Memra 4 On the arrogance that disturbs the brothers and monastics

Pages 36–44 · 9 pages · translation in progress · PDF

ܡܹܐܡܪܵܐ .ܕ. ܕܡܵܪܝ ܐܝܼܤܚܵܩ ܕܐܲܢܛܝܘܿܟ݂ 36
Photograph of page 36 of Bedjan’s 1903 edition, leaf 0831
Leaf 0831, from Archive.org.

ܚܲܟ݁ܝܼ̈ܡܹܐ ܗܼ̄ܘ ܓܹܝܪ ܡܸܬ݂ܟܵܘܢܝܼܢ: ܠܬ݂ܘܼܪܵܨܵܐ ܕܕ݂ܘܼܒܵܪ̈ܲܝܗܘܿܢ܀

فَالحُكَماءُ إنَّما يَقصِدونَ، إصلاحَ سيرَتِهِم؛

ḥakīmē hāw gēyr methkāwnīn: l-thūrāṣā d-d-w-bārayhōn.

For the wise, indeed, aim at the correction of their conduct;

Car les sages, en effet, visent la correction de leur conduite ;

ܠܵܘ ܥܲܠ ܫܘܼܦܪܵܐ ܕܢܲܨܝܼܚܹܐ: ܤܝܼܡ ܠܝܼ ܢܝܼܫܵܐ ܕܐܹܬܲܢܸܐ.

لا عَن فَضلِ الأَفاضِلِ، وَضَعتُ لي هَدَفًا أَن أَتَحَدَّثَ،

lāw ʿal shūprā d-naṣīḥē: sīm lī nīshā d-ētane.

Not concerning the excellence of the renowned have I set myself the aim to speak,

Ce n'est pas sur l'excellence des illustres que j'ai fixé mon but de parler,

ܕܡܘ̈ܡܹܐ ܒܲܠܚܘܿܕ݂ ܡܲܟܸܣ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ: ܘܲܠܝܵܕ݂ܘܿܥܹ̈ܐ ܡܥܲܗܸܕ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ܀

العُيوبَ وَحدَها أُوَبِّخُ، وَللعارِفينَ أُذَكِّرُ؛

d-mwmē ba-l-ḥōdh makes nā: wa-l-yādhōʿē mʿahed nā.

Faults alone I rebuke, and to those who understand I give reminder;

Ce sont les fautes seules que je reprends, et à ceux qui comprennent je rappelle ;

ܤܵܗ̇ܕ݂ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ ܗ̣̄ܘ ܥܲܠ ܟܲܫܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ: ܘܲܠܒܲܛܝܼ̈ܠܹܐ ܪܵܫܹ̇ܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ.‏

أَشهَدُ عَلى المُجتَهِدينَ، وعَلى المُتَكاسِلينَ أَلومُ.

sāhdh nā hāw ʿal kashīrē: wa-l-ba-ṭīlē rāshē nā.

I bear witness, indeed, concerning the diligent, and against the idle I bring reproach.

Je rends témoignage, en effet, pour les diligents, et contre les paresseux je porte le blâme.

ܠܚܘܼܠܡܵܢܵܐ ܒܫܸܬ݂ܩܵܐ ܥܸܒܲܪܹܬ݂: ܕܟ݂ܘܼܪܗܵܢܵܐ ܤܢܝܼܩ ܥܲܠ ܤܲܡܵܐ܀

الصِّحَّةَ تَجاوَزتُها بِالصَّمتِ، لأَنَّ المَرَضَ هوَ المُحتاجُ إلى الدَّواءِ.

l-ḥūlmānā b-shethqā ʿebarēth: d-khūrhānā snīq ʿal samā.

Soundness I passed over in silence, for it is sickness that needs the remedy.

J'ai passé la santé sous silence, car c'est la maladie qui a besoin du remède.

ܡܲܠܦܵܢܵܐ ܡܵܪܝ ܐܝܼܤܝܵܩ

المُعَلِّمُ مار إسحق

malpānā mārī ʾīsyāq

The teacher, Mar Isaac

Le docteur, Mar Isaac

ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܪܵܚܹܡ ܩܘܼܫܬܵܐ: ܩܘܼܫܬܵܟ݂ ܢܲܡܠܸܟ݂ ܒܲܒ݂ܪܝܼܬ݂ܵܐ.

يا اللهُ، مُحِبَّ الحَقِّ، لِيَملِك حَقُّكَ في الخَليقَةِ؛

alāhā rāḥēm qūshtā: qūshtākh namlekh ba-b-rīthā.

God, lover of truth, may your truth reign in creation;

Dieu, ami de la vérité, que ta vérité règne dans la création ;

ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ ܡܵܪܵܗ̇ ܕܟܹܐܢܘܼܬܵܐ: ܢܸܤܓܸ݁ܐ ܫܪܵܪܵܟ݂ ܒܹܝܬ݂ ܥܲܡܡܹܐ܀

أَيُّها المَسيحُ، رَبَّ العَدلِ، لِيَكثُر حَقُّكَ بَينَ الشُّعوبِ.

mshīḥā mārāh d-kēnūtā: nesge shrārākh bēyth ʿammē.

Christ, lord of righteousness, may your truth increase among the peoples;

Christ, seigneur de la justice, que ta vérité s'accroisse parmi les peuples ;

ܪܘܼܚܵܐ ܪܵܚܡܲܬ݂ ܙܲܗܝܘܼܬܵܐ: ܬܸܪܕܘܿܦ ܥܵܘܼܠܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܥܲܡܲܢ.

أَيُّها الرّوحُ، مُحِبَّ الطَّهارَةِ، اطرُدِ الإثمَ عَن شَعبِنا؛

rūḥā rāḥmath zahyūtā: terdōp ʿāūlā men ʿaman.

Spirit, lover of purity, drive iniquity from our people;

Esprit, ami de la pureté, chasse l'iniquité de notre peuple ;

ܪܵܚܹܡ ܥܲܒ̈ܕܹܐ ܟܲܫܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ: ܐܲܥܝܼܪ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܠܦܲܠܵܚܲܝܟ݂܀

يا مُحِبَّ العَبيدِ المُجتَهِدينَ، أَيقِظهُم لِيَكونوا فَعَلَةً لَكَ.

rāḥēm ʿabdē kashīrē: aʿīr enōn l-palāḥaykh.

Lover of diligent servants, raise them up as your laborers.

Ami des serviteurs diligents, suscite-les comme tes ouvriers.

ܫܸܢܲܬ݂ ܥܵܘܼܠܵܐ ܢܸܦܠܲܬ݀ ܠܵܗ̇: ܥܲܠ ܓܵܘܵܝܹ̈ܐ ܘܒܲܪܵܝܹ̈ܐ.

نَومُ الإثمِ قَد وَقَعَ، عَلى أَهلِ الدّاخِلِ وأَهلِ الخارِجِ؛

shenath ʿāūlā neplat lāh: ʿal gāwāyē w-ba-rāyē.

The sleep of iniquity has fallen upon her, on those within and those without;

Le sommeil de l'iniquité est tombé sur elle, sur ceux du dedans et ceux du dehors ;

ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ ܙܸܩܦܲܬ݂ ܢܲܦ̮ܫܵܗ̇: ܐܲܝܟ݂ ܟܝܼܡܘܿܢܵܐ ܥܲܙܝܼܙܵܐ܀

الكِبرِياءُ رَفَعَت نَفسَها، كَكَمينٍ عَزيزٍ؛

yaʿnūtā zeqpath napshāh: aykh kīmōnā ʿazīzā.

Arrogance has raised herself up, like a mighty ambush;

L'arrogance s'est dressée, comme une puissante embuscade ;

ܠܵܐ ܕܲܠܓ݂ܵܘ ܦܵܠܲܛ ܡܸܢܵܗ̇: ܘܠܵܐ ܕܲܠܒܲܪ ܡܲܡܸܕ݂ ܡܸܢܵܗ̇.‏

لا يُفلِتُ مِنها مَن في الدّاخِلِ، ولا يَتَحَرَّرُ مِنها مَن في الخارِجِ.

lā da-l-ghāw pālaṭ menāh: w-lā da-l-bar mamedh menāh.

None within escapes her, and none without is freed from her.

Nul au-dedans n'échappe à elle, et nul au-dehors n'est délivré d'elle.

ܪܡܸܐ ܢܝܼܪܵܗ̇ ܥܲܠ ܟܠ ܩܵܘ̈ܡܵܢ: ܘܝܘܼܠܦܵܢܵܗ̇ ܥܲܠ ܟܠ ܡܘܼܫܚܵܢ܀

نيرُها مُلقًى عَلى كُلِّ قامَةٍ، وتَعليمُها عَلى كُلِّ مِقياسٍ.

rme nīrāh ʿal kul qāwmān: w-yūlpānāh ʿal kul mūshḥān.

Her yoke is cast on every stature, and her teaching upon every measure.

Son joug est jeté sur toute stature, et son enseignement sur toute mesure.

ܕܥܲܠ ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܫܵܓ݂ܫܵܐ ܠܐܲܚܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܠܕܲܝܪܵܝܹ̈ܐ. 37
Photograph of page 37 of Bedjan’s 1903 edition, leaf 0830
Leaf 0830, from Archive.org.

ܠܒܲܟ݂ܬܵܗ̇ ܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܪܹܫܵܗ̇: ܘܠܵܐ ܩܵܛܵܥܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܫܘܼܠܵܡܵܐ.

أَمسَكَتِ الطَّريقَ مِن بِدايَتِها، ولا تَنقَطِعُ عَن نِهايَتِها؛

l-ba-khtāh ʾūrḥā men rēshāh: w-lā qāṭāʿā men shūlāmā.

She has seized the road from its start, and is not severed from its end;

Elle a saisi la route dès son commencement, et n'est pas retranchée de sa fin ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܪܹܫܵܐ ܠܥܸܩܒ݂ܵܐ ܦܸܪܚܲܬ݀: ܡ̣ܢ ܐܵܕܵܡ ܥܕܲܡܵܐ ܠܝܗ̄ܘܼܕܵܐ܀

مِنَ الرَّأسِ إلى العَقِبِ طارَت، مِن آدَمَ إلى يَهوذا.

men rēshā l-ʿeqvā perḥat: men ādām ʿdamā l-y(h)ūdā.

From head to heel she has flown, from Adam even to Judas.

De la tête au talon elle a volé, d'Adam jusqu'à Judas.

ܠܵܐ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܫܲܒ݂ܪܹ̈ܐ ܒܲܛܝܼܠܵܐ: ܘܠܵܐ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܤܵܒܹ̈ܐ ܬܵܚܘܿܒ݂ܵܐ.‏

عِندَ الصِّغارِ لا تَتَكاسَلُ، وعِندَ الشُّيوخِ لا تَكِلُّ؛

lā ṣēydh shavrē ba-ṭīlā: w-lā ṣēydh sābē tāḥōvā.

Toward the young she is not idle, and toward the old she does not tire;

Envers les jeunes elle n'est pas oisive, et envers les vieux elle ne se lasse pas ;

ܠܵܐ ܒܕܲܪܡܸܐ ܢܵܦܲܠ ܚܲܝܠܵܗ̇: ܘܒܲܐܝܢܵܐ ܕܩܵܐ̇ܡ ܥܲܙܝܼܙܵܐ܀

لا تَسقُطُ قُوَّتُها مَعَ مَن سَقَطَ، ومَعَ مَن يَقومُ فَهيَ عَزيزَةٌ.

lā b-da-rme nāpal ḥaylāh: w-ba-ʾynā d-qām ʿazīzā.

Her power does not fail with the one who has fallen, and with the one who stands firm she is strong;

Sa force ne défaille pas avec celui qui est tombé, et avec celui qui se tient debout elle est puissante ;

ܠܵܐ ܤܵܒ݂ܲܥܵܐ ܨܝܕ݂ ܥܲܬ݁ܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ: ܘܠܵܐ ܡܸܬ݂ܡܲܠܝܵܐ ܒܡܸܤܟܹ݁ܢܹ̈ܐ.

لا تَشبَعُ عِندَ الأَغنِياءِ، ولا تَمتَلِئُ بِالمَساكينِ؛

lā sāvaʿā ṣydh ʿatīrē: w-lā methmalyā b-meskēnē.

She is not sated with the rich, and is not filled with the poor;

Elle ne se rassasie pas des riches, et ne se remplit pas des pauvres ;

ܗܵܐ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܕܥܲܬ݁ܝܼܪ ܬܲܩܝܼܦܵܐ: ܘܨܹܝܕ݂ ܗܵܘ̇ ܕܹܨܪܝܼܟ݂ ܟܲܗܝܼܢܵܐ܀

ها هيَ عِندَ الغَنِيِّ شَديدَةٌ، وعِندَ المُحتاجِ [...]

hā ṣēydh d-ʿatīr taqīpā: w-ṣēydh hāw dēṣrīkh kahīnā.

Behold, toward the rich she is forceful, and toward the needy she is [...]

Voici, envers le riche elle est puissante, et envers celui qui est dans le besoin [...]

ܗܵܐ ܥܘܼܙܵܗ̇ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܥܲܬ݁ܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ: ܘܚܘܼܠܡܵܢܵܗ̇ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܡܸܤ̈ܟܹ݁ܢܹܐ.‏

ها عِزَّتُها عِندَ الأَغنِياءِ، وعافِيَتُها عِندَ المَساكينِ؛

hā ʿūzāh ṣēydh ʿatīrē: w-ḥūlmānāh ṣēydh meskēnē.

Behold, her might is toward the rich, and her well-being toward the poor;

Voici, sa force est envers les riches, et son bien-être envers les pauvres ;

ܗܵܐ ܢܝܚܵܗ̇ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܕܲܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ: ܘܨܒ݂ܝܵܢܵܗ̇ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܛܲܟ݂ܤܲܝܗܘܿܢ܀

ها راحَتُها عِندَ القُضاةِ، ومَشيئَتُها عِندَ مَراتِبِهِم؛

hā nyḥāh ṣēydh da-yānē: w-ṣvyānāh ṣēydh ṭakhsayhōn.

Behold, her ease is with the judges, and her will is with their ranks;

Voici, son aise est avec les juges, et sa volonté est avec leurs rangs ;

ܗܵܐ ܬܸܢܵܢܵܗ̇ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܚܹܐܪܹ̈ܐ: ܘܲܤܘܵܬ݂ܵܗ̇ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܥܲܒ݂ܕܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ.‏

ها دُخانُها عِندَ الأَحرارِ، و[...] عِندَ عَبيدِهِم؛

hā tenānāh ṣēydh ḥērē: wa-swāthāh ṣēydh ʿavdayhōn.

