Livre des Nombres 24

BIBLES DES PEUPLES	KING JAMES BIBLE
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 saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 Quand Balaam leva les yeux, il vit Israël groupé par tribus, et l’esprit de Dieu s’empara de lui.	2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
3 Alors il proclama son poème: “Parole de Balaam, fils de Béor, parole de l’homme qui perce le mystère,	3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
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 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
5 Que tes tentes sont belles, Jacob, tes demeures, Ô Israël!	5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, 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 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the 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 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
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 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his 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 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
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's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
11 Maintenant file chez toi. J’avais promis de te combler d’honneurs, mais Yahvé t’en a privé!”	11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
12 Balaam répondit à Balak: “J’avais dit quelque chose aux hommes que tu m’as envoyés; je leur avais dit:	12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
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 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I 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 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
15 Alors il proclama son poème: “Parole de Balaam, fils de Béor, parole de l’homme qui perce le mystère,	15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
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 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
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 now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
18 Édom devient sa conquête, il enlève Séïr à ses ennemis, Israël fait de grandes choses,	18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
19 Jacob impose sa force et fait périr les survivants d’Ar.”	19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
20 Balaam vit Amalec et il dit son poème: “Amalec, la première des nations, ta postérité disparaîtra!”	20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
21 Voyant les Kénites, il dit son poème: “Solide est ta demeure, ton nid est établi sur un roc!	21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
22 Le feu pourtant dévorera Kayin, et l’Assyrien à la fin l’emmènera captif.”	22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
23 Il proclama encore ce poème: “Hélas! qui sera là quand Dieu le décidera?	23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
24 Voici des navires du côté des Kittim, ils soumettent l’Assyrien, ils soumettent l’Hébreu, mais eux aussi courent à la ruine.”	24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
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 went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.