1. Mais les ténèbres ne régneront pas toujours Sur la terre où il y a maintenant des angoisses: Si les temps passés ont couvert d'opprobre Le pays de Zabulon et le pays de Nephthali, Les temps à venir couvriront de gloire La contrée voisine de la mer, au delà du Jourdain, Le territoire des Gentils.
2. Le peuple qui marchait dans les ténèbres Voit une grande lumière; Sur ceux qui habitaient le pays de l'ombre de la mort Une lumière resplendit.
3. Tu rends le peuple nombreux, Tu lui accordes de grandes joies; Il se réjouit devant toi, comme on se réjouit à la moisson, Comme on pousse des cris d'allégresse au partage du butin.
4. Car le joug qui pesait sur lui, Le bâton qui frappait son dos, La verge de celui qui l'opprimait, Tu les brises, comme à la journée de Madian.
5. Car toute chaussure qu'on porte dans la mêlée, Et tout vêtement guerrier roulé dans le sang, Seront livrés aux flammes, Pour être dévorés par le feu.
6. Car un enfant nous est né, un fils nous est donné, Et la domination reposera sur son épaule; On l'appellera Admirable, Conseiller, Dieu puissant, Père éternel, Prince de la paix.
7. Donner à l'empire de l'accroissement, Et une paix sans fin au trône de David et à son royaume, L'affermir et le soutenir par le droit et par la justice, Dès maintenant et à toujours: Voilà ce que fera le zèle de l'Eternel des armées.
8. Le Seigneur envoie une parole à Jacob: Elle tombe sur Israël.
9. Tout le peuple en aura connaissance, Ephraïm et les habitants de Samarie, Qui disent avec orgueil et fierté:
10. Des briques sont tombées, Nous bâtirons en pierres de taille; Des sycomores ont été coupés, Nous les remplacerons par des cèdres.
11. L'Eternel élèvera contre eux les ennemis de Retsin, Et il armera leurs ennemis,
12. Les Syriens à l'orient, les Philistins à l'occident; Et ils dévoreront Israël à pleine bouche. Malgré tout cela, sa colère ne s'apaise point, Et sa main est encore étendue.
13. Le peuple ne revient pas à celui qui le frappe, Et il ne cherche pas l'Eternel des armées.
14. Aussi l'Eternel arrachera d'Israël la tête et la queue, La branche de palmier et le roseau, En un seul jour.
15. L'ancien et le magistrat, c'est la tête, Et le prophète qui enseigne le mensonge, c'est la queue.
16. Ceux qui conduisent ce peuple l'égarent, Et ceux qui se laissent conduire se perdent.
17. C'est pourquoi le Seigneur ne saurait se réjouir de leurs jeunes hommes, Ni avoir pitié de leurs orphelins et de leurs veuves; Car tous sont des impies et des méchants, Et toutes les bouches profèrent des infamies. Malgré tout cela, sa colère ne s'apaise point, Et sa main est encore étendue.
18. Car la méchanceté consume comme un feu, Qui dévore ronces et épines; Il embrase l'épaisseur de la forêt, D'où s'élèvent des colonnes de fumée.
19. Par la colère de l'Eternel des armées le pays est embrasé, Et le peuple est comme la proie du feu; Nul n'épargne son frère.
20. On pille à droite, et l'on a faim; On dévore à gauche, et l'on n'est pas rassasié; Chacun dévore la chair de son bras.
21. Manassé dévore Ephraïm, Ephraïm Manassé, Et ensemble ils fondent sur Juda. Malgré tout cela, sa colère ne s'apaise point, Et sa main est encore étendue.
1. In earlier times he made the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali of small value, but after that he gave it glory, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2. The people who went in the dark have seen a great light, and for those who were living in the land of the deepest night, the light is shining.
3. You have made them very glad, increasing their joy. They are glad before you as men are glad in the time of getting in the grain, or when they make division of the goods taken in war.
4. For by your hand the yoke on his neck and the rod on his back, even the rod of his cruel master, have been broken, as in the day of Midian.
5. For every boot of the man of war with his sounding step, and the clothing rolled in blood, will be for burning, food for the fire.
6. For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of his rule and of peace there will be no end, on the seat of David, and in his kingdom; to make it strong, supporting it with wise decision and righteousness, now and for ever. By the fixed purpose of the Lord of armies this will be done.
8. The Lord has sent a word to Jacob, and it has come on Israel;
9. And all the people will have experience of it, even Ephraim and the men of Samaria, who say in the pride of their uplifted hearts,
10. The bricks have come down, but we will put up buildings of cut stone in their place: the sycamores are cut down, but they will be changed to cedars.
11. For this cause the Lord has made strong the haters of Israel, driving them on to make war against him;
12. Aram on the east, and the Philistines on the west, who have come against Israel with open mouths. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13. But the heart of the people was not turned to him who sent punishment on them, and they made no prayer to the Lord of armies.
14. For this cause the Lord took away from Israel head and tail, high and low, in one day.
15. The man who is honoured and responsible is the head, and the prophet who gives false teaching is the tail.
16. For the guides of this people are the cause of their wandering from the right way, and those who are guided by them come to destruction.
17. For this cause the Lord will have no pleasure in their young men, and no pity on their widows and the children without fathers: for they are all haters of God and evil-doers, and foolish words come from every mouth. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18. For evil was burning like a fire; the blackberries and thorns were burned up; the thick woods took fire, rolling up in dark clouds of smoke.
19. The land was dark with the wrath of the Lord of armies: the people were like those who take men's flesh for food.
20. On the right a man was cutting off bits and was still in need; on the left a man took a meal but had not enough; no man had pity on his brother; every man was making a meal of the flesh of his neighbour.
21. Manasseh was making a meal of Ephraim, and Ephraim of Manasseh; and together they were attacking Judah. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
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