Behold, her smoke is upon the free, and her [...] is upon their servants;

Voici, sa fumée est sur les hommes libres, et son [...] est sur leurs serviteurs ;

ܗܵܐ ܝܲܚܒ݁ܘܼܪܵܗ̇ ܒܓܲܕܘܼ̈ܕܹܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܓܘܼܘܙܵܠܵܗ̇ ܒܲܥܠܲܝ̈ܡܹܐ܀

ها كَدمَتُها بَينَ الجُنودِ، وها جَمرَتُها بَينَ الشُّبّانِ؛

hā yaḥbūrāh b-gadūdē: w-hā gūwzālāh ba-ʿlaymē.

Behold, her bruise is among the troops, and her ember is among the young men;

Voici, sa meurtrissure est parmi les troupes, et voici, son tison est parmi les jeunes gens ;

ܗܵܐ ܓܡܘܼܪܬܵܗ̇ ܒܓܵܘ ܙܘܼܘܵܓܵܐ: ܘܫܲܠܗܹܒ݂ܝܼܬܵܗ̇ ܒܥܲܩܪ̈ܵܬܵܐ.

ها جَمرُها في داخِلِ الزَّواجِ، ولَهيبُها بَينَ العاقِراتِ؛

hā gmūrtāh b-gāw zūwāgā: w-shalhēvītāh b-ʿaqrātā.

Behold, her coal is within marriage, and her flame is among the barren;

Voici, sa braise est dans le mariage, et sa flamme est parmi les femmes stériles ;

ܗܵܐ ܫܘܼܩܪܵܗ̇ ܨܝܕ݂ ܙܲܠܝ̈ܠܹܐ: ܘܦܘܼܪܦܵܥܵܗ̇ ܨܝܕ݂ ܡܲܪ̈ܵܚܹܐ܀

ها كَذِبُها عِندَ الأَراذِلِ، وضَجيجُها عِندَ الوَقِحينَ؛

hā shūqrāh ṣydh zalylē: w-pūrpāʿāh ṣydh marāḥē.

Behold, her falsehood is with the base, and her tumult is with the insolent;

Voici, son mensonge est avec les vils, et son tumulte est avec les insolents ;

ܗܵܐ ܤܲܦܝܼܦܵܐ ܒܲܒ݂ܪܝܼܬ݂ܵܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܝܵܩ̇ܕܵܐ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܓܵܘܵܝܹ̈ܐ.

ها هيَ فائِضَةٌ في الخَليقَةِ، وها هيَ مُتَّقِدَةٌ عِندَ أَهلِ الدّاخِلِ؛

hā sapīpā ba-b-rīthā: w-hā yāqdā ṣēydh gāwāyē.

Behold, she overflows throughout creation, and behold, she burns among those within;

Voici, elle déborde par toute la création, et voici, elle brûle chez ceux du dedans ;

ܗܵܐ ܛܥܝܼܢ ܠܵܗ̇ ܒܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܟܠܢܵܫ: ܘܲܡܚܲܒܸ݁ܒ݂ ܠܵܗ̇ ܘܤܵܘܲܚ ܠܵܗ̇܀

ها كُلُّ إنسانٍ يَحمِلُها بِمَحَبَّةٍ، ويُحِبُّها ويَتَلَذَّذُ بِها.

hā ṭʿīn lāh b-ḥūbā klnāsh: wa-mḥabev lāh w-sāwaḥ lāh.

Behold, everyone carries her with love, and cherishes her, and delights in her.

Voici, chacun la porte avec amour, la chérit et se délecte en elle.

ܡ̣ܢ ܦܲܤܬ݂ܵܐ ܥܕܲܡܵܐ ܠܪܹܫܵܐ: ܛܥܝܼܢ ܠܵܗ̇ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܘܲܙܥܘܿܪܵܐ.‏

مِن أَخمَصِ القَدَمِ إلى الرَّأسِ، يَحمِلُها الكَبيرُ والصَّغيرُ؛

men pasthā ʿdamā l-rēshā: ṭʿīn lāh rabā wa-zʿōrā.

From the sole of the foot even to the head, great and small carry her;

De la plante du pied jusqu'à la tête, le grand et le petit la portent ;

ܟܠܢܵܫ ܢܵܓܹ̇ܕ݂ ܐܲܝܟ݂ ܚܲܝܠܹܗ: ܒܢܝܼܪܵܐ ܤܲܢܝܵܐ ܕܲܚܛܝܼܬܵܐ܀

كُلُّ إنسانٍ يُساقُ، كُلٌّ بِحَسَبِ طاقَتِهِ، تَحتَ نيرِ الخَطيئَةِ البَغيضِ؛

klnāsh nāgēdh aykh ḥaylēh: b-nīrā sanyā da-ḥṭītā.

Everyone is dragged, each according to his strength, under the hateful yoke of sin;

Chacun est traîné, selon sa force, sous le joug haineux du péché ;

ܛܥܝܼܢܝܼܢ ܠܵܗ̇ ܘܲܡܙܲܝܚܝܼܢ ܠܵܗ̇: ܠܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ ܝܲܠܕܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܕܐܵܕܵܡ.

يَحمِلونَها ويُمَجِّدونَها، بَنو آدَمَ — الكِبرِياءَ؛

ṭʿīnīn lāh wa-mzayḥīn lāh: l-yaʿnūtā yaldāwhī d-ādām.

The children of Adam carry her and exalt her — arrogance;

Les enfants d'Adam la portent et l'exaltent — l'arrogance ;

ܒܦܲܪܕܲܝܤܵܐ ܛܲܥܢܵܗ̇ ܐܵܕܵܡ: ܘܒܲܐܪܥܵܐ ܕܟ݂ܘܼ̈ܒܹܐ ܝܵܪ̈ܘܿܬ݂ܵܘܗܝ܀

في الفِردَوسِ حَمَلَها آدَمُ، وفي أَرضِ الشَّوكِ يَحمِلُها وَرَثَتُهُ.

b-pardaysā ṭaʿnāh ādām: w-ba-ʾrʿā d-khūbē yārōthāwhī.

In paradise Adam carried her, and in the land of thorns his heirs carry her;

Au paradis Adam la porta, et en la terre des épines ses héritiers la portent ;

ܛܥܝܼܢ ܠܵܗ̇ ܡܲܠܟܵܐ ܒܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܹܗ: ܘܚܵܕ݂ܘܿܪܵܐ ܒܚܸܬܹܗ ܛܲܥ̣ܢܵܗ̇.‏

يَحمِلُها المَلِكُ في سُلطانِهِ، والحَرّاثُ يَحمِلُها في مِحراثِهِ؛

ṭʿīn lāh malkā b-shūlṭānēh: w-ḥādhōrā b-ḥetēh ṭaʿnāh.

The king carries her in his authority, and the plowman carries her in his plowshare;

Le roi la porte dans son autorité, et le laboureur la porte dans son soc ;

ܛܥܝܼܢ ܠܵܗ̇ ܒܥܘܼܬ݂ܪܹܗ ܥܲܬ݁ܝܼܪܵܐ: ܘܡܸܤܟ݁ܢܵܐ ܒܲܠܚܸܡ ܝܵܘܡܵܐ܀

يَحمِلُها الغَنِيُّ في غِناهُ، والمِسكينُ في خُبزِ يَومِهِ.

ṭʿīn lāh b-ʿūthrēh ʿatīrā: w-mesknā ba-l-ḥem yāwmā.

The rich man carries her in his wealth, and the poor man in his daily bread;

Le riche la porte dans sa richesse, et le pauvre dans son pain quotidien ;

ܛܥܝܼܢ ܠܵܗ̇ ܒܩܲܢܝܹܗ ܕܲܝܵܢܵܐ: ܘܚܲܝܵܒ݂ܵܐ ܒܡܸܠܲܬ݂ ܦܘܼܡܹܗ.

يَحمِلُها القاضي في قَصَبَتِهِ، والمَحكومُ عَلَيهِ في كَلِمَةِ فَمِهِ؛

ṭʿīn lāh b-qanyēh da-yānā: w-ḥayāvā b-melath pūmēh.

The judge carries her in his staff of office, and the condemned in the word of his mouth;

Le juge la porte dans son bâton de fonction, et le condamné dans la parole de sa bouche ;

ܛܥܝܼܢܝܼܢ ܠܵܗ̇ ܚܹܐܪܹ̈ܐ ܒܕܲܪ̈ܓܹܐ: ܘܲܤܪ̈ܝܼܚܹܐ ܒܐܵܤܘܿܛܘܼܬܵܐ܀

يَحمِلُها الأَحرارُ في مَراتِبِهِم، والفاسِدونَ في فُجورِهِم.

ṭʿīnīn lāh ḥērē b-da-rgē: wa-srīḥē b-āsōṭūtā.

The freeborn carry her in their ranks, and the depraved in their profligacy.

Les hommes libres la portent dans leurs rangs, et les dépravés dans leur débauche.

ܡ̣ܐܡܪܵܐ .ܕ. ܕܡܵܪܝ ܐܝܼܤܚܵܩ ܕܐܲܢܛܝܘܿܟ݂ 38
Photograph of page 38 of Bedjan’s 1903 edition, leaf 0829
Leaf 0829, from Archive.org.

ܒܥܝܼ̈ܠܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܒܩܸܨܡܵܐ ܛܲܥ̈ܢܵܗ̇: ܘܥܲܩܪ̈ܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܒܝܲܕ݂ ܫܘܼ̈ܐܵܠܹܐ.‏

الحَبالى يَحمِلنَها بِالعِرافَةِ، والعَواقِرُ بِالتَّضَرُّعاتِ؛

b-ʿīlāthā b-qeṣmā ṭaʿnāh: w-ʿaqrāthā b-yadh shūālē.

Pregnant women carry her by divination, and barren women by entreaties;

Les femmes enceintes la portent par la divination, et les femmes stériles par les supplications ;

ܙܵܒ݂ܘܿܢܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܡܙܲܒ݁ܢܵܢܹ̈ܐ: ܐܲܝܟ݂ ܡܲܪܟܲܒ݂ܬ݂ܵܐ ܟܕ݂ܝܼܢܝܼܢ ܠܵܗ̇܀

المُشتَرونَ والباعَةُ، كَمَركَبَةٍ مَربوطونَ بِها.

zāvōnē wa-mzabnānē: aykh markavthā kdhīnīn lāh.

Buyers and sellers are yoked to her like a chariot;

Acheteurs et vendeurs lui sont attelés comme à un char ;

ܦܪ̈ܲܓܡܵܛܘܼܛܹܐ ܘܬܲܓܵܪܹ̈ܐ: ܐܲܩܝܼܡܼܘ ܨܲܠܡܵܗ̇ ܘܲܤܓܸܕ݂ܘ ܠܵܗ̇.

التُّجّارُ وأَصحابُ البَضائِعِ، أَقاموا صورَتَها وسَجَدوا لَها؛

pragmāṭūṭē w-tagārē: aqīmīw ṣalmāh wa-sgedhw lāh.

Merchants and traders have set up her image and worshipped her;

Marchands et négociants ont dressé son image et l'ont adorée ;

ܛܲܥ̣ܢܵܗ̇ ܝܲܡܵܐ ܘܲܫܓܲܫܬܹܗ: ܛܲܥ̣ܢܵܗ̇ ܝܲܒ݂ܫܵܐ ܘܕܲܠܲܚܬܹܗ܀

حَمَلَها البَحرُ فَأَقلَقَتهُ، وحَمَلَتها اليابِسَةُ فَكَدَّرَتها؛

ṭaʿnāh yamā wa-shgashtēh: ṭaʿnāh yavshā w-da-la-ḥtēh.

The sea carries her, and she has disturbed it; the dry land carries her, and she has troubled it;

La mer la porte, et elle l'a agitée ; la terre ferme la porte, et elle l'a troublée ;

ܠܵܐ ܤܦܲܩ̣ ܠܵܗ̇ ܝܲܡܵܐ ܘܝܲܒ݂ܫܵܐ: ܘܲܠܕܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ ܦܵܚܲܬ݀ ܢܸܦܩܲܬ݀.‏

لَم يَكفِها البَحرُ واليابِسَةُ، فَخَرَجَت هارِبَةً إلى البَرِّيَّةِ؛

lā spaq lāh yamā w-yavshā: wa-l-da-b-rā pāḥat nepqat.

Sea and dry land were not enough for her, and she went out fleeing into the wilderness;

La mer et la terre ferme ne lui suffirent pas, et elle sortit fuyant vers le désert ;

ܟܕܲܢܬܹܗ ܠܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܒܓ݂ܵܘ ܢܝܼܪܵܗ̇: ܘܗܵܐ ܪܵܕ݂ܦܵܐ ܒܵܬܲܪ ܚܘܼܪܒܵܐ܀

نَيَّرَتِ السَّلامَ في نيرِها، وها هيَ تَطلُبُ الخَرابَ.

kdantēh l-shaynā b-ghāw nīrāh: w-hā rādhpā bātar ḥūrbā.

She has yoked peace within her yoke, and behold, she pursues after ruin;

Elle a attelé la paix dans son joug, et voici, elle poursuit la ruine ;

ܗܵܐ ܤܲܒ݁ܝܼܟ݂ܵܐ ܒܪܹܫ ܛܘܼܪܹ̈ܐ: ܘܡܵܚܹܐ ܪܹܫܵܗ̇ ܒܥܸܩܒܲܝܗܘܿܢ.‏

ها هيَ مُتَشابِكَةٌ عَلى رُؤوسِ الجِبالِ، وتَضرِبُ رَأسَها بِآثارِها؛

hā sabīkhā b-rēsh ṭūrē: w-māḥē rēshāh b-ʿeqbayhōn.

Behold, she is entwined on the mountain-tops, and strikes her head against their tracks;

Voici, elle s'enlace au sommet des montagnes, et heurte sa tête contre leurs pentes ;

ܝܵܬܵܒܵܐ ܒܚܲܨܵܐ ܕܲܫܩܝܼ̈ܦܹܐ: ܘܥܲܪ̈ܡܹܐ ܡܲܤܩܝܼܢ ܡܲܕܲܐܬܵܗ̇܀

تَجلِسُ عَلى مَتنِ الصُّخورِ، وأَكوامُ الحِجارَةِ تَحمِلُ جِزيَتَها.

yātābā b-ḥaṣā da-shqīpē: w-ʿarmē masqīn madatāh.

She sits on the ridge of the crags, and heaps of stone bear up her tribute;

Elle siège sur la crête des rochers, et des tas de pierres portent son tribut ;

ܒܢܸܐ ܠܵܗ̇ ܒܲܝܬܵܐ ܒܪܵܡܵܬ݂ܵܐ: ܘܲܪ̈ܡܲܝ ܢܲܚ̈ܠܹܐ ܟܤܸܦ ܪܹܫܵܐ.

بَنَت لِنَفسِها بَيتًا في الرَّوابي، والَّذينَ يَرمونَ في الجَداوِلِ يُؤَدّونَ جِزيَةَ الرُّؤوسِ فِضَّةً [...]

b-ne lāh ba-ytā b-rāmāthā: wa-rmaī naḥlē ksep rēshā.

She has built herself a house on the heights, and those who cast into the streams pay the head-tax in silver [...]

