Livre des Nombres 24

BIBLES DES PEUPLES	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Balaam vit que Dieu se plaisait à bénir Israël, aussi n’alla-t-il pas comme les autres fois à la recherche de signes, mais il tourna son visage vers le désert.	1 And when Balaam had seen that it was pleasing to the Lord that he should bless Israel, he by no means went out as he had gone before, to seek divination. But directing his face opposite the desert,
2 Quand Balaam leva les yeux, il vit Israël groupé par tribus, et l’esprit de Dieu s’empara de lui.	2 and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel dwelling in tents by their tribes. And with the Spirit of God rushing into him,
3 Alors il proclama son poème: “Parole de Balaam, fils de Béor, parole de l’homme qui perce le mystère,	3 taking up his parable, he said: “Balaam, the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,
4 oracle de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, qui voit ce que le Dieu de la Steppe fait voir, qui se prosterne, et Dieu lui ouvre les yeux.	4 the hearer of the sermon of God, he who has gazed upon a vision of the Almighty, he who falls down and so his eyes are opened, has declared:
5 Que tes tentes sont belles, Jacob, tes demeures, Ô Israël!	5 ‘How beautiful are your tabernacles, O Jacob, and your tents, O Israel!
6 Elles s’étirent comme des vallées, comme des jardins sur le bord d’un fleuve, comme des aloès que Yahvé a plantés, comme des cèdres au bord des eaux!	6 They are like forested valleys, like gardens irrigated next to rivers, like tabernacles which the Lord has fixed, like cedars close to waters.
7 L’eau déborde de ses deux seaux, sa semence est bien irriguée; son roi est plus puissant qu’Agag, et son règne grandit encore!	7 Water shall flow from his jar, and his offspring shall be amid many waters, because Agag, his king, shall be taken, and his kingdom shall be removed.
8 Dieu le fait sortir d’Égypte, et lui donne les cornes du buffle! Il dévore les nations ennemies, il leur brise les os, il les perce de ses flèches.	8 Away from Egypt, God has led him, whose strength is like the rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.
9 Il s’accroupit, se couche comme un lion, comme une lionne: qui le fera lever? Bénis soient ceux qui te bénissent, maudits soient ceux qui te maudissent.”	9 Lying down, he has slept like a lion, and like a lioness, whom no one would dare to awaken. He who blesses you, shall himself also be blessed. He who curses you, shall be considered cursed.”
10 Balak s’emporta contre Balaam; il frappa des mains, puis il lui dit: “Je t’avais fait venir pour maudire mes ennemis, et toi, par trois fois tu les as bénis!	10 And Balak, being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together and said: “I called you to curse my enemies, and, to the contrary, you have blessed them three times.
11 Maintenant file chez toi. J’avais promis de te combler d’honneurs, mais Yahvé t’en a privé!”	11 Return to your place. I had decided, indeed, to honor you greatly, but the Lord has deprived you of the designated honor.”
12 Balaam répondit à Balak: “J’avais dit quelque chose aux hommes que tu m’as envoyés; je leur avais dit:	12 Balaam responded to Balak: “Did I not say to your messengers, whom you sent to me:
13 ‘Même si Balak me donnait plein sa maison d’argent et d’or, je ne désobéirais pas à l’ordre de Yahvé. Bien ou mal, je ne ferai rien de moi-même, mais je dirai ce que Yahvé dira.’	13 Even if Balak would give me his house, filled with silver and gold, I still could not go away from the word of the Lord my God, so as to offer anything, either good or evil, from my own heart; but whatever the Lord will speak, this, too, I shall speak.
14 Maintenant je m’en retourne dans mon pays! Mais laisse-moi te dire ce que ce peuple fera à ton peuple dans les jours qui viennent.”	14 Yet truly, as I continue on to my own people, I will give you counsel as to what this people shall do to your people in the end times.”
15 Alors il proclama son poème: “Parole de Balaam, fils de Béor, parole de l’homme qui perce le mystère,	15 Therefore, taking up his parable, he again spoke: “Balaam the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,
16 oracle de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu et qui possède la science du Très-Haut, qui voit ce que le Dieu de la Steppe fait voir, qui se prosterne, et Dieu lui ouvre les yeux.	16 the hearer of the sermon of God, he who knows the doctrine of the Most High, and who sees the visions of the Almighty, who, falling down, has his eyes opened, has declared:
17 Je le vois, mais non pour maintenant, je le contemple, mais non de près: un astre se lève de Jacob, un sceptre se dresse en Israël. Il frappe les deux tempes de Moab, et le crâne de tous les fils de Seth.	17 I shall see him, but not presently. I shall gaze upon him, but not soon. A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a rod shall spring up from Israel. And he shall strike down the commanders of Moab, and he shall devastate all the sons of Seth.
18 Édom devient sa conquête, il enlève Séïr à ses ennemis, Israël fait de grandes choses,	18 And he shall possess Idumea; the inheritance of Seir shall fall to their enemies. Yet truly, Israel shall act with strength.
19 Jacob impose sa force et fait périr les survivants d’Ar.”	19 From Jacob will be he who shall be ruler. And he shall perish the remnants of the city.”
20 Balaam vit Amalec et il dit son poème: “Amalec, la première des nations, ta postérité disparaîtra!”	20 And when he saw Amalek, taking up his parable, he said: “Amalek, first among the Gentiles, whose very end shall be perdition.”
21 Voyant les Kénites, il dit son poème: “Solide est ta demeure, ton nid est établi sur un roc!	21 Likewise, he saw the Kainites, and taking up his parable, he said: “Robust, indeed, is your habitation. But though you will set your nest in a rock,
22 Le feu pourtant dévorera Kayin, et l’Assyrien à la fin l’emmènera captif.”	22 and you will be elect among the stock of Kain, how long will you be able to remain? For Assur shall take you captive.”
23 Il proclama encore ce poème: “Hélas! qui sera là quand Dieu le décidera?	23 And taking up his parable once more he said: “Alas! Who will be able to survive, when God will do these things?
24 Voici des navires du côté des Kittim, ils soumettent l’Assyrien, ils soumettent l’Hébreu, mais eux aussi courent à la ruine.”	24 They shall arrive in Greek warships from Italy. They shall overcome the Assyrians, and they shall devastate the Hebrews, and yet, at the very end, even they themselves shall perish.”
25 Balaam se mit en route pour rentrer chez lui, et Balak aussi s’en alla par son chemin.	25 And Balaam rose up, and he returned to his place. Likewise, Balak went back, along the way by which he had arrived.