Numbers 22

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	JERUSALEM
1 And they set out and made camp in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan, where Jericho is situated.	1 Puis les Israélites partirent, et s'en allèrent camper dans les Steppes de Moab, au-delà duJourdain, vers Jéricho.
2 Then Balak, the son of Zippor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorite,	2 Balaq, fils de Cippor, vit tout ce qu'Israël avait fait aux Amorites;
3 and that the Moabites had great fear of him, and that they were not able to bear his assault,	3 Moab fut pris de panique devant ce peuple, car il était fort nombreux. Moab eut peur desIsraélites;
4 said to those greater by birth of Midian: “So will this people wipe away all those who are dwelling within our borders, in the same way that the ox is accustomed to tear out grass, all the way to the roots.” At that time, he was king of Moab.	4 il dit aux anciens de Madiân: "Voilà cette multitude en train de tout brouter autour de nouscomme un boeuf broute l'herbe des champs." Balaq, fils de Cippor, était roi de Moab en ce temps-là.
5 Therefore, he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, a seer who lived above the river of the land of the sons of Ammon, to call him, and to say: “Behold, a people has gone forth from Egypt, which has covered the face of the earth. They are encamped opposite me.	5 Il envoya des messagers mander Balaam, fils de Béor, à Pétor, sur le Fleuve, au pays des filsd'Ammav. Il lui disait: "Voici que le peuple qui est sorti d'Egypte a couvert tout le pays; il s'est établi en face demoi.
6 Therefore, come and curse this people, for they are stronger than I am. If only, in some way, I might be able to strike them and to drive them from my land. For I know that he whom you bless shall be blessed, and he whom you curse shall be cursed.”	6 Viens donc, je te prie, et maudis-moi ce peuple, car il est plus puissant que moi. Ainsi pourrons-nous le battre et le chasser du pays. Car je le sais: celui que tu bénis est béni, celui que tu maudis est maudit."
7 And the elders of Moab, and those greater by birth of Midian, continued on, holding the price of divination in their hands. And when they had come to Balaam, and had explained to him all the words of Balak,	7 Les anciens de Moab et les anciens de Madiân partirent, le salaire de l'augure en main. Ils vinrenttrouver Balaam et lui transmirent les paroles de Balaq.
8 he responded, “Remain for this night, and I will answer with whatever the Lord will say to me.” And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him,	8 Il leur dit: "Passez ici la nuit, et je vous répondrai selon ce que m'aura dit Yahvé." Les princes deMoab restèrent chez Balaam.
9 “What do these men want with you?”	9 Dieu vint à Balaam et lui dit: "Quels sont ces hommes qui sont chez toi?"
10 He responded, “Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,	10 Balaam répondit à Dieu: "Balaq, fils de Cippor, roi de Moab, m'a fait dire ceci:
11 saying: ‘Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt, has covered the face of the earth. Come and curse them, so that, in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.’ ”	11 Voici que le peuple qui est sorti d'Egypte a couvert tout le pays. Viens donc, maudis-le-moi;ainsi pourrai-je le combattre et le chasser."
12 And God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them, and do not curse the people, for they are blessed.”	12 Dieu dit à Balaam: "Tu n'iras pas avec eux. Tu ne maudiras pas ce peuple, car il est béni."
13 And he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders, “Go into your own land, for the Lord has prohibited me from going with you.”	13 Au matin, Balaam se leva et dit aux princes envoyés par Balaq: "Partez pour votre pays, carYahvé refuse de me laisser aller avec vous."
14 Returning, the leaders said to Balak, “Balaam was not willing to come with us.”	14 Les princes de Moab se levèrent, se rendirent auprès de Balaq et lui dirent: "Balaam a refusé devenir avec nous."
15 Again, he sent many more persons, and these were more noble than those he had sent before.	15 Balaq envoya de nouveau des princes, mais plus nombreux et plus considérés que les premiers.
16 And when these had come to Balaam, they said: “So says Balak, the son of Zippor. Do not hesitate to come to me.	16 Ils se rendirent auprès de Balaam et lui dirent: "Ainsi a parlé Balaq, fils de Cippor: Ne refusepas, je te prie, de venir jusqu'à moi.
17 For I am ready to honor you, and whatever you would want, I shall give to you. Come and curse this people.”	17 Car je t'accorderai les plus grands honneurs, et tout ce que tu me diras, je le ferai. Viens donc, etmaudis-moi ce peuple."
18 Balaam responded: “Even if Balak were to give to me his own house, filled with silver and gold, I still would not be able to change the word of the Lord my God, neither to say more, nor to say less.	18 Balaam fit aux envoyés de Balaq cette réponse: "Quand Balaq me donnerait plein sa maisond'argent et d'or, je ne pourrais transgresser l'ordre de Yahvé mon Dieu en aucune chose, petite ou grande.
19 I beg you to remain for this night also, so that I may know what the Lord will answer me again.”	19 Maintenant, passez ici la nuit vous aussi, et j'apprendrai ce que Yahvé pourra me dire encore."
20 Therefore, God came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: “If these men have arrived to call you, then rise up and go with them; yet only in so far as you shall do what I will command you.”	20 Dieu vint à Balaam pendant la nuit et lui dit: "Ces gens ne sont-ils pas venus t'appeler? Lève-toi,pars avec eux. Mais tu ne feras que ce que je te dirai."
21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddling his donkey, he set out with them.	21 Au matin, Balaam se leva, sella son ânesse et partit avec les princes de Moab.
22 And God was angry. And an Angel of the Lord stood in the way opposite Balaam, who was sitting on the donkey, and he had two servants with him.	22 Son départ excita la colère de Yahvé, et l'Ange de Yahvé se posta sur la route pour lui barrer lepassage. Lui montait son ânesse, ses deux garçons l'accompagnaient.