Elle s'est bâti une maison sur les hauteurs, et ceux qui jettent dans les torrents paient la capitation en argent [...]

ܠܫܘܿܥܵܐ ܥܲܩܪܵܐ ܒܙܲܥܬܹܗ ܬܘܼܒ݂: ܘܝܼܢܸܩܬܹܗ ܒܝܲܕ݂ ܢܸܨ̈ܒܵܬ݂ܵܐ܀

وفي السَّهلِ أَيضًا ضَرَبَت جَذرَها، وأَرضَعَتهُ بِواسِطَةِ الغُروسِ [...]

l-shōʿā ʿaqrā b-zaʿtēh tūv: w-īneqtēh b-yadh neṣbāthā.

To the plain, too, she has struck root, and nursed it by means of plantings [...]

À la plaine aussi elle a poussé racine, et l'a nourrie au moyen de plantations [...]

ܗܵܐ ܫܸܬ̈ܠܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܒܲܫܩܝܼܦܹܐ: ܘܒܲܫ̈ܢܵܢܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܙܲܪ̈ܥܘܿܢܹܐ܀

ها غُروسٌ بَينَ الصُّخورِ، وبَينَ الحِجارَةِ الحادَّةِ، شَتلاتٌ؛

hā shetlāthā ba-shqīpē: w-ba-shnānāthā zarʿōnē.

Behold, there are plantings among the crags, and among the sharp rocks, seedlings;

Voici, il y a des plantations parmi les rochers, et parmi les pierres aiguës, des semis ;

ܗܵܐ ܐܸܕܪܹ̈ܐ ܒܲܝܢܵܬ݂ ܛܘܼܪܹ̈ܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܥܲܪ̈ܡܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܫܘܿܥܹ̈ܐ܀

ها بَيادِرُ بَينَ الجِبالِ، وها أَكوامٌ عَلى السُّهولِ؛

hā edrē ba-ynāth ṭūrē: w-hā ʿarmāthā ʿal shōʿē.

Behold, threshing floors amid the mountains, and behold, heaps upon the plains;

Voici, des aires à battre parmi les montagnes, et voici, des tas de gerbes sur les plaines ;

ܗܵܐ ܒܸܢܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܒܓܵܘ ܕܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܩܸܢܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܒܓ̰ܵܘ ܚܘܼܪܒܵܐ܀

ها أَبنِيَةٌ في وَسَطِ البَرِّيَّةِ، وها أَملاكٌ في وَسَطِ الخَرابِ؛

hā benyānē b-gāw da-b-rā: w-hā qenyānē b-gāw ḥūrbā.

Behold, buildings in the midst of the wilderness, and behold, possessions in the midst of the waste;

Voici, des constructions au milieu du désert, et voici, des possessions au milieu de la terre dévastée ;

ܗܵܐ ܫܚܵܩܵܐ ܒܐܲܬ݂ܪܵܐ ܫܲܠܝܵܐ: ܘܦܘܼܠܚܵܢܵܐ ܒܐܲܬ݂ܪܵܐ ܢܝܼܚܵܐ܀

ها كَدٌّ في مَكانِ الهُدوءِ، وعَمَلٌ في مَكانِ الرّاحَةِ؛

hā shḥāqā b-athrā shalyā: w-pūlḥānā b-athrā nīḥā.

Behold, toil in a place of quiet, and labor in a place of rest;

Voici, la peine dans un lieu de tranquillité, et le labeur dans un lieu de repos ;

ܛܘܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܘܪ̈ܵܡܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܟܸܕ݂ܢܲܬ݀: ܬܚܹܝܬ݂ ܢܝܼܪܵܗ̇ ܥܵܠܘܿܒ݂ܘܼܬܵܐ.

الجِبالَ والرَّوابيَ قَد نَيَّرَت، تَحتَ نيرِها الظّالِمِ؛

ṭūrē w-rāmāthā kedhnat: tḥēyth nīrāh ʿālōvūtā.

Mountains and heights she has yoked beneath her oppressive yoke;

Montagnes et hauteurs, elle les a attelées, sous son joug d'oppression ;

ܗܵܠܹܝܢ ܛܘܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܕܐܸܡܲܪ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ: ܦܵܪܘܿܩܲܢ ܠܲܒ݂ܲܢܵܬ݂ ܥܲܡܵܐ܀

هذِهِ هيَ الجِبالُ الَّتي قالَ عَنها، مُخَلِّصُنا لِبَناتِ الشَّعبِ:

hālēyn ṭūrē d-emar (h)wā: pārōqan la-vanāth ʿamā.

These are the mountains our Savior spoke of, to the daughters of the people:

Ce sont là les montagnes dont a parlé notre Sauveur, aux filles du peuple :

ܠܲܢ ܗܼ̄ܘ ܡܤܲܟܹܝܢ ܕܲܒ݂ܚܲܪܬܵܐ: ܢܟܲܤܘܿܢܵܢ ܥܲܡ ܤܲܢ̈ܝܵܬܲܢ.‏

نَحنُ الَّذينَ نَنتَظِرُ هذا — أَن يُغَطّونا في الآخِرِ مَعَ قَبائِحِنا؛

lan hāw msakēyn da-b-ḥartā: nkasōnān ʿam sanyātan.

it is we who wait for this — that in the end they will cover us along with our shameful deeds;

c'est nous qui attendons ceci — qu'à la fin elles nous couvriront avec nos actions honteuses ;

ܢܦܲܠ̣ ܠܹܗ ܢܝܼܪܵܗ̇ ܕܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ: ܥܲܠ ܒܲܪܵܝܵܐ ܘܓܵܘܵܝܹ̈ܐ܀

قَد سَقَطَ نيرُ الكِبرِياءِ، عَلى أَهلِ الخارِجِ وأَهلِ الدّاخِلِ.

npal lēh nīrāh d-yaʿnūtā: ʿal ba-rāyā w-gāwāyē.

The yoke of arrogance has fallen upon those without and those within;

Le joug de l'arrogance est tombé sur ceux du dehors et ceux du dedans ;

ܠܚܸܡ ܝܵܘܡܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܚܵܤܲܪ ܠܲܢ: ܘܲܟ݂ܕ݂ܝ̈ܢܵܢ ܠܲܢ ܦܲܕܵܢܹ̈ܐ.

خُبزُ يَومِنا لا يَنقُصُنا، ومَعَ ذلِكَ نَيَّرنا أَنفُسَنا بِالمَحاريثِ؛

l-ḥem yāwmā lā ḥāsar lan: wa-khdhynān lan padānē.

Daily bread does not fail us, yet we have yoked ourselves to the plow;

Le pain quotidien ne nous manque pas, et pourtant nous nous sommes attelés à la charrue ;

ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܠܲܡ ܕܫܲܠ̣ܼܚܘܼܗܝ ܠܥܵܠܡܵܐ: ܗܵܐ ܠܒ݂ܝܼܫܝܼܢ ܠܗܘܿܢ

أُناسٌ، كَما قيلَ، خَلَعوا العالَمَ — ها هُم لابِسونَ [...]

nāshā lam d-shalīḥūhī l-ʿālmā: hā l-b-īshīn l-hōn

Men, it is said, who have stripped off the world — behold, they are clothed [...]

Les hommes, dit-on, qui ont dépouillé le monde — voici, ils sont revêtus [...]

ܓܐܸܤܛܘܼܟ݂ܤܵܘ̈ܗܝ܀

بِأَملاكِهِ [...]

gesṭūkhsāwhī.

with his possessions [...]

de ses biens [...]

ܕܥܲܠ ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܫܵܓ݂ܫܵܐ ܠܐܲܚܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܠܕܲܝܪܵܝܹܐ.‏ 39
Photograph of page 39 of Bedjan’s 1903 edition, leaf 0828
Leaf 0828, from Archive.org.

ܡܵܐ ܕܲܤܠܸܩܲܢܲܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܝܲܡܵܐ: ܥܲܠ̣ܢܲܢ ܠܫܸܩܠܵܐ ܘܠܲܫܪܵܝܵܐ.

لَمّا صَعِدنا مِنَ البَحرِ، دَخَلنا في الأَخذِ والعَطاءِ؛

mā da-sleqanan men yamā: ʿalnan l-sheqlā w-la-shrāyā.

When we came up from the sea, we entered into trade and traffic;

Quand nous sommes remontés de la mer, nous sommes entrés dans le commerce et le trafic ;

ܡܵܐ ܕܲܢܦܲܩ̣ܢܲܢ ܠܲܠܡܹܐܢܵܐ: ܠܒܹܝܬ݂ ܓܲܠ̈ܠܹܐ ܗ̣ܦܲܟ݂ܢܲܢ ܥܲܠ̣ܢܲܢ܀

ولَمّا خَرَجنا إلى المَرفَإِ، عُدنا فَدَخَلنا بَيتَ الأَمواجِ؛

mā da-npaqnan la-l-mēnā: l-bēyth gallē hpakhnan ʿalnan.

When we went out to the harbor, we turned back again to the house of waves;

Quand nous sommes sortis vers le port, nous sommes retournés à la maison des flots ;

ܡܵܐ ܕܐܸܬ݁ܬ݁ܫܝܼܓ݂ܢܲܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܨܵܐܬ݂ܵܐ: ܗ̣ܦܲܟ݂ܢܲܢ ܠܲܢ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܕܲܚܝܼܚܵܐ.‏

ولَمّا اغتَسَلنا مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، عُدنا إلى الوَحلِ؛

mā d-ettshīghnan men ṣāthā: hpakhnan lan ṣēydh da-ḥīḥā.

When we were washed from filth, we turned back to the mire;

Quand nous avons été lavés de la souillure, nous sommes retournés vers la boue ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܫ̣ܦܲܪܢܲܢ ܠܲܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ: ܨܵܪܢܲܢ ܠܲܢ ܨܲܠܡܵܐ ܤܲܢܝܵܐ܀

بَعدَ أَن أَرضَينا المَسيحَ، صَوَّرنا لِأَنفُسِنا صورَةً بَغيضَةً؛

men da-shparnan la-mshīḥā: ṣārnan lan ṣalmā sanyā.

After we had pleased Christ, we fashioned for ourselves a hateful image;

Après avoir plu au Christ, nous nous sommes façonné une image odieuse ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܤܚܲܝܢܲܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܡܝܼܬܹܐ: ܠܲܫܠܲܕܹ̈ܐ ܗܦܲܟܲܢ ܐܸܬ݂ܩܲܪܲܒܲܢ.

بَعدَ أَن اغتَسَلنا مِنَ المَوتى، عُدنا فَاقتَرَبنا مِنَ الجُثَثِ؛

men da-sḥaynan men mītē: la-shladē hpakan ethqaraban.

After we had washed ourselves free of the dead, we drew near again to corpses;

Après nous être lavés des morts, nous nous sommes de nouveau approchés des cadavres ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܩ̣ܢܲܝܢܲܢ ܚܹܐܪܘܼܬ݂ܵܐ: ܟܬܲܒܲܢ ܐ̄ܫܛܵܪܹ̈ܐ ܕܥܲܒ݂ܕܘܼܬܵܐ܀

بَعدَ أَن اقتَنَينا الحُرِّيَّةَ، كَتَبنا لِأَنفُسِنا صُكوكَ العُبودِيَّةِ.

men da-qnaynan ḥērūthā: ktaban shṭārē d-ʿavdūtā.

After we had gained freedom, we wrote for ourselves deeds of slavery;

Après avoir acquis la liberté, nous nous sommes écrit des actes d'esclavage ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܗܘܵܐ ܠܲܢ ܚܘܼܠܡܵܢܵܐ: ܠܲܝܬ݁ ܒܲܢ ܕܘܼܟ݁ܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܫܲܪܝܼܪܵܐ.

بَعدَ أَن صارَت لَنا العافِيَةُ، لَم يَبقَ فينا مَوضِعٌ سَليمٌ؛

men da-hwā lan ḥūlmānā: layt ban d-w-kthā d-sharīrā.

After soundness had come to us, there is no sound place left in us;

Après que la santé nous fut venue, il n'y a plus en nous de lieu sain ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܐܸܬ݂ܐܲܤܝܼ ܚܒ݂ܵܪ̈ܵܬܲܢ: ܩ̣ܢܲܝܢܲܢ ܡܘܼ̈ܡܹܐ ܘܟ݂ܘܼ̈ܬ݂ܡܵܬ݂ܵܐ܀

بَعدَ أَن شُفِيَت جِراحُنا، اقتَنَينا عُيوبًا وأَدناسًا.

men d-ethasī ḥvārātan: qnaynan mūmē w-khūthmāthā.

After our wounds were healed, we acquired blemishes and stains;

Après que nos plaies furent guéries, nous avons acquis des taches et des souillures ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܗ݀ܘܲܝܢ ܡܸܠܚܵܗ̇ ܕܐܲܪܥܵܐ: ܗ݀ܘܲܝܢܲܢ ܚܠܲܡܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܦܲܟ݁ܝ̈ܗܹܐ.‏

بَعدَ أَن كُنّا مِلحَ الأَرضِ، صِرنا [...] فاتِرينَ لا طَعمَ لَنا؛

men da-hwayn melḥāh d-arʿā: hwaynan ḥlamthā d-pakyhē.

After we had been the salt of the earth, we became [...] tasteless and flat;

Après avoir été le sel de la terre, nous sommes devenus [...] insipides et fades ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܩܪܵܐܘܼܢ ܢܲܗܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ: ܥܢܵܢܵܐ ܕܢܸܟ݂ܤܹ̈ܐ ܐܲܚܫܸܟ݂ܬܲܢ܀

بَعدَ أَن دُعينا مَنائِرَ، أَظلَمَتنا سَحابَةٌ مِنَ الأَموالِ.

men da-qrāūn nahīrē: ʿnānā d-nekhsē aḥshekhtan.

After we were called luminaries, a cloud of riches has darkened us;

Après avoir été appelés luminaires, une nuée de richesses nous a obscurcis ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܠ݂ܒܲܟ݂ܢ ܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܕܩܘܼܫܬܵܐ: ܐܲܤܓ݁ܝܼܢܲܢ ܠܲܢ ܬܘܼܩ̈ܠܵܬ݂ܵܐ.

بَعدَ أَن أَمسَكنا طَريقَ الحَقِّ، كَثَّرنا لِأَنفُسِنا العَثَراتِ؛

men da-l-bakhn ʾūrḥā d-qūshtā: asgīnan lan tūqlāthā.

After we had grasped the way of truth, we multiplied stumbling blocks for ourselves;

Après avoir saisi la voie de la vérité, nous nous sommes multiplié des pierres d'achoppement ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܒܵܬܲܪ ܕܐܸܬ݂ܚܲܕܲܬ݂ܢܲܢ: ܠܒܸܫ̣ܢܵܝܗܝ ܠܐܵܕܵܡ ܥܲܬ݁ܝܼܩܵܐ܀

بَعدَ أَن تَجَدَّدنا، لَبِسنا مِن جَديدٍ آدَمَ العَتيقَ.

men bātar d-ethḥadathnan: l-beshnāyhī l-ādām ʿatīqā.

