1 Faisons maintenant l’éloge des hommes illustres, de nos ancêtres l’un après l’autre. | 1 Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation. |
2 Le Seigneur leur a donné une belle gloire, une partie de sa gloire éternelle. | 2 The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning. |
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 Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power, and endued with their wisdom, shewing forth in the prophets 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 ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words. |
5 D’autres ont cultivé la musique, la poésie et l’art d’écrire. | 5 Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures. |
6 D’autres encore étaient des hommes riches, des gens puissants qui connurent la paix dans leurs domaines. | 6 Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses. |
7 Tous ont connu la gloire en leur temps: ils étaient un sujet de fierté pour leurs contemporains. | 7 All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days. |
8 Certains d’entre eux ont laissé un nom, on redit encore leurs louanges. | 8 They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related: |
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 And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if they had never been born, and their children 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 godly deeds have not failed: |
11 Leurs descendants ont hérité de ce bel héritage. | 11 Good things continue with their seed, |
12 Leur race tient fidèlement à l’Alliance, leurs enfants suivent leur exemple. | 12 Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants. |
13 Leur race durera à jamais, leur gloire ne sera pas effacée. | 13 And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken. |
14 Leurs corps ont été ensevelis dans la paix mais leur nom est vivant pour toutes les générations. | 14 Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation. |
15 Les peuples se racontent leur sagesse et l’assemblée proclame leur louange. | 15 Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise. |
16 Hénok plaisait au Seigneur et fut enlevé: bel exemple de conversion pour les hommes de tous les temps. | 16 Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give 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 Noe was found perfect, just, and 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 Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came. |
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 made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the hood. |
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 there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the most High, and was in 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 established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful. |
22 À Isaac il renouvela cette promesse, à cause d’Abraham son père. | 22 Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as 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 that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. |
| 24 And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father. |
| 25 The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob. |
| 26 He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes. |
| 27 And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh. |