23 The donkey, discerning that the Angel was standing in the way with a drawn sword, turned herself from the road and went through a field. And when Balaam beat her and intended to return her to the path,	23 Or l'ânesse vit l'Ange de Yahvé posté sur la route, son épée nue à la main; elle s'écarta de laroute à travers champs. Mais Balaam battit l'ânesse pour la ramener sur la route.
24 the Angel stood in a narrow place between the two walls, with which the vineyards were enclosed.	24 L'Ange de Yahvé se tint alors dans un chemin creux, au milieu des vignes, avec un mur à droiteet un mur à gauche.
25 And the donkey, seeing this, drew herself close to the wall and scraped the foot of the rider. So he beat her again.	25 L'ânesse vit l'Ange de Yahvé et rasa le mur, y frottant le pied de Balaam. Il la battit encore unefois.
26 And, nevertheless, the Angel passing on to a narrow place, where one would not be able to deviate either to the right or to the left, stood to meet him.	26 L'Ange de Yahvé changea de place et se tint en un passage resserré, où il n'y avait pas d'espacepour passer ni à droite ni à gauche.
27 And when the donkey had seen the Angel standing there, she fell under the feet of the rider, who, being angry, struck her sides more vehemently with a club.	27 Quand l'ânesse vit l'Ange de Yahvé, elle se coucha sous Balaam. Balaam se mit en colère etbattit l'ânesse à coups de bâton.
28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said: “What have I done to you? Why do strike you me, behold now, for the third time?”	28 Alors Yahvé ouvrit la bouche de l'ânesse et elle dit à Balaam: "Que t'ai-je fait, pour que tum'aies battue ainsi par trois fois?"
29 Balaam responded, “Because you have deserved it, and you have mistreated me. If only I had a sword, so that I might pierce you.”	29 Balaam répondit à l'ânesse: "C'est que tu t'es moquée de moi! Si j'avais eu à la main une épée, jet'aurais déjà tuée."
30 The donkey said: “Am not I your animal, on which you have always been accustomed to sit, even until this present day? Tell me, when did I ever do the same thing to you.” But he said, “Never.”	30 L'ânesse dit à Balaam: "Ne suis-je pas ton ânesse, qui te sers de monture depuis toujours etjusqu'aujourd'hui? Ai-je l'habitude d'agir ainsi envers toi?" Il répondit: "Non."
31 Immediately, the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he reverenced him prone on the ground.	31 Alors Yahvé ouvrit les yeux de Balaam. Il vit l'Ange de Yahvé posté sur la route, son épée nue àla main. Il s'inclina et se prosterna face contre terre.
32 And the Angel said to him: “Why did you beat your donkey three times? I have come to be an adversary to you, because your way is perverse and contrary to me.	32 Et l'Ange de Yahvé lui dit: "Pourquoi as-tu battu ainsi ton ânesse par trois fois? C'est moi quiétais venu te barrer le passage; car moi présent, la route n'aboutit pas.
33 And unless the donkey had turned aside from the way, allowing a place for my opposition, I would have killed you, and she would have lived.”	33 L'ânesse m'a vu et devant moi elle s'est détournée par trois fois. Bien t'en a pris qu'elle se soitdétournée, car je t'aurais déjà tué. Elle, je l'aurais laissée en vie."
34 Balaam said: “I have sinned, not knowing that you stood against me. And now, if it displeases you for me to continue on, I will return.”	34 Balaam répondit à l'Ange de Yahvé: "J'ai péché. C'est que j'ignorais que tu étais posté devantmoi sur la route. Et maintenant, si cela te déplaît, je m'en retourne."
35 The Angel said, “Go with them, but be careful not to speak anything other than what I shall instruct you.” And so, he went with the leaders.	35 L'Ange de Yahvé répondit à Balaam: "Va avec ces hommes. Seulement, ne dis rien de plus quece que je te ferai dire." Balaam s'en alla avec les princes envoyés par Balaq.
36 And when Balak had heard it, he went out to meet him in a town of the Moabites, which is situated at the furthest borders of Arnon.	36 Balaq apprit donc que Balaam arrivait et partit à sa rencontre, dans la direction d'Ar-Moab, surla frontière de l'Arnon, à l'extrémité du territoire.
37 And he said to Balaam: “I sent messengers to call you. Why did you not come to me immediately? Was it because I am not able to pay the cost for your arrival?”	37 Balaq dit à Balaam: "Ne t'avais-je pas envoyé des messagers pour t'appeler? Pourquoi n'es-tupas venu vers moi? Vraiment, n'étais-je pas en mesure de t'honorer?"
38 He answered him: “Behold, here I am. Am I able to speak anything other than what God will put into my mouth?”	38 Balaam répondit à Balaq: "Me voici arrivé près de toi. Pourrai-je maintenant dire quelquechose? La parole que Dieu me mettra dans la bouche, je la dirai."
39 Therefore, they continued on together, and they arrived at a city, which was at the furthest borders of his kingdom.	39 Balaam partit avec Balaq. Ils parvinrent à Qiryat-Huçot.
40 And after Balak had killed oxen and sheep, he sent the gifts to Balaam, and to the leaders who were with him.	40 Balaq immola du gros et du petit bétail, et il en présenta les morceaux à Balaam et aux princesqui l'accompagnaient.
41 Then, when morning arrived, he led him to the heights of Baal, and he gazed upon the most distant portions of the population.	41 Puis, au matin, Balaq prit Balaam et le fit monter à Bamot-Baal d'où il put voir l'extrémité ducamp.