After we had been renewed, we clothed ourselves again in the old Adam;

Après avoir été renouvelés, nous nous sommes de nouveau revêtus du vieil Adam ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܗ݀ܘܲܝܢ ܐܵܕܵܡ ܒܲܕ݂ܪܘܼܚ: ܗ݀ܘܲܝܢܲܢ ܠܲܢ ܐܵܕܵܡ ܕܲܢܦܸܫ.

بَعدَ أَن كُنّا آدَمَ الرّوحِ، صِرنا لِأَنفُسِنا آدَمَ النَّفسِ؛

men da-hwayn ādām ba-d-rūḥ: hwaynan lan ādām da-npesh.

After we had been the Adam of the spirit, we became for ourselves the Adam of the soul;

Après avoir été l'Adam de l'esprit, nous sommes devenus pour nous l'Adam de l'âme ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܗ݀ܘܲܝܢܲܢ ܕܲܨܠܝܼܒ݂ܵܐ: ܐܝܼܠܵܢܵܐ ܕܡܵܘܬܵܐ ܢܲܨܲܒ݂ܢܲܢ܀

بَعدَ أَن صِرنا لِلصَّليبِ، غَرَسنا لِأَنفُسِنا شَجَرَةَ المَوتِ.

men da-hwaynan da-ṣlīvā: ʾīlānā d-māwtā naṣavnan.

After we had belonged to the cross, we planted for ourselves the tree of death;

Après avoir appartenu à la croix, nous nous sommes planté l'arbre de la mort ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܕܹܝܢ ܕܝܲܗ̣̄ܒ݂ܠܲܢ ܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܵܐ: ܕܲܢܕ݂ܘܼܫ ܒܝܼܫܵܐ ܘܡܲܫܪܝܼܬܹܗ.

أَمّا بَعدَ أَن أَعطانا سُلطانًا، لِنَدوسَ الشِّرّيرَ ومُعَسكَرَهُ،

men dēyn d-ya(h)vlan shūlṭānā: da-ndhūsh b-īshā w-mashrītēh.

But after he had given us authority to trample the evil one and his camp,

Mais après qu'il nous eut donné le pouvoir de fouler le mauvais et son camp,

ܗܵܐ ܕܵܐ̇ܫ ܠܲܢ ܒܲܬ݂ܥܵܫܵܐ: ܘܥܲܡܠܵܐ ܕܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܚܵܢܹ̇ܩ ܠܲܢ܀

ها هوَ يَدوسُنا بِالعَثرَةِ، وتَعَبُ الأَرضِ يَخنُقُنا.

hā dāsh lan ba-thʿāshā: w-ʿamlā d-arʿā ḥānēq lan.

behold, he tramples us with stumbling, and the toil of the earth strangles us.

voici, il nous foule d'achoppement, et le labeur de la terre nous étrangle.

ܐܹܠܝܼܫܲܥ ܐܲܝܟ݂ ܕܲܒ݂ܚܲܫܵܐ: ܢܵܨ̇ܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܥܲܡ ܬܲܠܡܝܼܕܹܗ.

أَليشَعُ، كَأَنَّهُ في وَجَعٍ، كانَ يُخاصِمُ تِلميذَهُ،

ēlīshaʿ aykh da-b-ḥashā: nāṣ (h)wā ʿam talmīdēh.

Elisha, as though in anguish, was contending with his disciple,

Élisée, comme dans l'angoisse, était en contestation avec son disciple,

ܕܗܵܢܵܘ ܠܲܡ ܙܲܒ݂ܢܵܐ ܓܲܚܙܝܼ: ܕܬܸܩܢܸܐ ܠܵܟ݂ ܟܲܪ̈ܡܹܐ ܘܙܲܝ̄ܬܹܐ܀

أَهذا هوَ الوَقتُ يا جِيحَزي، لِتَقتَنِيَ لِنَفسِكَ كُرومًا وزَيتونًا؟

d-hānāw lam zavnā gaḥzī: d-teqne lākh karmē w-za(y)tē.

"Is this the time, Gehazi," he said, "to acquire for yourself vineyards and olive trees?"

« Est-ce le temps, Guéhazi, disait-il, d'acquérir pour toi des vignes et des oliviers ? »

ܕܲܝܪܵܝܹܐ ܗܵܐ ܩܢܵܘ ܩܘܼܪ̈ܝܵܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܫܵܬ݂ܠܝܼܢ ܒܗܹܝܢ ܦܲܪ̈ܕܲܝܤܹ̈ܐ.

الرُّهبانُ ها هُم قَد اقتَنَوا قُرًى، وها هُم يَغرِسونَ فيها بَساتينَ؛

da-yrāyē hā qnāw qūryā: w-hā shāthlīn b-hēyn pardaysē.

Monks, behold, have acquired villages, and behold, they plant orchards in them;

Les moines, voici, ont acquis des villages, et voici, ils y plantent des vergers ;

ܗܵܐ ܪܟ݂ܝܼܒ݂ܝܼܢ ܡܲܪܹ̈ܐ ܟܠܫܵܥ: ܘܢܵܨ̇ܒ݁ܝܼܢ ܟܲܪ̈ܡܹܐ ܟܠܥܸܕܵܢ܀

ها الأَسيادُ يَركَبونَ كُلَّ ساعَةٍ، ويَغرِسونَ الكُرومَ كُلَّ حينٍ.

hā rkhīvīn marē klshāʿ: w-nāṣbīn karmē klʿedān.

Behold, masters ride at every hour, and plant vineyards at every season;

Voici, des maîtres chevauchent à toute heure, et plantent des vignes en toute saison ;

ܥܵܘܼܠܹܗ ܕܓܲܚܙܝܼ ܫܵܓܹ̇ܫ ܠܲܢ: ܘܪܸܓܲܬ݂ ܥܲܝ̈ܢܹܐ ܕܒܹܝܬ݂ ܐܵܚܵܒ݂.

إثمُ جِيحَزي يُقلِقُنا، وشَهوَةُ عُيونِ بَيتِ آخابَ.

ʿāūlēh d-gaḥzī shāgēsh lan: w-regath ʿaynē d-bēyth āḥāv.

The iniquity of Gehazi disturbs us, and the covetous eye of the house of Ahab.

L'iniquité de Guéhazi nous trouble, et la convoitise des yeux de la maison d'Achab.

ܡܐܡܪܵܐ .ܕ. ܕܡܵܪܝ ܐܝܼܤܚܵܩ ܕܐܲܢܛܝܘܿܟ݂ 40
Photograph of page 40 of Bedjan’s 1903 edition, leaf 0827
Leaf 0827, from Archive.org.

ܗܵܐ ܫܵܬ݂ܠ̇ܝܼܢܲܢ ܢܸܨ̈ܒܵܬ݂ܵܐ: ܐܲܝܟ݂ ܝܵܪ̈ܘܿܬܹܐ ܕܲܠܥܵܠܲܡ܀

ها نَحنُ نَغرِسُ غُروسَنا، كَأَنَّنا وَرَثَةٌ إلى الأَبَدِ؛

hā shāthlīnan neṣbāthā: aykh yārōtē da-l-ʿālam.

Behold, we plant our seedlings, as though heirs forever;

Voici, nous plantons nos plants, comme des héritiers pour toujours ;

ܐܸܡܪܵܐ ܕܲܢܦܲܩ̣ ܨܹܝܕ݂ ܕܸܟ݂ܪܹ̈ܐ: ܕܢܸܪܥܸܐ ܪܸܥܝܵܐ ܪܘܼܚܵܢܵܐ.‏

الحَمَلُ الَّذي خَرَجَ بَينَ الكِباشِ، لِيَرعى رَعِيَّةً روحانِيَّةً،

emrā da-npaq ṣēydh dekhrē: d-nerʿe reʿyā rūḥānā.

The lamb that went out among the rams, to shepherd a spiritual flock,

L'agneau qui sortit parmi les béliers, pour paître un troupeau spirituel,

ܪܥ̣ܵܐ ܠܹܗ ܪܸܥܝܵܐ ܦܲܓ݂ܪܵܢܵܐ: ܘܝܼܠܸܦ݂ ܠܹܗ ܦܘܼܠܚܵܢ ܐܲܪܥܵܐ܀

رَعى لِنَفسِهِ رَعِيَّةً جَسَدِيَّةً، وتَعَلَّمَ لِنَفسِهِ فِلاحَةَ الأَرضِ.

rʿā lēh reʿyā paghrānā: w-īlef lēh pūlḥān arʿā.

instead pastured a fleshly pasture for himself, and learned for himself the labor of the earth.

a plutôt paissu pour lui-même un pâturage charnel, et a appris pour lui-même le labeur de la terre.

ܚܠܵܦ ܠܘ̈ܚܹܐ ܛܥܝܼܢܝܼܢ ܡܲܪܹ̈ܐ: ܘܢܸܝ̈ܒܵܬܵܐ ܚܠܵܦ ܩܸܪ̈ܝܵܢܹܐ.

بَدَلَ الأَلواحِ يَحمِلُ الأَسيادُ [...]، والغَلّاتِ بَدَلَ القِراءاتِ؛

ḥlāp l-w-ḥē ṭʿīnīn marē: w-neybātā ḥlāp qeryānē.

Instead of tablets, the masters carry [...], and yields instead of readings;

Au lieu de tablettes, les maîtres portent [...], et des récoltes au lieu de lectures ;

ܟܪܝܼܟ݂ܝܼܢ ܤܸܦܪܹ̈ܐ ܠܚܲܕ݂ ܓܲܒܵܐ: ܘܪܵܗ̇ܛ ܟܠܢܵܫ ܠܲܥ̇ܒ݂ܕܹܗ܀

الكُتُبُ مَلفوفَةٌ في جانِبٍ، وكُلُّ إنسانٍ يَركُضُ إلى عَمَلِهِ.

krīkhīn seprē l-ḥadh gabā: w-rāhṭ klnāsh la-ʿvdēh.

Books are rolled up and set to one side, and everyone runs to his own business;

Les livres sont roulés et mis de côté, et chacun court à ses affaires ;

ܫܡܘܼܐܝܠ ܩܵܥܹܐ ܘܡܸܬ݂ܚܲܡܲܬ݂: ܥܲܠ ܕܲܫܡܲܥ̣ ܩܵܠ ܩܸܢܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ.‏

صَموئيلُ يَصرُخُ ويَغتاظُ، لِأَنَّهُ سَمِعَ صَوتَ المَواشي،

shmūyl qāʿē w-methḥamath: ʿal da-shmaʿ qāl qenyānē.

Samuel cries out and grows angry, at hearing the sound of livestock,

Samuel crie et s'irrite, d'avoir entendu le bruit des troupeaux,

ܚܸܤܕܲܢ ܩܵܥܹ̇ܐ ܒܲܢܒ݂ܝܹ̈ܐ: ܕܡ̣ܢ ܩܸܢܝܵܢܲܢ ܩܘܼܛܪܵܓܲܢ܀

عارُنا يَصرُخُ في الأَنبِياءِ، إذ مِن أَملاكِنا تَأتي شَكوانا.

ḥesdan qāʿē ba-nvyē: d-men qenyānan qūṭrāgan.

our disgrace cries out through the prophets, that from our possessions comes our accusation.

notre honte crie par les prophètes, que de nos possessions vient notre accusation.

ܠܒܲܪ ܡܲܪܝܲܡ ܥܝܼܠܵܐ ܫܐܝܼܠܵܐ: ܘܲܪ̈ܟ݂ܘܿܒܹܐ ܨܲܒܸ݁ܬ݂ܢܲܢ ܠܲܢ.‏

لِابنِ مَريَمَ كَفاهُ جَحشٌ مُستَعارٌ، ونَحنُ زَيَّنّا لِأَنفُسِنا المَراكِبَ؛

l-bar maryam ʿīlā shīlā: wa-rkhōbē ṣabethnan lan.

For the son of Mary, a borrowed colt sufficed, yet we have decked out mounts for ourselves;

Pour le fils de Marie, un ânon emprunté suffit, et nous nous sommes paré de montures ;

ܠܐܠܝܼܵܐ ܠܲܚܡܵܐ ܚܕ݂ܝܼܪܵܐ: ܘܐܲܤܝܼܢܝܼܢܲܢ ܠܲܫ̈ܢܲܝܵܐ܀

لِإيلِيّا كَفَتهُ كَعكَةُ خُبزٍ، ونَحنُ خَزَّنّا لِسِنينَ.

l-ʾlī la-ḥmā ḥdhīrā: w-asīnīnan la-shnayā.

For Elijah, a cake of bread sufficed, yet we have laid up stores for years;

Pour Élie, un pain rond suffit, et nous avons amassé des réserves pour des années ;

ܒܚܘܼܪܒܵܐ ܥ̣ܡܲܪ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ: ܘܗܵܐ ܒܵܢܲܝܢܲܢ ܚܲܪ̈ܒ݂ܵܬ݂ܵܐ.

في البَرِّيَّةِ سَكَنَ يوحَنّا، وها نَحنُ نَبني الخِرَبَ؛

b-ḥūrbā ʿmar (h)wā yōḥanān: w-hā bānaynan ḥarvāthā.

In the wilderness John dwelt, and behold, we build up ruins;

Au désert Jean demeurait, et voici, nous bâtissons des ruines ;

ܒܪܹܫܹܗ ܕܛܘܼܪܵܐ ܐܹܠܝܼܫܲܥ: ܘܗܵܐ ܡܨܲܒ݁ܬ݂ܝܼܢܲܢ ܡܸܕ݂ܝܵܪܹ̈ܐ܀

عَلى رَأسِ الجَبَلِ سَكَنَ أَليشَعُ، وها نَحنُ نُزَيِّنُ مَساكِنَنا.

b-rēshēh d-ṭūrā ēlīshaʿ: w-hā mṣabthīnan medhyārē.

On the mountaintop Elisha dwelt, and behold, we adorn our dwellings;

Au sommet de la montagne Élisée demeurait, et voici, nous parons nos demeures ;

ܒܢܲܝ ܡܲܠܟܹ̈ܐ ܫܒܲܩܼܘ ܒܝܼܪ̈ܵܬ݂ܵܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܒܲܢ̈ܝܵܢ ܠܲܢ ܤܵܚܪ̈ܵܬ݂ܵܐ.‏

أَبناءُ المُلوكِ تَرَكوا الحُصونَ، وها نَحنُ نَبني لِأَنفُسِنا الأَسوارَ؛

b-naī malkē shbaqīw b-īrāthā: w-hā ba-nyān lan sāḥrāthā.

