Jérémie 51
1 Parole qui vint à Jérémie sur tous les Juifs demeurant en la terre d'Égypte; sur ceux établis à Magdolos et à Taphnès, et en la terre de Pathurès, disant:
The LORD says: “Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against those who dwell in Lebkamai, a destroying wind.
2 Voici ce que dit le Seigneur Dieu d'Israël: Vous avez vu tous les maux que j'ai amenés sur Jérusalem et sur les villes de Juda; et voilà qu'elles sont vides de leurs habitants,
I will send to Babylon strangers, who will winnow her. They will empty her land; for in the day of trouble they will be against her all around.
3 Parce qu'ils m'ont exaspéré de leur méchanceté en allant brûler de l'encens pour d'autres dieux, que jadis vous ne connaissiez pas.
Against him who bends, let the archer bend his bow, also against him who lifts himself up in his coat of mail. Do not spare her young men! Utterly destroy all her army!
4 Et je vous ai envoyé de bonne heure mes serviteurs les prophètes, disant: Ne faites point cette œuvre de souillure que je hais.
They will fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans, and thrust through in her streets.
5 Mais ils ne m'ont point écouté, et ils ne m'ont point prêté l'oreille pour se détourner du mal, et cesser de brûler de l'encens pour d'autres dieux.
For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, by his God, by the LORD of Armies; though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.
6 Et ma colère est tombée sur eux; elle s'est enflammée contre les portes de Juda et dans les rues de Jérusalem; et elles sont devenues désertes et inhabitables, comme elles le sont encore.
“Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Everyone save his own life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, for it is the time of the LORD’s vengeance. He will render to her a recompense.
7 Et aujourd'hui voici ce que dit le Seigneur tout-puissant: Pourquoi faites-vous un si grand mal à vos âmes? C'est donc pour faire périr, au milieu de Juda, homme, femme, adolescent, enfant à la mamelle; pour qu'il ne reste plus rien de vous;
Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, who made all the earth drunk. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
8 Pour que vous m'irritiez par les œuvres de vos mains, par l'encens brûlé à des dieux étrangers en la terre d'Égypte, où vous êtes allés demeurer; pour que vous mouriez, maudits et outragés parmi toutes les nations de la terre?
Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed! Wail for her! Take balm for her pain. Perhaps she may be healed.
9 Avez-vous oublié les péchés de vos pères, les péchés des rois de Juda, les péchés de vos princes et les péchés de vos femmes, qui ont été commis dans la terre de Juda et dans les rues de Jérusalem?
“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let’s each go into his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
10 Et jusqu'à ce jour ils n'ont point cessé de pécher et ils n'ont point gardé mes commandements, que j'avais donnés à leurs pères.
‘The LORD has produced our righteousness. Come, and let’s declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.’
11 A cause de cela, ainsi parle le Seigneur: Voilà que je tourne ma face contre vous,
“Make the arrows sharp! Hold the shields firmly! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it; for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
12 Pour détruire tous ces restes qui sont en Égypte; et ils tomberont par le glaive et par la faim, et ils périront du petit au grand, et ils seront outragés, et perdus, et maudits.
Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon! Make the watch strong! Set the watchmen, and prepare the ambushes; for the LORD has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 Et je visiterai ceux qui sont établis en la terre d'Égypte, comme j'ai visité Jérusalem, avec le glaive et la famine.
You who dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your covetousness.
14 Et nul ne sera sauvé des restes de Juda qui sont comme passagers en Égypte; et nul ne reviendra en la terre de Juda, où en leur âme ils espéraient revenir; ils n'en reviendront pas, sauf ceux qui déjà se sont échappés.
The LORD of Armies has sworn by himself, saying, ‘Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts, and they will lift up a shout against you.’
15 Alors tous les hommes qui savaient que leurs femmes brûlaient de l'encens, toutes ces femmes en grand nombre et tout le peuple établi à Pathurès en la terre d'Égypte, répondirent à Jérémie, disant:
“He has made the earth by his power. He has established the world by his wisdom. By his understanding he has stretched out the heavens.
16 Quant aux paroles que tu nous dis au nom du Seigneur, nous ne t'écouterons pas;
When he utters his voice, there is a roar of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and brings the wind out of his treasuries.
