1 W hen Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

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 lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.

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

3 H e took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

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

4 h e says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having 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 goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel!

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

6 A s valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which Yahweh has planted, as cedar trees 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 shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.

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 has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce 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 couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”

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 B alak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed 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 T herefore now flee you to your place! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back 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 B alaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

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

13 ‘ If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad of my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’?

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, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”

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 H e took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

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

16 h e says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having 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 not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners 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 E dom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.

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

19 O ut of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”

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

20 H e looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But his latter end shall come to destruction.”

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

21 H e looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place 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 N evertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”

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

23 H e took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?

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

24 B ut ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”

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

25 B alaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

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