The sons of kings left their fortresses behind, and behold, we build enclosures for ourselves;

Les fils de rois ont abandonné leurs forteresses, et voici, nous nous bâtissons des enclos ;

ܐܲܗܡܝܼܘ ܡܵܪ̈ܲܝ ܢܸܨ̈ܒܵܬ݂ܵܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܫܵܬ݂ܠ̇ܝܼܢܲܢ ܕܲܠܥܵܠܲܡ܀

أَصحابُ الغُروسِ أَهمَلوها، وها نَحنُ نَغرِسُ كَأَنَّنا لِلأَبَدِ.

ahmīw māraī neṣbāthā: w-hā shāthlīnan da-l-ʿālam.

The owners of plantings neglected them, and behold, we plant as though for eternity;

Les maîtres des plantations les ont négligées, et voici, nous plantons comme pour l'éternité ;

ܤܢܵܐܘܼܗ̇ ܠܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܘܲܩܢܵܐ ܘܼܗ̇: ܘܐܲܝܟ݂ ܝܵܪ̈ܘܿܬܹܐ ܩܲܒܸ݁ܠܢܵܗ̇.‏

أَبغَضوا الأَرضَ وامتَلَكوها، ونَحنُ قَبِلناها كَوَرَثَةٍ؛

snāūh l-arʿā wa-qnā ūh: w-aykh yārōtē qabelnāh.

They despised the earth, yet possessed it; but we have received it as heirs;

Ils ont méprisé la terre, et pourtant l'ont possédée ; mais nous, nous l'avons reçue comme des héritiers ;

ܥܲܬ݁ܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܝܲܗ̄ܒ݂ܘ ܢܸܟ݂ܤܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ: ܘܥܲܠ ܝܘܼܬ݂ܪ̈ܵܢܹܐ ܙܩܝܼܦܝܼܢܲܢ܀

الأَغنِياءُ وَهَبوا أَموالَهُم، ونَحنُ مَصلوبونَ عَلى المَكاسِبِ.

ʿatīrē ya(h)vw nekhsayhōn: w-ʿal yūthrānē zqīpīnan.

The rich gave away their possessions, but we are nailed fast to our profits;

Les riches ont donné leurs biens, mais nous sommes cloués à nos profits ;

ܡܵܟ̈ܤܹܐ ܕܪܵܘ ܩܸܢܝܵܢܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ: ܘܗܵܐ ܡܪܲܒܹ݁ܝܢܲܢ ܩܸܢܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ.

العَشّارونَ طَرَحوا أَملاكَهُم، وها نَحنُ نُكَثِّرُ أَملاكَنا؛

māksē d-rāw qenyānayhōn: w-hā mrabēynan qenyānē.

Tax collectors abandoned their possessions, and behold, we multiply ours;

Les publicains ont abandonné leurs biens, et voici, nous multiplions les nôtres ;

ܓܲܝܵܤܹ̈ܐ ܪܚܸܡ̣ܘ ܠܲܨܠܝܼܒ݂ܵܐ: ܘܨܝܼܪܵܐ ܒܲܢ ܪܸܚܡܲܬ݂ ܟܸܤܦܵܐ܀

اللُّصوصُ أَحَبّوا الصَّليبَ، ومَحَبَّةُ الفِضَّةِ مَرسومَةٌ فينا.

gayāsē rḥemw la-ṣlīvā: w-ṣīrā ban reḥmath kespā.

Robbers loved the cross, but the love of money is painted in us;

Les brigands ont aimé la croix, mais l'amour de l'argent est peint en nous ;

ܒܲܓ݂ܡܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܤܸܦܲܬ݀ ܢܘܼܪܵܗ̇: ܘܠܵܐ ܡܛܵܐ ܠܲܢ ܠܲܗܓܵܗ̇ ܥܕܲܟܹ݁ܝܠ.

عِندَ الكامِلينَ خَمَدَت نارُها، ولَم يَبلُغنا حَرُّها حَتّى الآنَ؛

ba-ghmīrē sepat nūrāh: w-lā mṭā lan la-hgāh ʿdakēyl.

Among the perfect her fire has already died down, yet its heat has not yet reached us;

Chez les parfaits son feu s'est déjà éteint, et sa chaleur ne nous a pas encore atteints ;

ܢܲܨܝܼܚܹ̈ܐ ܪܬܲܚܼܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܚܘܼܡܗ̇: ܘܠܸܒܲܢ ܕܝܼܠܲܢ ܠܵܐ ܫܵܚܹܲܢ܀

الأَفاضِلُ اشتَعَلوا مِن حَرِّها، وقَلبُنا نَحنُ لا يَسخُنُ.

naṣīḥē rtaḥīw men ḥūmh: w-leban d-īlan lā shāḥēn.

The illustrious grew fervent from her heat, but our own heart is not warmed;

Les illustres se sont enflammés de sa chaleur, mais notre cœur, à nous, ne s'échauffe pas ;

ܟܹܐܢܹ̈ܐ ܐܵܘܩܸܕ݂ܘ ܦܲܓ݂ܪ̈ܲܝܗܘܿܢ: ܘܓ݂ܘܼܫܡܲܢ ܩܲܪܝܼܪ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܹܐܦܵܐ.‏

الصِّدّيقونَ أَحرَقوا أَجسادَهُم، وجَسَدُنا أَبرَدُ مِنَ الحَجَرِ؛

kēnē āwqedhw paghrayhōn: w-ghūshman qarīr men kēpā.

The righteous burned their bodies, but our flesh is colder than stone;

Les justes ont brûlé leurs corps, mais notre chair est plus froide que la pierre ;

ܢܒ݂ܝܹ̈ܐ ܦܤܝܼܩܝܼܢ ܪܹ̈ܫܲܝܗܘܿܢ: ܘܲܓ݂ܠܸܐ ܪܹܫܲܢ ܕܲܢܡܲܠܸܠ܀

الأَنبِياءُ قُطِعَت رُؤوسُهُم، ورَأسُنا مَكشوفٌ لِنَتَكَلَّمَ.

nvyē psīqīn rēshayhōn: wa-ghle rēshan da-nmalel.

The prophets had their heads cut off, yet our own head is bared to speak.

Les prophètes ont eu la tête tranchée, et notre tête, à nous, est découverte pour parler.

ܕܥܲܠ ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ ܕܫܵܓ݂ܫܵܐ ܠܐܲܚܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܠܕܲܝܪ̈ܵܝܹ̈ܐ. 41
Photograph of page 41 of Bedjan’s 1903 edition, leaf 0826
Leaf 0826, from Archive.org.

ܫܠܝܼܚܹ̈ܐ ܪܓ݂ܝܼܡܝܼܢ ܥܲܠ ܐܲܦܲܝ̈ܢ: ܘܟܹܐܦܹ̈ܐ ܥܕܲܟܹ݁ܝܠ ܡܸܬ݂ܦܲܤ̈ܠܵܢ.‏

الرُّسُلُ رُجِموا مِن أَجلِنا، والحِجارَةُ لَم تُنحَت بَعدُ لَنا؛

shlīḥē rghīmīn ʿal apayn: w-kēpē ʿdakēyl methpaslān.

The apostles were stoned for our sake, yet stones have not yet been hewn for us;

Les apôtres ont été lapidés pour nous, et des pierres ne sont pas encore taillées pour nous ;

ܡܵܪܲܢ ܢܲܦܝܼܩ ܒܲܒ݂ܥܵܬܲܢ: ܘܐܲܪ̈ܥܵܢܝܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܒܵܥܹ̇ܝܢܲܢ܀

رَبُّنا خَرَجَ في طَلَبِنا، ونَحنُ نَطلُبُ الأُمورَ الأَرضِيَّةَ.

māran napīq ba-b-ʿātan: w-arʿānyāthā bāʿēynan.

Our Lord went out in search of us, yet we seek after earthly things;

Notre Seigneur est sorti à notre recherche, et nous, nous recherchons les choses terrestres ;

ܫܡܲܝܵܐ ܫܒܲܩ̣ ܘܲܢܚܸܬ݂ ܤܲܥ̣ܪܲܢ: ܘܤܵܥܪܝܼܢܲܢ ܦܲܓ݂ܪ̈ܵܢܝܵܬ݂ܵܐ.

تَرَكَ السَّماءَ ونَزَلَ لِيَزورَنا، ونَحنُ نَهتَمُّ بِالأُمورِ الجَسَدِيَّةِ؛

shmayā shbaq wa-nḥeth saʿran: w-sāʿrīnan paghrānyāthā.

He left heaven and came down to visit us, yet we attend to carnal things;

Il a laissé le ciel et est descendu nous visiter, et nous, nous nous adonnons aux choses charnelles ;

ܐܸܢ ܫܵܡܲܥ ܛܘܼܪܵܐ ܦܵܩܲܥ: ܕܤܲܩܵܐ ܙܵܒܲܢ ܘܲܡܙܲܒ݁ܲܢ܀

لَو سَمِعَ الجَبَلُ أَنَّ المِسحَ يُشترى ويُباعُ، لَانشَقَّ؛

en shāmaʿ ṭūrā pāqaʿ: d-saqā zāban wa-mzaban.

If the mountain heard that sackcloth is bought and sold, it would burst;

Si la montagne entendait que le sac se vend et s'achète, elle éclaterait ;

ܐܸܢ ܚܵܙ̇ܐ ܝܲܡܵܐ ܙܵܐܲܥ̇: ܕܤܲܥܪܵܐ ܢܲܦܝܼܩ ܒܐܘܼܪ̈ܚܵܬ݂ܵܐ.

لَو رَأى البَحرُ لَارتَعَدَ، أَنَّ لِباسَ الشَّعرِ يَخرُجُ في الطُّرُقاتِ؛

en ḥāz yamā zāaʿ: d-saʿrā napīq b-ʾūrḥāthā.

If the sea saw it, it would tremble, that hair-garments go out into the streets;

Si la mer le voyait, elle tremblerait, que les vêtements de crin sortent dans les rues ;

ܐܸܬ݂ܟܲܚܲܕ݂ ܫܸܡܫܵܐ ܕܲܚ̣ܙܵܐ: ܕܐܲܚܹ̈ܐ ܥܒ݂ܝܼܕ݂ܝܼܢ ܬܲܓܵܪܹ̈ܐ܀

اختَفَتِ الشَّمسُ لَمّا رَأَت، أَنَّ الإخوَةَ صاروا تُجّارًا.

ethkaḥadh shemshā da-ḥzā: d-aḥē ʿvīdhīn tagārē.

The sun hid itself when it saw that brothers had become merchants;

Le soleil s'est caché en voyant que les frères sont devenus marchands ;

ܫܸܡܫܹ̈ܐ ܚܲܦܝܼܘ ܪܹ̈ܫܲܝܗܘܿܢ: ܕܲܓ݂ܠܵܘ ܢܲܟ̈ܦܹܐ ܤܲܥܪ̈ܲܝܗܘܿܢ.‏

الشُّموسُ غَطَّت رُؤوسَها، لِأَنَّ العُفَفاءَ كَشَفوا شَعرَهُم؛

shemshē ḥapīw rēshayhōn: da-ghlāw nakpē saʿrayhōn.

The suns covered their heads, because the chaste uncovered their hair;

Les soleils se sont couvert la tête, parce que les chastes ont découvert leur chevelure ;

ܠܒ݂ܝܼܫܝܼܢܲܢ ܤܲܥܪܵܐ ܢܲܟ݂ܦܵܐ: ܘܦܵܗܹ̇ܝܢܲܢ ܒܹܝܬ݂ ܡܵܚܘܿܙ̈ܐ܀

نَحنُ لابِسونَ لِباسَ الشَّعرِ العَفيفَ، ونَحنُ تائِهونَ بَينَ المُدُنِ.

l-b-īshīnan saʿrā nakhpā: w-pāhēynan bēyth māḥōz.

We have put on the modest hair-garment, yet we wander about the market towns;

Nous avons revêtu le vêtement de crin modeste, et nous errons parmi les bourgs marchands ;

ܛܥܝܼܢܝܼܢܲܢ ܤܲܥܪܵܐ ܙܲܗܝܵܐ: ܘܥܵܐ̇ܠܝܼܢܲܢ ܠܲܡܕ݂ܝ̈ܢܵܬ݂ܵܐ.

نَحنُ حامِلونَ لِباسَ الشَّعرِ الطّاهِرَ، ونَحنُ داخِلونَ إلى المُدُنِ؛

ṭʿīnīnan saʿrā zahyā: w-ʿālīnan la-mdhynāthā.

We wear the pure hair-garment, yet we go up into the cities;

Nous portons le vêtement de crin pur, et nous montons vers les cités ;

ܡܪܝܼܩܝܼܢܲܢ ܒܲܕ݂ܡܵܐ ܚܲܤܝܵܐ: ܘܡܵܘܩܸܕ݂ ܠܲܢ ܚܸܠܵܗ̇ ܕܐܲܪܥܵܐ܀

نَحنُ مُطَهَّرونَ بِدَمٍ قُدّوسٍ، وسُمُّ الأَرضِ يُحرِقُنا.

mrīqīnan ba-d-mā ḥasyā: w-māwqedh lan ḥelāh d-arʿā.

We are cleansed by holy blood, yet the poison of the earth burns us;

Nous sommes purifiés par le sang saint, et le poison de la terre nous brûle ;

ܛܥܝܼܢܝܼܢܲܢ ܩܸܛܠܹܗ ܕܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ: ܘܲܬ݂ܥܵܫܵܗ̇ ܕܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܩܲܛ̣ܠܲܢ.‏

نَحنُ حامِلونَ قَتلَ الابنِ، وعَثرَةُ الأَرضِ تَقتُلُنا؛

ṭʿīnīnan qeṭlēh da-b-rā: wa-thʿāshāh d-arʿā qaṭlan.

We bear the killing of the Son, yet the stumbling of the earth kills us;

Nous portons le meurtre du Fils, et l'achoppement de la terre nous tue ;

ܠܒ݂ܝܼܟ݂ܝܼܢܲܢ ܥܘܼܬ݂ܪܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ: ܘܦܵܠܚ̇ܝܼܢܲܢ ܒܐܲܓ݂ܝܼܪܘܼܬܵܐ܀

نَحنُ مُمسِكونَ غِنًى عَظيمًا، ونَحنُ نَعمَلُ كَالمُستَأجَرينَ.

l-b-īkhīnan ʿūthrā rabā: w-pālḥīnan b-aghīrūtā.

We have seized great wealth, and yet we labor like hired hands;

Nous avons saisi une grande richesse, et pourtant nous travaillons comme des mercenaires ;

ܟܲܕ ܓܲܙܵܐ ܕܡܲܠܟܵܐ ܨܐܕܲܝܢ: ܪܸܢܝܹܗ ܕܲܡܚܵܪ ܩܵܛܲܠ ܠܲܢ܀

بَينَما كَنزُ المَلِكِ عِندَنا، هَمُّ الغَدِ يَقتُلُنا.

kad gazā d-malkā ṣdayn: renyēh da-mḥār qāṭal lan.

