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Chant de triomphe

26 En ce jour-là, ╵on chantera cet hymne ╵au pays de Juda :

Nous avons une ville ╵qui est bien fortifiée,
Dieu a fait du salut ╵une muraille et un rempart.
Ouvrez les portes
et laissez-y entrer ╵la nation qui est juste,
qui demeure fidèle[a].
A celui qui est ferme ╵dans ses dispositions,
tu assures une paix parfaite,
parce qu’il se confie en toi.
Placez votre confiance ╵toujours en l’Eternel,
car l’Eternel est le rocher ╵de toute éternité.
Car il a abaissé ╵ceux qui trônaient bien haut
et il a renversé ╵la ville inaccessible,
il l’a abaissée jusqu’à terre,
lui faisant mordre la poussière.
Elle est foulée aux pieds,
écrasée par les opprimés
et sous les pas des pauvres.

Prière

Le chemin pour le juste ╵est un chemin bien droit.
Toi qui es droit, tu traces[b] ╵la voie que suit le juste.
Aussi, ô Eternel, ╵nous espérons en toi ;
sur les voies que tracent tes lois,
oui, tout notre désir ╵vers toi se porte,
nous voulons te garder ╵présent à la pensée.
J’aspire à toi ╵pendant la nuit,
et mon esprit ╵te recherche au matin[c].
Lorsque tes jugements ╵s’exercent sur la terre,
les habitants du monde ╵apprennent la justice.
10 Fait-on grâce au méchant,
il n’apprendra jamais à être juste.
Même au pays du droit, ╵il commettra le mal
et il ne verra pas ╵la majesté de l’Eternel.

Plainte et retour à la vie

11 Quand tu lèves ta main ╵pour juger, Eternel,
eux, ils ne le voient pas.
Mais ils verront ╵comment tu prends à cœur ╵la cause de ton peuple
et ils seront confus,
consumés par le feu ╵préparé pour tes ennemis.
12 O Eternel, tu nous donnes la paix,
car c’est bien toi ╵qui accomplis pour nous
tout ce que nous faisons.
13 Eternel, notre Dieu,
d’autres maîtres que toi ╵ont dominé sur nous,
mais c’est toi seul ╵que nous louons.
14 Les morts ne vivront plus,
les ombres ne se relèveront pas,
car toi, tu es intervenu
pour les exterminer.
Tu as fait disparaître ╵jusqu’à leur souvenir.
15 Tu as multiplié ╵la nation, Eternel,
tu l’as multipliée, ╵tu as montré ta gloire,
tu as fait reculer ╵les confins du pays ╵sur toutes les frontières.
16 O Eternel, dans la détresse,
nous nous sommes tournés vers toi[d],
nous t’avons présenté notre prière
quand tu nous as châtiés.
17 Nous étions devant toi, ╵ô Eternel,
comme une femme enceinte ╵et prête à enfanter,
qui souffre et qui crie de douleur,
18 car nous avons conçu, ╵et nous étions dans les douleurs
mais ce que nous avons ╵enfanté, c’est du vent.
Nous n’avons pas donné ╵le salut à la terre,
nous n’avons pas donné la vie ╵à de nouveaux habitants pour le monde.
19 Mais tes morts revivront,
les cadavres de ceux qui m’appartiennent ╵reviendront à la vie.
Oui, vous qui demeurez dans la poussière,
réveillez-vous, ╵poussez des cris de joie[e],
car ta rosée ╵est une rosée de lumière,
et la terre rendra les trépassés.

Grâce et restauration

20 Va, ô mon peuple, ╵et entre dans ta chambre,
sur toi ferme la porte,
cache-toi un instant,
le temps que passe la colère.
21 Car l’Eternel ╵va sortir de sa résidence
pour faire payer leurs péchés ╵aux habitants du monde,
et, ce jour-là, la terre ╵mettra à jour le sang ╵versé sur elle
et ne cachera plus ╵les victimes qu’elle dissimulait.

Footnotes

  1. 26.2 Voir Ps 118.19-20.
  2. 26.7 Autre traduction : tu aplanis bien droite.
  3. 26.9 et mon esprit… matin. Autre traduction : je te recherche du fond du cœur.
  4. 26.16 D’après deux manuscrits hébreux et l’ancienne version grecque. Les autres manuscrits hébreux ont : on s’est tourné vers toi ou ils se sont tournés vers toi.
  5. 26.19 vous qui demeurez dans la poussière… de joie. Le texte hébreu de Qumrân a : ceux qui demeurent… de joie.

