1Le peuple qui marchait ╵dans les ténèbres verra briller ╵une grande lumière: elle resplendira sur ceux qui habitaient ╵le pays dominé ╵par d’épaisses ténèbres[1]. (Is 8:23; Mt 4:15; Lc 1:79)2O Eternel, ╵tu fais abonder l’allégresse[2], tu fais jaillir ╵une très grande joie et l’on se réjouit devant toi ╵tout comme au temps de la moisson, ou comme on crie de joie ╵lors du partage d’un butin.3Car le joug qui pesait sur lui, le bâton qui frappait son dos, le gourdin de son oppresseur, toi, tu les as brisés ╵tout comme au jour ╵de la défaite de Madian[3]. (Jg 7:1; Jg 8:1)4Toute chaussure de guerrier ╵qui martèle le sol, et tout manteau ╵que l’on a roulé dans le sang seront livrés aux flammes, pour être consumés.
Un enfant nous est né
5Car un enfant est né pour nous, un fils nous est donné. Et il exercera ╵l’autorité royale; il sera appelé Merveilleux Conseiller, Dieu fort, Père à jamais ╵et Prince de la paix.6Il étendra ╵sa souveraineté et il instaurera ╵la paix qui durera toujours au trône de David ╵et à tout son royaume. Sa royauté sera ╵solidement fondée sur le droit et sur la justice, dès à présent ╵et pour l’éternité. Voilà ce que fera ╵le Seigneur des armées célestes ╵dans son ardent amour[4]. (Lc 1:32)
Le jugement sur Israël
7Le Seigneur a lancé ╵un message contre Jacob, et il s’abat sur Israël[5].8Le peuple tout entier ╵en aura connaissance, le peuple d’Ephraïm, ╵les habitants de Samarie qui disent, pleins d’orgueil ╵et le cœur arrogant:9« Les briques sont tombées, mais nous reconstruirons ╵en pierres bien taillées; les sycomores ╵ont été abattus, par des cèdres nous les remplacerons. »10L’Eternel a dressé contre eux les adversaires de Retsîn et il a excité leurs ennemis[6]: (2R 17:6)11les Syriens qui sont à l’orient, ╵les Philistins à l’occident; ils dévoreront Israël ╵à belles dents. Mais malgré tout cela, ╵son courroux ne s’apaise pas, sa main reste levée.12Le peuple n’est pas revenu ╵à l’Eternel qui le frappait, il ne s’est pas tourné ╵vers l’Eternel, ╵le Seigneur des armées célestes.13C’est pourquoi l’Eternel ╵ôtera d’Israël ╵la tête avec la queue, la palme et le roseau[7] en un seul jour. (Dt 28:13; Dt 28:44; Is 19:15)14Le dirigeant et le notable ╵sont la tête du peuple, et le prophète ╵enseignant le mensonge ╵en est la queue.15Les guides de ce peuple ╵l’égarent, et ceux qui sont guidés ╵sont conduits à la ruine.16C’est pourquoi le Seigneur ╵ne sera pas clément[8] ╵envers ses jeunes gens, il n’aura pas pitié ╵des orphelins, des veuves. Car tous méprisent Dieu ╵et font le mal, tous profèrent ╵des propos insensés. Mais, malgré tout cela, ╵son courroux ne s’apaise pas, sa main reste levée.17Car la méchanceté ╵brûle comme le feu, qui consume les ronces ╵et les épines, et elle embrase ╵les buissons des forêts. La fumée s’en élève ╵vers le ciel en volutes.18Par la fureur de l’Eternel, ╵le Seigneur des armées célestes, le pays est en flammes et le peuple devient ╵la proie du feu. Nul n’a pitié de son prochain.19On grappille à sa droite ╵et l’on reste affamé, on dévore à sa gauche, ╵sans être rassasié. On va jusqu’à manger ╵la chair de ses enfants[9].20Manassé dévore Ephraïm, et Ephraïm dévore Manassé, tous les deux vont ensemble ╵se jeter sur Juda. Mais, malgré tout cela, ╵son courroux ne s’apaise pas, sa main reste levée.
Ésaïe 9
English Standard Version
For to Us a Child Is Born
1[1] But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.[2] (2R 15:29; 2Ch 16:4; Is 8:22; Is 26:15; Mt 4:15)2[3] The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (Jb 3:5; Is 9:1; Lc 1:79; Ep 5:8; Ep 5:14)3You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. (Jg 5:30; 1S 30:16; Ps 4:7; Ps 119:162; Is 26:15; Jn 4:36)4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. (Jg 7:19; Jg 8:10; Ps 83:9; Is 10:5; Is 10:24; Is 10:26; Is 10:27; Is 14:5; Is 14:25; Na 1:13; Mt 11:29)5For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. (Ez 39:9)6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon[4] his shoulder, and his name shall be called[5] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Dt 10:17; Ne 9:32; Ps 45:3; Ps 72:7; Ps 72:17; Is 7:14; Is 10:21; Is 11:6; Is 22:22; Is 28:29; Is 63:16; Jr 32:18; Mt 28:18; Lc 2:11; Jn 3:16; Jn 14:18; 1Co 15:25; Ep 2:14)7Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (2R 19:31; Ps 89:4; Is 37:32; Jr 23:5; Za 1:14; Lc 1:32)
Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression
8The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel;9and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: (Is 7:2; Is 7:5; Is 7:8; Is 7:17)10“The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”11But the Lord raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies.12The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. (2R 16:6; 2Ch 28:18; Is 5:25; Is 9:17; Is 9:21; Is 10:4)13The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts. (Is 1:5; Os 7:10)14So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day— (Dt 28:13; Is 19:15)15the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; (Is 3:2; Is 28:7; Mi 3:5)16for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.17Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly.[6] For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. (Gn 34:7; Ps 147:10; Is 9:12; Is 10:6)18For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. (Ps 83:14; Jc 3:5)19Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another. (Is 24:6; Mi 7:2)20They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm, (Dt 28:53; Is 8:21; Is 49:26)21Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. (2Ch 28:6; Is 9:12; Is 11:13)