While the King's treasure is within our reach, anxiety for tomorrow kills us;

Alors que le trésor du Roi est à notre portée, le souci du lendemain nous tue ;

ܐܸܠܘܼܠܵܐ ܕܲܟ݂ܪܹܝܢ ܚܲܝܵܘ̈ܗܝ: ܕܗܵܢܵܐ ܕܵܪܲܢ ܗܲܦܟܵܝܵܐ.

لَولا أَنَّ حَياتَهُ قَصيرَةٌ، ما أَعوَجَ هذا زَمانَنا!

elūlā da-khrēyn ḥayāwhī: d-hānā dāran hapkāyā.

Except that his life is short, how perverse is this our age!

Si ce n'était que sa vie est courte, combien pervers est ce siècle qui est nôtre !

ܫܡܲܝܵܐ ܗܵܝ̇ ܕܲܠܥܸܠ ܡܸܢܲܢ: ܚܲܩܠܵܐ ܥ̣ܒܲܕ݂ܢܵܗ̇ ܘܲܙܪܲܥܢܵܗ̇܀

أَمّا السَّماءُ الَّتي فَوقَنا، فَقَد جَعَلناها حَقلًا وزَرَعناها.

shmayā (h)ī da-l-ʿal menan: ḥaqlā ʿbadhnāh wa-zraʿnāh.

As for heaven above us, we have made it a field and sown it;

Quant au ciel qui est au-dessus de nous, nous en avons fait un champ et nous l'avons semé ;

ܐܲܠܘܼܠܵܐ ܡܤܲܪܗܸܒ݂ ܩܸܨܵܐ: ܘܐܵܚܹܕ݂ ܤܵܟܹܗ ܒܲܪܢܵܫܵܐ.

لَولا أَنَّ النِّهايَةَ تُعَجِّلُ، وتُمسِكُ الإنسانَ عِندَ حَدِّهِ،

alūlā msarhev qeṣā: w-āḥēdh sākēh ba-rnāshā.

Except that the end hastens, and seizes man at his limit,

Si ce n'est que la fin se hâte, et saisit l'homme à sa limite,

ܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܗܵܕ݂ ܕܲܫܩܝܼܠܵܐ ܠܲܢ: ܥܲܦܪܵܗ̇ ܒܟܲܝܠܵܐ ܦܲܠܸܓ݂ܢܵܝܗܝ܀

هذِهِ الأَرضُ المَمنوحَةُ لَنا — تُرابَها قَسَمناهُ بِالمِكيالِ!

arʿā hādh da-shqīlā lan: ʿaprāh b-kaylā paleghnāyhī.

this earth that is allotted to us — we have divided even its dust by measure!

cette terre qui nous est allouée — nous en avons partagé la poussière même à la mesure !

ܠܵܐ ܙܪܲܥ̣ ܥܲܡܵܐ ܒܓܵܘ ܕܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ: ܠܵܐ ܢܲܨܲܒ݂ܘ ܘܲܫܬܲܠܼܘ ܥܸܒ݂ܪܵܝܹ̈ܐ.

لَم يَزرَعِ الشَّعبُ في البَرِّيَّةِ؛ لَم يَغرِسِ العِبرانِيّونَ ولَم يَزرَعوا؛

lā zraʿ ʿamā b-gāw da-b-rā: lā naṣavw wa-shtalīw ʿevrāyē.

The people did not sow in the wilderness; the Hebrews neither planted nor sowed;

Le peuple n'a pas semé dans le désert ; les Hébreux n'ont ni planté ni semé ;

ܡܲܢܢܵܐ ܠܲܚܡܵܐ ܕܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ: ܕܠܵܐ ܥܲܡܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܟܲܠܼܘ ܟܵܦܘܿܪܹ̈ܐ.

المَنَّ، خُبزَ السَّماءِ، أَكَلَهُ الجاحِدونَ بِلا تَعَبٍ؛

mannā la-ḥmā da-shmayā: d-lā ʿamlā kalīw kāpōrē.

Manna, the bread of heaven, the ungrateful ate without labor;

La manne, pain du ciel, les négateurs l'ont mangée sans labeur ;

ܐܤܢܵܐ ܐ̄ܡܝܼܢܵܐ ܕܛܲܝܒܵܘܼܬܵܐ: ܕܠܵܐ ܝܵܬ̇ܲܪ ܐ̄ܦܠܵܐ ܚܵܤܲܪ܀

عَطاءٌ دائِمٌ مِنَ النِّعمَةِ، لا يَزيدُ ولا يَنقُصُ؛

ʾsnā mīnā d-ṭaybāūtā: d-lā yātar plā ḥāsar.

A continual provision of grace, that neither increased nor diminished;

Une provision continuelle de grâce, qui ne croissait ni ne diminuait ;

ܙܩܘܿܪܵܐ ܕܪܵܒܹܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܢܲܦܫܹܗ: ܠܒ݂ܝܼܫ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܙܲܪܥܹܗ ܕܐܲܒ݂ܪܵܗܵܡ.

نَسيجًا نَما مِن ذاتِهِ، لَبِسَهُ نَسلُ إبراهيمَ.

zqōrā d-rābē men napshēh: l-b-īsh (h)wā zarʿēh d-avrāhām.

A fabric that grew by itself, the seed of Abraham wore;

Une étoffe qui croissait d'elle-même, la semence d'Abraham la portait ;

ܗܲܒ݂.5

هَب [...]

hav.

Give [...]

Donne [...]

ܡܐܡܪܵܐ .ܕ. ܕܡܵܪܝ ܐܝܼܤܚܵܩ ܕܐܲܢܛܝܘܿܟ݂ 42
Photograph of page 42 of Bedjan’s 1903 edition, leaf 0825
Leaf 0825, from Archive.org.

ܐܵܐܲܪ ܤܵܘܩܵܐ ܕܒ݂ܘܼܤܵܡܹ̈ܐ: ܒܕܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ ܠܥܲܡܵܐ ܢܵܫܹܒ݂ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܐ܀

هَواءٌ مُحَمَّلٌ بِالعُطورِ، كانَ يَهُبُّ لِلشَّعبِ في البَرِّيَّةِ؛

āar sāwqā d-b-w-sāmē: b-da-b-rā l-ʿamā nāshēv (h)w.

The air, laden with fragrances, blew for the people in the wilderness;

L'air, chargé de parfums, soufflait pour le peuple dans le désert ;

ܢܲܚܬܵܐ ܪܓ݂ܝܼܓܵܐ ܕܲܥܢܵܢܵܐ: ܦܪܝܼܣ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܪܹܫ ܟܵܦܘܿܪܹ̈ܐ.

غِطاءٌ لَطيفٌ مِنَ السَّحابِ، كانَ مَبسوطًا فَوقَ رُؤوسِ الجاحِدينَ؛

naḥtā rghīgā da-ʿnānā: prīs (h)wā ʿal rēsh kāpōrē.

A pleasant covering of cloud was spread over the heads of the ingrates;

Un agréable manteau de nuée était étendu sur la tête des négateurs ;

ܥܲܡܘܼܕܵܐ ܚܲܤܝܵܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܵܐ: ܡܲܢܗܲܪ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܒܓܵܘ ܡܲܫܪܝܼܬ݂ܵܐ܀

عَمودٌ قُدّوسٌ مِن نارٍ، كانَ يُنيرُ داخِلَ المُعَسكَرِ.

ʿamūdā ḥasyā d-nūrā: manhar (h)wā b-gāw mashrīthā.

A holy pillar of fire gave light within the camp;

Une sainte colonne de feu donnait sa lumière au milieu du camp ;

ܐܸܢ ܠܥܲܡܵܐ ܕܲܩܛܲܠ̣ ܠܲܒ݂ܪܹܗ: ܗܵܟܲܢ ܦܲܪܢܸܣ ܚܲܢܵܢܵܐ.‏

إن كانَ لِلشَّعبِ الَّذي قَتَلَ ابنَهُ، هكَذا دَبَّرَ الرَّحمنُ،

en l-ʿamā da-qṭal la-b-rēh: hākan parnes ḥanānā.

If for the people who killed his Son, the Merciful One provided thus,

Si pour le peuple qui a tué son Fils, le Miséricordieux a pourvu ainsi,

ܟܡܵܐ ܙܵܐ̇ܢ ܠܐܲܝܢܵܐ ܕܡܘܕܹܐ: ܒܝܼܚܝܼܕܹܗ ܗܵܘ̇ ܪܲܚܡܵܢܵܐ܀

فَكَم بِالحَرِيِّ يَعولُ الرَّحيمُ، مَن يَعتَرِفُ بِوَحيدِهِ!

kmā zān l-aynā d-mwdē: b-īḥīdēh hāw raḥmānā.

how much more does the Merciful One nourish the one who confesses in his Only-Begotten!

combien plus le Compatissant nourrit-il celui qui confesse son Fils unique !

ܡ̣ܢ ܠܘܼܥܵܐ ܡܲܝ̈ܵܐ ܐܲܪܕܲܝܼ: ܠܵܐ ܬܸܫܬܲܓ݂ܫܘܼܢ ܚܲܒ݁ܝܼܒܲܝ.

مِنَ الصَّخرَةِ أَجرى المِياهَ: لا تَضطَرِبوا يا أَحِبّائي؛

men l-w-ʿā mayā ardaī: lā teshtaghshūn ḥabībaī.

From the rock-basin he made water flow: be not troubled, my beloved;

Du rocher il a fait couler l'eau : ne soyez pas troublés, mes bien-aimés ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܩܘܼܠܬ݂ܵܐ ܝܲܗ̣̄ܒ݂ ܬܘܼܪܤܵܝܵܐ: ܠܵܐ ܬܸܬ݂ܪܲܗܒ݂ܘܼܢ ܚܲܟ݁ܝ̈ܡܹܐ܀

مِن جَرَّةٍ أَعطى القوتَ: لا تَرتاعوا أَيُّها الحُكَماءُ؛

men qūlthā ya(h)v tūrsāyā: lā tethrahvūn ḥakymē.

From a jar he gave sustenance: be not fearful, you wise;

D'une cruche il a donné la nourriture : ne soyez pas craintifs, vous les sages ;

ܡ̣ܢ ܩܲܪܢܵܐ ܡܸܫܚܵܐ ܢ̣ܤܲܟ݂ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ: ܠܵܐ ܬܸܫܬܲܚܩܘܼܢ ܦܵܪ̈ܘܿܫܹܐ.‏

مِن قَرنٍ سَكَبَ الزَّيتَ: لا تُتعَبوا أَيُّها الفَطِنونَ؛

men qarnā meshḥā nsakh (h)wā: lā teshtaḥqūn pārōshē.

From a horn he poured out oil: be not worn down, you discerning;

D'une corne il a répandu l'huile : ne soyez pas accablés, vous les discernants ;

ܐܸܢ ܡܲܝ̈ܐ ܠܚܲܡܪܵܐ ܫܲܚܠܸܦ݂: ܡܢ ܠܵܐܹܝܬ݁ܘܿܢ ܛܲܥܡܵܢܹ̈ܐ܀

إن كانَ حَوَّلَ الماءَ خَمرًا، فَلِمَ تَتعَبونَ أَيُّها الذّائِقونَ؟

en may l-ḥamrā shaḥlef: men lāēytōn ṭaʿmānē.

If he changed water into wine, why do you grow weary, you who have tasted his goodness?

S'il a changé l'eau en vin, pourquoi vous lassez-vous, vous qui avez goûté sa bonté ?

ܠܟ݂ܵܦܘܿܪܹ̈ܐ ܤܲܠܘܲܝ ܤܲܒܲܥ̣: ܠܵܐ ܥܲܤܩܵܐ ܠܹܗ ܡܹܐܟ݂ܘܼܠܬܲܢ.‏

أَشبَعَ الجاحِدينَ بِالسَّلوى: لا يَصعُبُ عَلَيهِ طَعامُنا؛

l-khāpōrē salwaī sabaʿ: lā ʿasqā lēh mēkhūltan.

He satisfied the ingrates with quail: our food is no burden to him;

Il a rassasié les négateurs de cailles : notre nourriture ne lui est pas à charge ;

ܒܓܵܘ ܝܲܡܵܐ ܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܥ̣ܒܲܕ݂ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ: ܢܹܐܟܲܦ ܩܲܠܝܼܠ ܥܲܠ ܐܘܼܪܚܲܢ܀

في وَسَطِ البَحرِ صَنَعَ طَريقًا: فَليَمِل قَليلًا إلى طَريقِنا.

b-gāw yamā ʾūrḥā ʿbadh (h)wā: nēkap qalīl ʿal ʾūrḥan.

In the midst of the sea he made a way: let him incline a little to our path;

Au milieu de la mer il a fait un chemin : qu'il s'incline un peu vers notre chemin ;

ܐܸܠܝܼܫܲܥ ܦܲܫܲܚ̣ ܬܵܘܪܹ̈ܐ: ܘܡܵܐܢܹ̈ܐ ܒܢܘܼܪܵܐ ܐܵܘܩܸܕ݂ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ.‏

أَليشَعُ ذَبَحَ ثيرانَهُ، وأَحرَقَ أَدَواتِ المِحراثِ بِالنّارِ؛

elīshaʿ pashaḥ tāwrē: w-mānē b-nūrā āwqedh (h)wā.

Elisha slaughtered his oxen, and burned the plow-gear in the fire;

Élisée a immolé ses bœufs, et a brûlé au feu les instruments de labour ;

ܗܵܐ ܟܕܲܝ̈ܢܵܢ ܠܲܢ ܦܲܕܵܢܹ̈ܐ: ܘܒܲܐܪܥܵܐ ܗ݀ܘܲܝܢܲܢ ܐܲܟܵܪܹ̈ܐ܀

ها نَحنُ نَيَّرنا أَنفُسَنا بِالمَحاريثِ، وصِرنا فَلّاحينَ عَلى الأَرضِ.

hā kdaynān lan padānē: w-ba-ʾrʿā hwaynan akārē.

Behold, we have yoked ourselves to the plow, and become farmers on the earth;

Voici, nous nous sommes attelés à la charrue, et sommes devenus laboureurs sur la terre ;

ܬܵܘ ܢܲܪܦܸܐ ܥܲܡܠܵܐ ܕܐܲܪܥܵܐ: ܘܢܸܠܒ݁ܘܿܟ݂ ܥܲܡܠܵܐ ܫܡܲܝܵܢܵܐ.‏

تَعالَوا نَترُك تَعَبَ الأَرضِ، ونَأخُذَ تَعَبَ السَّماءِ؛

tāw narpe ʿamlā d-arʿā: w-nelbōkh ʿamlā shmayānā.

Come, let us release earthly labor, and take up heavenly labor;

Venez, laissons le labeur terrestre, et prenons le labeur céleste ;

ܬܵܘ ܢܲܪܦܸܐ ܪܸܚܡܲܬ݂ ܟܸܤܦܵܐ: ܘܪܸܚܡܲܬ݂ ܒܵܪܘܿܝܵܐ ܢܸܠܒ݁ܘܿܟ݂܀

تَعالَوا نَترُك مَحَبَّةَ الفِضَّةِ، ونَأخُذَ مَحَبَّةَ الخالِقِ.

tāw narpe reḥmath kespā: w-reḥmath bārōyā nelbōkh.