A Song of Praise

26 In that day(A) this song will be sung(B) in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city;(C)
    God makes salvation
    its walls(D) and ramparts.(E)
Open the gates(F)
    that the righteous(G) nation may enter,
    the nation that keeps faith.
You will keep in perfect peace(H)
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust(I) in you.
Trust(J) in the Lord forever,(K)
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock(L) eternal.
He humbles those who dwell on high,
    he lays the lofty city low;
he levels it to the ground(M)
    and casts it down to the dust.(N)
Feet trample(O) it down—
    the feet of the oppressed,(P)
    the footsteps of the poor.(Q)

The path of the righteous is level;(R)
    you, the Upright One,(S) make the way of the righteous smooth.(T)
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,[a](U)
    we wait(V) for you;
your name(W) and renown
    are the desire of our hearts.
My soul yearns for you in the night;(X)
    in the morning my spirit longs(Y) for you.
When your judgments(Z) come upon the earth,
    the people of the world learn righteousness.(AA)
10 But when grace is shown to the wicked,(AB)
    they do not learn righteousness;
even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil(AC)
    and do not regard(AD) the majesty of the Lord.
11 Lord, your hand is lifted high,(AE)
    but they do not see(AF) it.
Let them see your zeal(AG) for your people and be put to shame;(AH)
    let the fire(AI) reserved for your enemies consume them.

12 Lord, you establish peace(AJ) for us;
    all that we have accomplished you have done(AK) for us.
13 Lord our God, other lords(AL) besides you have ruled over us,
    but your name(AM) alone do we honor.(AN)
14 They are now dead,(AO) they live no more;
    their spirits(AP) do not rise.
You punished them and brought them to ruin;(AQ)
    you wiped out all memory of them.(AR)
15 You have enlarged the nation, Lord;
    you have enlarged the nation.(AS)
You have gained glory for yourself;
    you have extended all the borders(AT) of the land.

16 Lord, they came to you in their distress;(AU)
    when you disciplined(AV) them,
    they could barely whisper(AW) a prayer.[b]
17 As a pregnant woman about to give birth(AX)
    writhes and cries out in her pain,
    so were we in your presence, Lord.
18 We were with child, we writhed in labor,
    but we gave birth(AY) to wind.
We have not brought salvation(AZ) to the earth,
    and the people of the world have not come to life.(BA)

19 But your dead(BB) will live, Lord;
    their bodies will rise—
let those who dwell in the dust(BC)
    wake up and shout for joy—
your dew(BD) is like the dew of the morning;
    the earth will give birth to her dead.(BE)

20 Go, my people, enter your rooms
    and shut the doors(BF) behind you;
hide(BG) yourselves for a little while
    until his wrath(BH) has passed by.(BI)
21 See, the Lord is coming(BJ) out of his dwelling(BK)
    to punish(BL) the people of the earth for their sins.
The earth will disclose the blood(BM) shed on it;
    the earth will conceal its slain no longer.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 26:8 Or judgments
  2. Isaiah 26:16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.

26 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.

Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:

For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.

The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.

The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.

11 Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

12 Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

13 O Lord our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

14 They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

15 Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.

16 Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.

17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord.

18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

A Song of Salvation

26 In (A)that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

“We have a strong city;
(B)God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.
(C)Open the gates,
That the righteous nation which [a]keeps the truth may enter in.
You will keep him in perfect (D)peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever,
(E)For in Yah, the Lord, is [b]everlasting strength.
For He brings [c]down those who dwell on high,
(F)The lofty city;
He lays it low,
He lays it low to the ground,
He brings it down to the dust.
The foot shall [d]tread it down—
The feet of the poor
And the steps of the needy.”

The way of the just is uprightness;
(G)O Most Upright,
You [e]weigh the path of the just.
Yes, (H)in the way of Your judgments,
O Lord, we have (I)waited for You;
The desire of our soul is for Your name
And for the remembrance of You.
(J)With my soul I have desired You in the night,
Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early;
For when Your judgments are in the earth,
The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

10 (K)Let grace be shown to the wicked,
Yet he will not learn righteousness;
In (L)the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly,
And will not behold the majesty of the Lord.
11 Lord, when Your hand is lifted up, (M)they will not see.
But they will see and be ashamed
For [f]their envy of people;
Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them.

