1 Faisons maintenant l’éloge des hommes illustres, de nos ancêtres l’un après l’autre. | 1 Let us praise the men of glory, and our ancestors in their generation. |
2 Le Seigneur leur a donné une belle gloire, une partie de sa gloire éternelle. | 2 The Lord has wrought great glory, by his own magnificence, from ancient times. |
3 Les uns furent souverains dans leur royaume, des hommes renommés pour leur énergie; d’autres ont poussé aux sages décisions, ont parlé en prophètes. | 3 There are those who rule with their authority, men of great virtue, who are gifted with prudence. There are those who announce among the prophets, with the dignity of prophets. |
4 D’autres ont guidé le peuple par leurs avis, l’ont enseigné par leurs propos pleins de sagesse. | 4 And there are those who rule over the present generation, by the virtue of prudence, with very holy words for the people. |
5 D’autres ont cultivé la musique, la poésie et l’art d’écrire. | 5 There are those who, by their skill, compose musical themes, so as to set the verses of Scripture to music. |
6 D’autres encore étaient des hommes riches, des gens puissants qui connurent la paix dans leurs domaines. | 6 There are men rich in virtue, who make a study of beauty, who live in peacefulness in their houses. |
7 Tous ont connu la gloire en leur temps: ils étaient un sujet de fierté pour leurs contemporains. | 7 All these obtained glory in their generations, and they had praise in their days. |
8 Certains d’entre eux ont laissé un nom, on redit encore leurs louanges. | 8 They left behind a name for those who were born of them, so that their praises might be described. |
9 D’autres sont tombés dans l’oubli, ont disparu; ce serait pareil s’ils n’avaient pas existé, et de même pour leurs descendants. | 9 But for some of them, there is no memorial. They have passed away as if they had never existed; and they have become as if they had never been born, and their sons along with them. |
10 Mais parlons des hommes de bien dont l’action bénéfique n’a pas été oubliée. | 10 But these were men of mercy, whose pious deeds have not failed. |
11 Leurs descendants ont hérité de ce bel héritage. | 11 Good things continue with their offspring. |
12 Leur race tient fidèlement à l’Alliance, leurs enfants suivent leur exemple. | 12 Their descendents are a holy inheritance, and their offspring stand firm in the covenants. |
13 Leur race durera à jamais, leur gloire ne sera pas effacée. | 13 And because of them, their sons remain even unto eternity. Their offspring and their glory will not be forsaken. |
14 Leurs corps ont été ensevelis dans la paix mais leur nom est vivant pour toutes les générations. | 14 Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives on, from generation to generation. |
15 Les peuples se racontent leur sagesse et l’assemblée proclame leur louange. | 15 Let the people declare their wisdom, and let the Church announce their praise. |
16 Hénok plaisait au Seigneur et fut enlevé: bel exemple de conversion pour les hommes de tous les temps. | 16 Enoch pleased God, and he was transferred to Paradise, so that he might offer repentance to the nations. |
17 Noé fut trouvé juste, parfait: il fut l’instrument de la réconciliation au temps de la Colère; grâce à lui un reste fut épargné sur la terre lorsque vint le déluge. | 17 Noah was found to be perfect and just, and so, in the time of wrath, he was made a reconciliation. |
18 Le Seigneur s’engagea avec lui pour toujours: il ne détruirait plus par les eaux l’ensemble des vivants. | 18 As a result, there was a remnant left for the earth, when the great flood was made. |
19 Abraham est le père illustre d’une multitude de nations; personne n’a jamais égalé sa gloire. | 19 The covenants of the world were placed with him, so that all flesh would not be wiped away by the great flood. |
20 Il a observé la Loi du Très-Haut qui l’a fait entrer dans son alliance; cette alliance fut inscrite dans sa chair; il resta fidèle au jour de l’épreuve. | 20 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one was found to be like him in glory. He observed the law of the Most High, and he formed a covenant with him. |
21 C’est pourquoi Dieu lui fit un serment: toutes les nations seraient bénies dans sa descendance, il le multiplierait comme la poussière du sol, il élèverait jusqu’aux étoiles sa descendance, sa postérité aurait pour domaine d’une mer à l’autre, depuis l’Euphrate jusqu’où finissent les terres au couchant. | 21 In his flesh, he caused the covenant to stand, and when tested, he was found to be faithful. |
22 À Isaac il renouvela cette promesse, à cause d’Abraham son père. | 22 Therefore, by an oath, he gave glory to him among his people, so as to increase him like the dust of the earth, |
23 Puis il fit reposer sur la tête de Jacob la bénédiction pour tous les hommes, ainsi que l’alliance; il le bénit personnellement et lui donna le pays en héritage. Il en divisa les parts et les distribua entre les douze tribus. | 23 and to exalt his offspring like the stars, and to give an inheritance to them from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. |
| 24 And he acted in like manner toward Isaac, because of his father Abraham. |
| 25 The Lord gave the blessing of all the nations to him, and he confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob. |
| 26 He acknowledged him in his blessings, and he gave an inheritance to him, and he distributed to him the portion of the twelve tribes. |
| 27 And he preserved for him men of mercy, who were found to have grace before the eyes of all flesh. |