Come, let us release the love of money, and take up the love of the Creator;

Venez, laissons l'amour de l'argent, et prenons l'amour du Créateur ;

ܬܵܘ ܢܸܬ݁ܬܲܠܡܲܕ݂ ܠܲܫܠܝܼܚܹ̈ܐ: ܕܫܲܠܚܘܼܗܝ ܥܘܼܡܪܵܐ ܒܚܲܝܼܝܗܘܿܢ.‏

تَعالَوا نَتَتَلمَذ لِلرُّسُلِ، الَّذينَ خَلَعوا الاستِقرارَ في حَياتِهِم؛

tāw nettalmadh la-shlīḥē: d-shalḥūhī ʿūmrā b-ḥaīyhōn.

Come, let us be disciples of the apostles, who stripped away settled life in their lifetime;

Venez, faisons-nous disciples des apôtres, qui ont dépouillé la vie établie dans leur temps ;

ܐܸܫܡܲܥ ܡܸܠܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܢܒ݂ܝܹܐ: ܕܡܲܠܦܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܐ̄ܢܘܿܢ ܕܲܫܪܵܪܵܐ܀

اسمَعوا كَلامَ الأَنبِياءِ، فَإنَّهُم مُعَلِّمو الحَقِّ؛

eshmaʿ melē da-nvyē: d-malpānē nōn da-shrārā.

Hear the words of the prophets, for they are the teachers of truth;

Écoute les paroles des prophètes, car ils sont les docteurs de la vérité ;

ܬܵܘ ܢܸܬ݁ܬܲܠܡܲܕ݂ ܝܵܕ̈ܘܿܥܹܐ: ܠܲܟ݂ܬ݂ܵܒܹ̈ܐ ܕܝܲܠܝܼܦܝܼܢܲܢ.‏

تَعالَوا نَحنُ العارِفينَ نَتَتَلمَذ، لِلكُتُبِ الَّتي تَعَلَّمناها؛

tāw nettalmadh yādōʿē: la-khthābē d-yalīpīnan.

Come, let us who know become disciples of the scriptures we have learned;

Venez, nous qui savons, faisons-nous disciples des Écritures que nous avons apprises ;

ܘܢܸܫܠܲܚ ܢܸܫܕܹܐ ܩܸܢܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ: ܘܢܲܩܢܸܐ ܢܲܦ̮ܫܲܢ ܠܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ܀

ولنَخلَع ونَطرَحَ الأَملاكَ، ونَقتَنِيَ نُفوسَنا للهِ.

w-neshlaḥ neshdē qenyānē: w-naqne napshan l-alāhā.

And let us strip off and cast away possessions, and gain our souls for God;

Et dépouillons-nous, rejetons les possessions, et gagnons notre âme pour Dieu ;

ܐܲܪܦܝܼܢ ܓܹܝܪ ܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܕܲܠܒܲܟܲܢ: ܘܟ݂ܠ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܤܵܥܲܪ ܐܘܼܪ̈ܚܵܬܹܗ.

فَقَد تُرِكَتِ الطَّريقُ الَّتي كانَت تُمسِكُنا، وكُلُّ إنسانٍ يَسلُكُ طُرُقَهُ؛

arpīn gēyr ʾūrḥā da-l-bakan: w-kul nāsh sāʿar ʾūrḥātēh.

For they abandoned the way that held us fast, and everyone now pursues his own ways;

Car ils ont abandonné la voie qui nous tenait captifs, et chacun désormais poursuit ses propres voies ;

ܥܸܒ݂ܪܲܬ݀ ܪܸܚܡܲܬ݂ ܒܵܪܘܿܝܵܐ: ܘܐܸܬ݂ܢܲܨܒܲܬ݀ ܪܸܚܡܲܬ݂ ܟܸܤܦܵܐ܀

زالَت مَحَبَّةُ الخالِقِ، وتَرَسَّخَت مَحَبَّةُ الفِضَّةِ.

ʿevrat reḥmath bārōyā: w-ethnaṣbat reḥmath kespā.

The love of the Creator has passed away, and the love of money has taken root;

L'amour du Créateur a disparu, et l'amour de l'argent s'est enraciné ;

ܕܥܵܡ̇ܠ ܘܚܲܤܝܼܪ ܪܸܥܝܵܢܹܗ: ܒܗܵܠܹܝܢ ܕܲܬ݂ܢܵܢ ܒܲܛܝܼܠܵܐ ܗܼ̄ܘ.‏

مَن يَتعَبُ وفِكرُهُ ناقِصٌ، في هذِهِ الَّتي ذَكَرناها هُنا، فَهوَ بَطّالٌ حَقًّا.

d-ʿāml w-ḥasīr reʿyānēh: b-hālēyn da-thnān ba-ṭīlā hāw.

He who toils, yet whose mind is deficient in these things we have told, is idle indeed.

Celui qui peine, et dont l'esprit est dépourvu de ces choses que nous avons dites, celui-là est bien oisif.

ܕܥܲܠ ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ ܕܫܵܓܲܫܵܐ ܠܐܲܚܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܠܕܲܝܪܵܝܹܐ.‏ 43
Photograph of page 43 of Bedjan’s 1903 edition, leaf 0824
Leaf 0824, from Archive.org.

ܡܤܲܪܩܘܼܬܵܐ ܘܡܸܤܟܹܢܘܼܬܵܐ: ܪܹܫܵܐ ܕܲܥܒ݂ܵܕܵܐ ܛܵܒܹ̈ܐ܀

التَّجَرُّدُ والفَقرُ، هُما رَأسُ الأَعمالِ الصّالِحَةِ؛

msarqūtā w-meskēnūtā: rēshā da-ʿvādā ṭābē.

Renunciation and poverty are the crown of good deeds;

Le renoncement et la pauvreté sont la couronne des bonnes œuvres ;

ܢܸܬ݁ܬ݁ܒܲܪ ܢܝܼܪܵܗ̇ ܕܲܚܛܝܼܬ݂ܵܐ: ܕܲܟ݂ܕܲܢܬܲܢ ܥܲܡ ܚܲܝ̈ܘܵܬ݂ܵܐ.‏

لِيُكسَر نيرُ الخَطيئَةِ، الَّذي نَيَّرَنا مَعَ البَهائِمِ؛

nettbar nīrāh da-ḥṭīthā: da-khdantan ʿam ḥaywāthā.

Let the yoke of sin be broken, which has yoked us together with beasts;

Que soit brisé le joug du péché, qui nous a attelés avec les bêtes ;

ܕܠܵܐ ܩܢܵܐ ܡܸܕܸܡ ܡܵܪܹܟ݁ܠ: ܦܸܨܘ ܐܝܼܕܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܩܸܢ̈ܝܵܢܹܐ܀

مَن لا يَملِكُ شَيئًا فَهوَ [...] سَيِّدُ الكُلِّ: حَرِّر يَدَكَ مِنَ الأَملاكِ.

d-lā qnā medem mārēkl: peṣw ʾīdā men qenyānē.

He who possesses nothing is [...] lord of all: free your hand from possessions.

Celui qui ne possède rien est [...] maître de tout : libère ta main des possessions.

ܬܵܘ ܐܸܬ݁ܬܲܠܡܲܕ݂ܘ ܪ̈ܲܒܵܢܹܐ: ܠܲܢܒ݂ܝܹ̈ܐ ܪܲܒܵܢܲܝܟ݁ܘܿܢ.‏

تَعالَوا تَتَلمَذوا أَيُّها الرَّبّانِيّونَ، لِلأَنبِياءِ رَبّانِيِّيكُم؛

tāw ettalmadhw rabānē: la-nvyē rabānaykōn.

Come, be disciples, you masters, to the prophets who are your masters;

Venez, faites-vous disciples, vous les maîtres, des prophètes qui sont vos maîtres ;

ܫܠܘܿܚܘ ܘܲܫܕ݂ܵܐܘܼܗ̇ ܠܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ: ܕܝܲܩܝܼܪ ܛܲܥܢܵܗ̇ ܠܦܵܪ̈ܘܿܫܹܐ܀

اخلَعوا واطرَحوا الكِبرِياءَ، فَإنَّ حِملَها ثَقيلٌ عَلى الفَطِنينَ.

shlōḥw wa-shdhāūh l-yaʿnūtā: d-yaqīr ṭaʿnāh l-pārōshē.

Strip off and cast away arrogance, for her burden is heavy on the discerning;

Dépouillez-vous et rejetez l'arrogance, car son fardeau est lourd sur les discernants ;

ܛܲܥ̣ܢܵܗ̇ ܐܵܕܵܡ ܘܲܦܤܲܩܬܹܗ: ܛܲܥ݂ܢܵܗ̇ ܩܵܐܹܝܢ ܘܐܲܪܥܸܠܬܹܗ.

حَمَلَها آدَمُ فَقَطَعَتهُ؛ حَمَلَها قايينُ فَجَعَلَتهُ تائِهًا مُرتَعِدًا؛

ṭaʿnāh ādām wa-psaqtēh: ṭaʿnāh qāēyn w-arʿeltēh.

Adam carried her, and she cut him off; Cain carried her, and she made him a trembling wanderer;

Adam la porta, et elle le retrancha ; Caïn la porta, et elle en fit un errant tremblant ;

ܛܲܥ݂ܢܵܗ̇ ܚܸܘܝܵܐ ܘܐܲܚܓ݂ܲܪܬܹܗ: ܛܲܥ݂ܢܵܗ̇ ܝܗ̄ܘܼܕܵܐ ܘܲܚܢܲܩܬܹܗ܀

حَمَلَها الحَيَّةُ فَجَعَلَتها تَزحَفُ؛ حَمَلَها يَهوذا فَخَنَقَتهُ.

ṭaʿnāh ḥewyā w-aḥghartēh: ṭaʿnāh y(h)ūdā wa-ḥnaqtēh.

The serpent carried her, and she made him crawl; Judas carried her, and she strangled him;

Le serpent la porta, et elle le fit ramper ; Judas la porta, et elle l'étrangla ;

ܛܲܥܢܵܗ̇ ܥܵܟ݂ܵܪ ܘܲܪܓܲܡܬܹܗ: ܐܵܦ ܚܲܢܲܢܝܵܐ ܘܲܩܛܲܠܬܹܗ.‏

حَمَلَها عَخانُ فَرَجَمَتهُ؛ وحَنَنيا أَيضًا فَقَتَلَتهُ؛

ṭaʿnāh ʿākhār wa-rgamtēh: āp ḥananyā wa-qṭaltēh.

Achan carried her, and she had him stoned; Ananias too, and she killed him;

Acan la porta, et elle le fit lapider ; Ananias aussi, et elle le tua ;

ܛܲܥܼܲܢܵܗ̇ ܓܲܚܙܝܼ ܘܐܲܓ݂ܪܸܒ݂ܬܹܗ: ܐܵܚܵܒ݂ ܛܲܥ݂ܢܵܗ̇ ܘܲܕܓܲܫܬܹܗ܀

حَمَلَها جِيحَزي فَبَرَّصَتهُ؛ حَمَلَها آخابُ فَطَعَنَتهُ.

ṭaʿanāh gaḥzī w-aghrevtēh: āḥāv ṭaʿnāh wa-d-gashtēh.

Gehazi carried her, and she made him a leper; Ahab carried her, and she pierced him;

Guéhazi la porta, et elle le fit lépreux ; Achab la porta, et elle le transperça ;

ܪܹܫܵܐ ܕܚܵܘܵܐ ܐܲܟ݂ܐܸܒ݂ܬܹܗ: ܦܘܼܡܵܗ̇ ܡܠܵܬܹܗ ܝܑܲܠܲܠܬܵܐ.

رَأسُ حَوّاءَ — آلَمَتهُ؛ فَمَها امتَلَأَ نَحيبًا.

rēshā d-ḥāwā akhevtēh: pūmāh mlātēh yalaltā.

Eve's head — it pained her; her mouth was filled with wailing.

La tête d'Ève — elle lui fit mal ; sa bouche fut remplie de lamentation.

ܠܐܝܼܙܒܸܠ ܩܸܛܠܲܬ݀ ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ: ܘܲܟ݂ܡܵܐ ܢܸܚܫܘܿܒ݂ ܢܸܟ݂ܝܵܢܹܝܗ܀

إيزابَلَ قَتَلَتها الكِبرِياءُ — وكَم نَحسِبُ أَضرارَها؟

l-ʾīzbel qeṭlat yaʿnūtā: wa-khmā neḥshōv nekhyānēyh.

Arrogance killed Jezebel — how shall we reckon her harm?

L'arrogance tua Jézabel — comment compterons-nous son dommage ?

ܙܵܥܼܘ ܡܸܢܵܗ̇ ܢܘܼܢܲܝ ܝܼܡܵܐ: ܐܵܦ ܦܵܪ̈ܚܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ.

ارتَعَدَ مِنها سَمَكُ البَحرِ، وكَذلِكَ طُيورُ السَّماءِ؛

zāʿīw menāh nūnaī īmā: āp pārḥāthā da-shmayā.

The fish of the sea feared her, and also the birds of heaven;

Les poissons de la mer la craignirent, ainsi que les oiseaux du ciel ;

ܕܚܸܠ̣ ܡܸܢܵܗ̇ ܐܲܪܝܵܐ ܒܕܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ: ܘܙܵܥܲܬ̤݀ ܡܸܢܵܗ̇ ܐܲܪܝܘܼܬܵܐ܀

خافَ مِنها الأَسَدُ في البَرِّيَّةِ، وارتَعَدَتِ اللَّبوَةُ مِنها.

d-ḥel menāh aryā b-da-b-rā: w-zāʿat menāh aryūtā.

The lion in the wilderness feared her, and the lioness trembled before her;

Le lion dans le désert la craignit, et la lionne trembla devant elle ;

ܕܚܸܠܼܘ ܡܸܢܵܗ̇ ܬܘܼܒ݂ ܚܲܪ̈ܡܵܢܹܐ: ܘܐܸܤܦܸܣ ܚܵܒܲܬ݀ ܡ̣ܢ ܩܘܼܕ݂ܡܹܝܗ̇.

خافَت مِنها أَيضًا الحَيّاتُ، والأَفعى هَرَبَت مِن أَمامِها؛

d-ḥelīw menāh tūv ḥarmānē: w-espes ḥābat men qūdhmēyh.

Serpents too feared her, and the asp fled from before her;

Les serpents aussi la craignirent, et l'aspic s'enfuit devant elle ;

ܤܢܵܐܘܼܗ̇ ܟܠܗܘܿܢ ܘܲܟ݂ܦܲܪܘ ܒܵܗ̇: ܘܐܵܕܵܡ ܪܲܚ̣ܡܵܗ̇ ܒܲܠܚܘܿܕܵܘܗܝ܀

أَبغَضَها الجَميعُ وأَنكَروها، وآدَمُ وَحدَهُ أَحَبَّها.

snāūh klhōn wa-khparw bāh: w-ādām raḥmāh ba-l-ḥōdāwhī.