12 Lord, You will establish peace for us,
For You have also done all our works [g]in us.
13 O Lord our God, (N)masters besides You
Have had dominion over us;
But by You only we make mention of Your name.
14 They are dead, they will not live;
They are deceased, they will not rise.
Therefore You have punished and destroyed them,
And made all their memory to (O)perish.
15 You have increased the nation, O Lord,
You have (P)increased the nation;
You are glorified;
You have expanded all the [h]borders of the land.

16 Lord, (Q)in trouble they have visited You,
They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.
17 As (R)a woman with child
Is in pain and cries out in her [i]pangs,
When she draws near the time of her delivery,
So have we been in Your sight, O Lord.
18 We have been with child, we have been in pain;
We have, as it were, [j]brought forth wind;
We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth,
Nor have (S)the inhabitants of the world fallen.

19 (T)Your dead shall live;
Together with [k]my dead body they shall arise.
(U)Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;
For your dew is like the dew of herbs,
And the earth shall cast out the dead.

Take Refuge from the Coming Judgment

20 Come, my people, (V)enter your chambers,
And shut your doors behind you;
Hide yourself, as it were, (W)for a little moment,
Until the indignation is past.
21 For behold, the Lord (X)comes out of His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
The earth will also disclose her [l]blood,
And will no more cover her slain.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 26:2 Or remains faithful
  2. Isaiah 26:4 Or Rock of Ages
  3. Isaiah 26:5 low
  4. Isaiah 26:6 trample
  5. Isaiah 26:7 Or make level
  6. Isaiah 26:11 Or Your zeal for the people
  7. Isaiah 26:12 Or for us
  8. Isaiah 26:15 Or ends
  9. Isaiah 26:17 sharp pains
  10. Isaiah 26:18 given birth to
  11. Isaiah 26:19 So with MT, Vg.; Syr., Tg. their dead bodies; LXX those in the tombs
  12. Isaiah 26:21 Or bloodshed

You Keep Him in Perfect Peace

26 In that day (A)this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

“We have a strong city;
    he sets up (B)salvation
    as walls and bulwarks.
(C)Open the gates,
    that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.
(D)You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
(E)For he has humbled
    the inhabitants of the height,
    the lofty city.
He lays it low, lays it low to the ground,
    casts it to the dust.
The foot tramples it,
    the feet of (F)the poor,
    the steps of (G)the needy.”

The path of the righteous is level;
    (H)you make level the way of the righteous.
In the path of your judgments,
    O Lord, we wait for you;
(I)your name and (J)remembrance
    are the desire of our soul.
My soul yearns for you in the night;
    my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
(K)For when your judgments are in the earth,
    the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
10 (L)If favor is shown to the wicked,
    he does not learn righteousness;
in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly
    and does not see the majesty of the Lord.
11 O Lord, (M)your hand is lifted up,
    but (N)they do not see it.
Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed.
    Let (O)the fire for your adversaries consume them.
12 O Lord, you will ordain (P)peace for us,
    for you have indeed done for us all our works.
13 O Lord our God,
    (Q)other lords besides you have ruled over us,
    (R)but your name alone we bring to remembrance.
14 They are dead, they will not live;
    they are shades, they will not arise;
to that end you have visited them with destruction
    and wiped out all remembrance of them.
15 (S)But you have increased the nation, O Lord,
    you have increased the nation; you are glorified;
    (T)you have enlarged all the borders of the land.

16 O Lord, (U)in distress they sought you;
    they poured out a whispered prayer
    when your discipline was upon them.
17 (V)Like a pregnant woman
    who writhes and cries out in her pangs
    when she is near to giving birth,
so were we because of you, O Lord;
18     (W)we were pregnant, we writhed,
    but we have given birth to wind.
We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth,
    and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.
19 (X)Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.
    You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!
For (Y)your dew is a dew of light,
    and the earth will give birth to the dead.

20 Come, my people, enter your chambers,
    and shut your doors behind you;
hide yourselves (Z)for a little while
    until the fury has passed by.
21 (AA)For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place
    to punish the inhabitants of (AB)the earth for their iniquity,
and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it,
    and will no more cover its slain.