1 B alaam saw that it pleased the Lord to speak good of Israel. So he did not go, as at other times, and look for special things to see. Instead he looked toward the desert.

Balaam vit que l'Éternel trouvait bon de bénir Israël, et il n'alla point comme les autres fois, à la rencontre des enchantements; mais il tourna son visage du côté du désert.

2 B alaam looked up and saw Israel living in their tents by their families. And the Spirit of God came upon him.

Balaam leva les yeux, et vit Israël campé selon ses tribus. Alors l'esprit de Dieu fut sur lui.

3 H e began speaking and said, “Balaam the son of Beor is the man whose eye is opened.

Balaam prononça son oracle, et dit: Parole de Balaam, fils de Beor, Parole de l'homme qui a l'oeil ouvert,

4 H e hears the words of God. He sees what the All-powerful wants him to see. He falls down, but has his eyes open.

Parole de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, De celui qui voit la vision du Tout Puissant, De celui qui se prosterne et dont les yeux s'ouvrent.

5 H ow fair are your tents, O Jacob, and your homes, O Israel!

Qu'elles sont belles, tes tentes, ô Jacob! Tes demeures, ô Israël!

6 T hey are like valleys that spread out, and like gardens beside the river. They are like aloes planted by the Lord, and like cedars beside the waters.

Elles s'étendent comme des vallées, Comme des jardins près d'un fleuve, Comme des aloès que l'Éternel a plantés, Comme des cèdres le long des eaux.

7 W ater will flow from his pails. His seed will be by many waters. His king will be more powerful than Agag, and his nation will be honored.

L'eau coule de ses seaux, Et sa semence est fécondée par d'abondantes eaux. Son roi s'élève au-dessus d'Agag, Et son royaume devient puissant.

8 G od brings him out of Egypt. He is for him like the horns of the wild bull. He will destroy the nations who fight against him. He will crush their bones in pieces and cut through them with his arrows.

Dieu l'a fait sortir d'Égypte, Il est pour lui comme la vigueur du buffle. Il dévore les nations qui s'élèvent contre lui, Il brise leurs os, et les abat de ses flèches.

9 H e bows down. He lies down like a lion. And as a lion, who will wake him? Good will come to everyone who prays for you. And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

Il ploie les genoux, il se couche comme un lion, comme une lionne: Qui le fera lever? Béni soit quiconque te bénira, Et maudit soit quiconque te maudira!

10 T hen Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he hit his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse those who hate me. But see, you have done nothing but pray that good would come to them these three times!

La colère de Balak s'enflamma contre Balaam; il frappa des mains, et dit à Balaam: C'est pour maudire mes ennemis que je t'ai appelé, et voici, tu les as bénis déjà trois fois.

11 S o now run away to your place. I said I would give you much honor, but the Lord has kept you from honor.”

Fuis maintenant, va-t'en chez toi! J'avais dit que je te rendrais des honneurs, mais l'Éternel t'empêche de les recevoir.

12 T hen Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell the men you had sent to me,

Balaam répondit à Balak: Eh! n'ai-je pas dit aux messagers que tu m'as envoyés:

13 ‘ Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot do anything against the Word of the Lord’? I said, ‘I cannot do good or bad because I want to. What the Lord says, I will say.’

Quand Balak me donnerait sa maison pleine d'argent et d'or, je ne pourrais faire de moi-même ni bien ni mal contre l'ordre de l'Éternel; je répéterai ce que dira l'Éternel?

14 N ow see, I am going to my people. Come, I will tell you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” Balaam Tells What Will Happen the Fourth Time

Et maintenant voici, je m'en vais vers mon peuple. Viens, je t'annoncerai ce que ce peuple fera à ton peuple dans la suite des temps.

15 T hen he began speaking and said, “Balaam the son of Beor is the man whose eye is opened.

Balaam prononça son oracle, et dit: Parole de Balaam, fils de Beor, Parole de l'homme qui a l'oeil ouvert,

16 H e hears the words of God. He knows what the Most High wants him to know. He sees what the All-powerful wants him to see. He falls down, but has his eyes open.

Parole de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, De celui qui connaît les desseins du Très Haut, De celui qui voit la vision du Tout Puissant, De celui qui se prosterne et dont les yeux s'ouvrent.

17 I see him, but not now. I see him, but he is not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A special stick of power will rise from Israel. It will crush the forehead of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Je le vois, mais non maintenant, Je le contemple, mais non de près. Un astre sort de Jacob, Un sceptre s'élève d'Israël. Il perce les flancs de Moab, Et il abat tous les enfants de Seth.

18 I t will take the land of Edom. And it will take the land of Seir, who fights against Israel. And Israel will fight with much power.

Il se rend maître d'Édom, Il se rend maître de Séir, ses ennemis. Israël manifeste sa force.

19 O ne from Jacob will rule. He will destroy from the city all who are left alive.”

Celui qui sort de Jacob règne en souverain, Il fait périr ceux qui s'échappent des villes.

20 T hen Balaam looked at Amalek and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations. But he will be destroyed in the end.”

Balaam vit Amalek. Il prononça son oracle, et dit: Amalek est la première des nations, Mais un jour il sera détruit.

21 T hen he looked at the Kenite and said, “The place where you live is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.

Balaam vit les Kéniens. Il prononça son oracle, et dit: Ta demeure est solide, Et ton nid posé sur le roc.

22 B ut Kain will be destroyed. How long will Asshur keep you against your will?”

Mais le Kénien sera chassé, Quand l'Assyrien t'emmènera captif.

23 T hen Balaam said, “Who can live when God does this?

Balaam prononça son oracle, et dit: Hélas! qui vivra après que Dieu l'aura établi?

24 B ut ships will come from Kittim. They will bring trouble to Asshur and Eber, but they will be destroyed also.”

Mais des navires viendront de Kittim, Ils humilieront l'Assyrien, ils humilieront l'Hébreu; Et lui aussi sera détruit.

25 T hen Balaam got up and left. He returned to his place, and Balak went on his way.

Balaam se leva, partit, et retourna chez lui. Balak s'en alla aussi de son côté.