All hated her and disowned her, yet Adam alone loved her;

Tous la haïrent et la renièrent, mais Adam seul l'aima ;

ܗ݀ܘ ܕܪܲܫ̣ ܠܵܗ̇ ܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܠܘܼܩܕܲܡ: ܘܕܵܫܲܬ݀ ܥܸܒ݂ܪܲܬ݀ ܦܘܼܩܕܵܢܵܐ.

هوَ الَّذي رَسَمَ لَها الطَّريقَ أَوَّلًا — فَسَلَكَتها وتَعَدَّتِ الوَصِيَّةَ؛

hāw d-rash lāh ʾūrḥā l-w-qdam: w-dāshat ʿevrat pūqdānā.

He who first marked out her way — she trod it, and transgressed the commandment;

Celui qui, le premier, lui traça la voie — elle la foula, et transgressa le commandement ;

ܗܘ ܐܲܠܦܵܗ̇ ܪܸܓܲܬ݂ ܥܲܝ̈ܢܹܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܪܵܓܵܐ ܟܠ ܕܦܵܓܲܥ̇ ܒܵܗ̇܀

هوَ عَلَّمَها شَهوَةَ العُيونِ، وها كُلُّ مَن يَلقاها يَشتَهيها.

hāw alpāh regath ʿaynē: w-hā rāgā kul d-pāgaʿ bāh.

He taught her the lust of the eyes, and behold, everyone who meets her lusts after her;

Il lui enseigna la convoitise des yeux, et voici, quiconque la rencontre la convoite ;

ܗ݀ܘ ܝܲܗ̣̄ܒ݂ ܠܵܗ̇ ܐܝܼܕ݂ܵܐ ܘܩܵܡܲܬ݀: ܘܲܒ݂ܥܘܼܡܩܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܫܕܵܬܹܗ.‏

هوَ مَدَّ لَها يَدَهُ فَقامَت، وطَرَحَتهُ في هُوَّةٍ عَظيمَةٍ؛

hāw ya(h)v lāh ʾīdhā w-qāmat: wa-b-ʿūmqā rabā shdātēh.

He gave her his hand, and she rose up, and cast him down into a great abyss;

Il lui donna la main, et elle se leva, et le jeta dans un grand abîme ;

ܗ݀ܘ ܚܫܲܠ̣ ܠܵܗ̇ ܙܲܝܢܵܐ ܘܠܸܒ݂ܫܲܬ݀: ܘܗܵܐ ܕܵܓ݂ܫܵܐ ܒܹܗ ܝܵܪ̈ܘܿܬ݂ܵܘܗܝ܀

هوَ صاغَ لَها سِلاحًا فَلَبِسَتهُ، وها هيَ تَطعُنُ بِهِ وَرَثَتَهُ.

hāw ḥshal lāh zaynā w-levshat: w-hā dāghshā bēh yārōthāwhī.

He forged weapons for her, and she put them on, and behold, his heirs are struck down by them;

Il lui forgea des armes, et elle les revêtit, et voici, ses héritiers en sont frappés ;

ܡܲܢ ܦܵܠܹ̇ܛ ܡ̣ܢ ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ: ܕܫܘܼܪܵܝܵܗ ܡ̣ܢ ܦܲܪܕܲܝܤܵܐ ܗܼ̄ܘ.‏

مَن يُفلِتُ مِنَ الكِبرِياءِ، الَّتي بِدايَتُها كانَت مِنَ الفِردَوسِ؟

men pālēṭ men yaʿnūtā: d-shūrāyāh men pardaysā hāw.

Who escapes from arrogance, whose beginning was in paradise?

Qui échappe à l'arrogance, dont le commencement fut au paradis ?

ܡܢ ܙܵܟܹܐ ܠܥܵܠܘܿܒ݂ܘܼܬܵܐ: ܕܲܠܟ݂ܵܗ̈ܢܹܐ ܒܢܝܼܪܵܐ ܟܸܕ݂ܢܲܬ݀܀

مَن يَغلِبُ الظُّلمَ، الَّذي نَيَّرَ حَتَّى الكَهَنَةَ تَحتَ نيرِهِ؟

men zākē l-ʿālōvūtā: da-l-khāhnē b-nīrā kedhnat.

Who overcomes oppression, which has yoked even the priests under its yoke?

Qui triomphe de l'oppression, qui a attelé même les prêtres sous son joug ?

ܡܹܐܡܪܵܐ .ܗ. ܕܡܵܪܝ ܐܝܼܤܚܵܩ ܕܐܲܢܛܝܘܿܟ݂ 44
Photograph of page 44 of Bedjan’s 1903 edition, leaf 0823
Leaf 0823, from Archive.org.

ܠܢܵܕܵܒ݂ ܘܐܲܒ݂ܝܼܗܘܿ ܩܸܛܠܲܬ݀: ܚܲܦܢܝܼ ܘܦܝܼܢܚܸܣ ܒܵܗ̇ ܐܸܬ݁ܕܓܸܫܘ.

قَتَلَتْ نادابَ وأَبيهو، وحَفْني وفينْحاسَ بِها أُصيبا.

l-nādāv w-avīhō qeṭlat: ḥapnī w-pīnḥes bāh etdgeshw.

It killed Nadab and Abihu; Hophni and Phinehas were struck down by it.

Elle tua Nadab et Abihou ; Hophni et Phinéas furent frappés par elle.

ܒܢܲܝ̈ ܐܲܗܪܘܿܢ ܘܲܒ݂ܢܲܝ ܥܹܠܝܼ: ܒܚܲܕ݂ ܢܝܼܪܵܐ ܟܸܕ݂ܢܲܬ݀ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ܀

بَني هارونَ وبَني عالي، بِنيرٍ واحِدٍ رَبَطَتْهُم.

b-naī ahrōn wa-b-naī ʿēlī: b-ḥadh nīrā kedhnat enōn.

The sons of Aaron and the sons of Eli — it yoked them under one yoke.

Les fils d'Aaron et les fils d'Éli — sous un même joug elle les attela.

ܡܲܢ ܐܲܚܲܝ ܠܵܐ ܢܙܘܼܥ ܡܸܢܵܗ̇: ܕܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ ܠܐܲܝܟܵܐ ܥܸܠܲܬ݀.‏

مَنْ يا إخْوَتي لا يَرْتَعِدُ مِنها، إذْ إلى أَيْنَ ارْتَقَتِ الكِبْرِياءُ؟

men aḥaī lā nzūʿ menāh: d-yaʿnūtā l-aykā ʿelat.

Who, my brothers, would not tremble at it, to see to what place arrogance climbed?

Qui, mes frères, ne tremblerait devant elle, voyant jusqu'où monta l'arrogance ?

ܠܐܲܝܟܵܐ ܕܤܝܼܡ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܐܵܪܘܿܢܵܐ: ܘܲܦܪܝܼܣ ܓܸܦܹܗ ܕܲܟ݂ܪܘܿܒ݂ܵܐ܀

إلى المَوْضِعِ الّذي كانَ فيهِ التّابوتُ مَوْضوعًا، وجَناحُ الكَروبِ مَبْسوطًا.

l-aykā d-sīm (h)wā ārōnā: wa-prīs gepēh da-khrōvā.

To the place where the ark was set, and the wing of the cherub was spread,

Jusqu'au lieu où était placée l'arche, et où s'étendait l'aile du chérubin,

ܐܲܝܟܵܐ ܕܩܵܐܲܡ ܥܲܡܘܼܕܵܐ: ܘܲܡܬ݂ܝܼܚ ܢܲܚܬܵܐ ܕܲܥܢܵܢܵܐ.‏

حَيْثُ كانَ العَمودُ قائِمًا، ورِداءُ الغَمامِ مَمْدودًا.

aykā d-qāam ʿamūdā: wa-mthīḥ naḥtā da-ʿnānā.

where the pillar stood, and the robe of the cloud was outstretched,

où se tenait la colonne, et où se déployait le vêtement de la nuée,

ܐܲܝܟܵܐ ܕܤܝܼܡ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܚܘܼܤܵܝܵܐ: ܒܲܩܕ݂ܘܿܫ ܩܘܼܕ݂ܫܝܼܢ ܓܵܘܵܝܵܐ܀

حَيْثُ كانَ الغِطاءُ مَوْضوعًا، في قُدْسِ الأَقْداسِ الدّاخِليِّ.

aykā d-sīm (h)wā ḥūsāyā: ba-qdhōsh qūdhshīn gāwāyā.

where the mercy-seat was placed, in the inner Holy of Holies.

où était placé le propitiatoire, dans le Saint des saints intérieur.

ܠܡܲܫܟܲܢܙܲܒ݂ܢܵܐ ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ: ܥܸܠܲܬ݀ ܕܵܫܲܬ݀ ܫܲܡܵܫܵܘ̈ܗܝ.

إلى خَيْمَةِ الاجْتِماعِ دَخَلَتِ الكِبْرِياءُ، وداسَتْ خُدّامَها.

l-mashkanzavnā yaʿnūtā: ʿelat dāshat shamāshāwhī.

Into the Tabernacle arrogance entered, and trampled its ministers;

Dans le Tabernacle l'arrogance entra, et foula aux pieds ses ministres ;

ܡܲܫ̄ܠܝܵܐ ܕܲܬ݂ܠܵܬ݂ ܫܵܢܵܢܵܬܹܗ: ܠܲܒ݂ܢܲܝ̈ ܥܹܠܝܼ ܚܸܫܠܲܬ̤ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܵܬ݂܀

إهْمالُ السِّنينَ الثَّلاثِ، لِبَني عالي صاغَ الهَلاكَ.

ma(sh)lyā da-thlāth shānānātēh: la-b-naī ʿēlī ḥeshlat (h)wāth.

its three years of negligence forged ruin for the sons of Eli.

ses trois années de négligence forgèrent la ruine des fils d'Éli.

ܥܸܠܲܬ̤ ܡܵܫܬܹܗ ܠܐܵܪܘܿܢܵܐ: ܟܡܵܐ ܙܐܦܵܢܝܼܢ ܫܲܡܵܫܵܘ̈ܗܝ.

دَخَلَتْ [...] إلى التّابوتِ، كَمْ كانَ خُدّامُها كاذِبينَ.

ʿelat māshtēh l-ārōnā: kmā zpānīn shamāshāwhī.

It came [...] unto the ark: how false were its ministers.

Elle vint [...] jusqu'à l'arche : combien menteurs étaient ses ministres.

ܕܫܲܪܝܵܐ ܒܓܵܘܹܗ ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ: ܘܲܒ݂ܫܲܡܵܫܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܨܲܚܢܘܼܬܵܐ܀

لِأَنَّ الكِبْرِياءَ سَكَنَتْ في داخِلِهِ، والنَّجاسَةُ في خُدّامِهِ.

d-sharyā b-gāwēh yaʿnūtā: wa-b-shamāshāwhī ṣaḥnūtā.

for arrogance dwelt within it, and uncleanness was in its ministers.

car l'arrogance habitait en elle, et l'impureté était dans ses ministres.

ܝܲܥܢܘܼܬܵܐ ܘܥܵܠܘܿܒ݂ܘܼܬܵܐ: ܛܥܝܼܢܝܼܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ ܥܲܡ ܬܸܫܡܸܫܬܵܐ.

الكِبْرِياءُ والظُّلْمُ، كانا مَحْمولَيْنِ مَعَ الخِدْمَةِ.

yaʿnūtā w-ʿālōvūtā: ṭʿīnīn (h)wāw ʿam teshmeshtā.

Arrogance and extortion were borne along with the ministry;

L'arrogance et l'extorsion étaient portées avec le ministère ;

ܨܲܚܢܘܼܬܵܐ ܥܲܡ ܙܲܦܪܘܼܬܵܐ: ܫܩܝܼܠܝܼܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ ܥܲܡ ܚܘܼܤܵܝܵܐ܀

النَّجاسَةُ مَعَ قِلَّةِ الحَياءِ، كانَتا مَحْمولَتَيْنِ مَعَ الغِطاءِ.

ṣaḥnūtā ʿam zaprūtā: shqīlīn (h)wāw ʿam ḥūsāyā.

uncleanness together with shamelessness were carried with the mercy-seat.

l'impureté avec l'impudeur étaient portées avec le propitiatoire.

ܬܸܕ݂ܥܲܟ݂ ܒܲܥܓܲܠ ܝܼܥܢܘܼܬ݂ܵܐ: ܒܪܲܒ݁ܟ݂ܘܼܡܪܹ̈ܐ ܗܵܢ ܕܐܸܬ݂ܵܐ ܠܲܢ.‏

لِتَنْطَفِئْ سَريعًا الكِبْرِياءُ، في رَئيسِ الكَهَنَةِ هذا الّذي أَتى إلَيْنا،

tedhʿakh ba-ʿgal īʿnūthā: b-rabkhūmrē hān d-ethā lan.

May arrogance be swiftly extinguished in this high priest who has come to us,

Que l'arrogance s'éteigne promptement dans ce grand prêtre qui nous est venu,

ܕܡ̣ܢ ܦܲܪܕܲܝܤܵܐ ܫܘܼܪܵܝܵܗ̇: ܒܲܨܠܝܼܒ݂ܵܐ ܢܗܸܐ ܛܘܼܠܵܩܵܗ̇܀

الّتي مِنَ الفِرْدَوْسِ بِدايَتُها، بِالصَّليبِ لِيَكُنْ هَلاكُها.

d-men pardaysā shūrāyāh: ba-ṣlīvā nhe ṭūlāqāh.

whose beginning was from Paradise — let its destruction be at the Cross.

dont le commencement fut au Paradis — que sa destruction soit à la Croix.

ܘܐܝܟܵܐ .21

و«أَيْنَ» — 21.

w-ʾykā.

And "where" — 21.

Et « où » — 21.

ܠܓܒܢܵܬ̈ .1

إلى [...] — 1.

l-gbnāt.

To the [...] — 1.

Vers les [...] — 1.

ܕܥܘܬܐ܀ ܐܟܙܬܵܐ ܕܒܢܝ ܡܡܬ

[...] كَزَيْفِ بَني [...].

d-ʿwt. ʾkztā d-b-nī mmt

[...] as the falseness of the sons of [...].

[...] comme la fausseté des fils de [...].

ܨܚܢܘܬܐ ܕܕܢܘܬܐ܀ ܘܙܦܪܘܬܐ

النَّجاسَةُ، أَيِ القَذارَةُ؛ وقِلَّةُ الحَياءِ.

ṣḥnwt d-d-nwt. w-zprwt

uncleanness, that is filthiness; and shamelessness.

l'impureté, c'est-à-dire la souillure ; et l'impudeur.

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