17 Car nous ferons et nous accomplirons toute parole sortie de notre bouche, en brûlant de l'encens à la reine du ciel, et en lui offrant des libations, comme nous avons fait, comme ont fait nos pères, nos rois et nos princes dans les villes de Juda et dans les rues à Jérusalem. Aujourd'hui nous nous rassasions de pain, et nous sommes heureux, et nous n'avons point vu de malheurs:
“Every man has become stupid and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image, for his molten images are falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
18 Et dès que nous avons cessé de brûler de l'encens la reine du ciel, nous avons été tous amoindris, et nous avons péri par le glaive et la famine.
They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation, they will perish.
19 Et si nous avons brûlé de l'encens à la reine du ciel, si nous lui avons offert des libations, est-ce que nous préparions pour elle, sans le consentement de nos maris, des gâteaux et des libations?
The portion of Jacob is not like these, for he formed all things, including the tribe of his inheritance. The LORD of Armies is his name.
20 Et Jérémie dit à tout le peuple, aux hommes dans la force de l'âge, et aux femmes, et à tout le peuple qui lui répondait de la sorte:
“You are my battle ax and weapons of war. With you I will break the nations into pieces. With you I will destroy kingdoms.
21 Le Seigneur ne s'est-il point souvenu de l'encens que vous brûliez dans les villes de Juda et dans les rues de Jérusalem, vous et vos pères, et vos rois, et vos princes, et tout le peuple de la terre? Et ces péchés ne sont-ils pas montés jusqu'à son cœur?
With you I will break in pieces the horse and his rider.
22 Et le Seigneur n'a pu vous supporter à cause de la malice de vos œuvres, et des abominations que vous commettiez. Et votre terre est devenue déserte, sans chemin, sans bénédiction, telle qu'elle est encore aujourd'hui,
With you I will break in pieces the chariot and him who rides therein. With you I will break in pieces man and woman. With you I will break in pieces the old man and the youth. With you I will break in pieces the young man and the virgin.
23 En punition de ce que vous avez brûlé de l'encens et péché contre le Seigneur. Et vous n'avez point écouté la voix du Seigneur, et vous n'avez point marché en ses commandements, en sa loi, en ses témoignages; et ces malheurs vous sont arrivés.
With you I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock. With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke. With you I will break in pieces governors and deputies.
24 Et Jérémie dit encore au peuple et aux femmes: Écoutez la parole du Seigneur:
“I will render to Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight,” says the LORD.
25 Voici ce que dit le Seigneur Dieu d'Israël: Vous femmes, vous avez parlé de votre propre bouche, et vous avez agi de vos propres mains, disant: Nous remplirons publiquement nos vœux en brûlant de l'encens à la reine du ciel, et en lui offrant des libations.
“Behold, I am against you, destroying mountain,” says the LORD, “which destroys all the earth. I will stretch out my hand on you, roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burned mountain.
26 A cause de cela, écoutez la parole du Seigneur: O vous, vous hommes de Juda établis en Égypte, voilà que j'ai juré par mon nom très grand, dit le Seigneur, que mon nom ne sera plus en la bouche d'aucun homme de Juda pour qu'il dise: Vive le Seigneur! en toute la terre d'Égypte.
They will not take a cornerstone from you, nor a stone for foundations; but you will be desolate forever,” says the LORD.
27 J'ai veillé sur eux pour les affliger, non pour leur faire du bien; et tous les hommes de Juda demeurant en la terre d'Égypte périront par le glaive et la famine, jusqu'à qu'ils aient tous disparu.
“Set up a standard in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her! Call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz! Appoint a marshal against her! Cause the horses to come up as the swarming locusts!
28 Et ceux qui auront échappé au glaive, c'est qu'ils seront retournés en la terre de Juda; il y en aura un très petit nombre; mais le reste de Juda, établi en la terre d'Égypte pour y demeurer, connaîtra quel est celui dont la parole est stable.
Prepare against her the nations, the kings of the Medes, its governors, and all its deputies, and all the land of their dominion!
