
But he will get rid of his enemies; he will be to them [like] [MET] a flood that destroys everything. He will chase his enemies into the darkness [of the place where the dead are].
9 Quelles sont vos pensées sur Yahweh? Il consommera la ruine; la détresse ne surgira pas deux fois.
[So], it is useless [RHQ] for you [people of Nineveh] to plot against Yahweh. He will not [need to] strike you two times to destroy you; he will destroy you [by striking you only once].
10 Car, entrelacés comme des épines, et comme ivres de leur vin, ils seront consumés comme de la paille toute sèche.
[It will be as though his enemies] are tangled in thorns, and they will stagger like people who have drunk a lot of wine. They will be burned up like [SIM] a fire completely burns up stubble/straw.
11 De toi est sorti celui qui médite le mal contre Yahweh, celui qui forme des desseins criminels.
In Nineveh [city] there was a man who advised people to do very wicked things to Yahweh.
12 Ainsi parte Yahweh: Bien qu’ils soient intacts et nombreux, ils seront moissonnés et disparaîtront. Je t’ai humiliée et je ne t’humilierai plus.
But this is what Yahweh says [about you Israeli people]: “Although the people of Assyria have very many people and their army is very powerful, they will be destroyed and will disappear. [I say to my people in Judah, ] ‘have [already] punished you, but I will not punish you again.
13 Et maintenant, ô Juda, je briserai son joug de dessus toi, et je romprai tes liens.
Now I will cause the [people of Assyria] to no longer control/oppress you [MET]; [it will be as though] I will tear off the shackles/chains on your [hands and feet].”
14 Quant à toi, voici ce qu’a ordonné Yahweh: Il n’y aura plus de postérité de ton nom; je détruirai de la maison de ton Dieu les images taillées et celles de fonte; je prépare ton sépulcre, parce que tu as été léger.
[And this is what] Yahweh also declares about you people of Nineveh: “You will not have any descendants who will continue to have your family names. And I will destroy all the statues of your gods that were carved or formed in molds. I will cause you [to be killed and] sent to your graves, because you are vile/despicable!”
15 Voici sur les montagnes les pieds d’un messager de bonnes nouvelles, qui annonce la paix. Célèbre tes fêtes, ô Juda, accomplis tes vœux! Car il ne passera plus chez toi; le méchant est entièrement détruit.
[You people of Judah, ] look! A messenger will be coming across the mountains, and he [SYN] will be bringing good news [to you]. He will be declaring [that you will now have] peace [because Assyria will have been conquered]. [So, ] celebrate your festivals, and do what you solemnly promised to do [when your enemies were threatening to attack you], because your wicked [enemies] will not invade your country again, [because] they will be completely destroyed.

< Nahum 1 >