29 Et tel est pour vous un signe que je vous visiterai pour votre malheur:
The land trembles and is in pain; for the purposes of the LORD against Babylon stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
30 Ainsi dit le Seigneur: Voilà que je livre Vaphrès, roi d'Égypte, aux mains de son ennemi et aux mains de celui qui en veut à sa vie; de même que j'ai livré Sédécias, roi de Juda, aux mains de Nabuchodonosor, roi de Babylone, son ennemi, qui en voulait à sa vie.
The mighty men of Babylon have stopped fighting, they remain in their strongholds. Their might has failed. They have become as women. Her dwelling places are set on fire. Her bars are broken.
31 Parole que Jérémie le prophète dit à Baruch, fils de Nérias, lorsqu'il écrivit ces paroles, en un livre, de la bouche de Jérémie, la quatrième année du règne de Joakim, fils de Josias, roi de Juda.
One runner will run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter.
32 Voici ce que le Seigneur dit sur toi, Baruch:
So the passages are seized. They have burned the reeds with fire. The men of war are frightened.”
33 Parce que tu as dit: Hélas! hélas! le Seigneur m'envoie douleur sur douleur; je me suis couché gémissant, et je n'ai point trouvé de repos;
For the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel says: “The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden. Yet a little while, and the time of harvest comes for her.”
34 Dis-lui: Ainsi parle le Seigneur: Voilà que je vais abattre ceux que j'ai édifiés; et ceux que j'ai plantés je les arracherai.
“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me. He has crushed me. He has made me an empty vessel. He has, like a monster, swallowed me up. He has filled his mouth with my delicacies. He has cast me out.
35 Après cela, demanderas-tu beaucoup pour toi? Ne demande rien; car j'amène des maux sur toute chair, dit le Seigneur; mais à toi je te donnerai la vie, et ce sera pour toi comme un butin en tout lieu où tu iras.
May the violence done to me and to my flesh be on Babylon!” the inhabitant of Zion will say; and, “May my blood be on the inhabitants of Chaldea!” will Jerusalem say.
Therefore the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry.
Babylon will become heaps, a dwelling place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.
They will roar together like young lions. They will growl as lions’ cubs.
When they are inflamed, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunk, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says the LORD.
“I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.
“How Sheshach is taken! How the praise of the whole earth is seized! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
The sea has come up on Babylon. She is covered with the multitude of its waves.
Her cities have become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land in which no man dwells. No son of man passes by it.
I will execute judgment on Bel in Babylon, and I will bring out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up. The nations will not flow any more to him. Yes, the wall of Babylon will fall.
“My people, go away from the middle of her, and each of you save yourselves from the LORD’s fierce anger.
Do not let your heart faint. Do not fear for the news that will be heard in the land. For news will come one year, and after that in another year news will come, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.
Therefore behold, the days come that I will execute judgment on the engraved images of Babylon; and her whole land will be confounded. All her slain will fall in the middle of her.
Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, will sing for joy over Babylon; for the destroyers will come to her from the north,” says the LORD.
“As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so the slain of all the land will fall at Babylon.
You who have escaped the sword, go! Do not stand still! Remember the LORD from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.”
“We are confounded because we have heard reproach. Confusion has covered our faces, for strangers have come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house.”
“Therefore behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that I will execute judgment on her engraved images; and through all her land the wounded will groan.
Though Babylon should mount up to the sky, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet destroyers will come to her from me,” says the LORD.
“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
For the LORD lays Babylon waste, and destroys out of her the great voice! Their waves roar like many waters. The noise of their voice is uttered.
For the destroyer has come on her, even on Babylon. Her mighty men are taken. Their bows are broken in pieces, for the LORD is a God of retribution. He will surely repay.
I will make her princes, her wise men, her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men drunk. They will sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says the King, whose name is the LORD of Armies.
The LORD of Armies says: “The wide walls of Babylon will be utterly overthrown. Her high gates will be burned with fire. The peoples will labor for vanity, and the nations for the fire; and they will be weary.”
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief quartermaster.
Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come on Babylon, even all these words that are written concerning Babylon.
Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words,
and say, ‘LORD, you have spoken concerning this place, to cut it off, that no one will dwell in it, neither man nor animal, but that it will be desolate forever.’
It will be, when you have finished reading this book, that you shall bind a stone to it, and cast it into the middle of the Euphrates.
Then you shall say, ‘Thus will Babylon sink, and will not rise again because of the evil that I will bring on her; and they will be weary.’” Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
