民數記 24
1 巴郎見祝福以色列，為上主所喜悅，就不再像前幾次一樣先去探求預示，只轉面向曠野。
When Balaam saw that the Lord wanted to bless Israel, he chose not to use divination as he had previously. Instead he turned towards the desert,
2 巴郎一舉目，看見了按支派紮營的以色列人；那時天主的神降在他身上，
and as he looked at Israel camped there according to their respective tribes, the Spirit of God came on him.
3 他遂吟詩說：「貝敖爾的兒子巴郎的神諭，明眼男子的神諭，
He gave a declaration, saying:
4 那聽到天主木話，得見全能者的神視，在沉睡中開了神眼的神視：
“This is the prophecy of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophecy of a man who sees with eyes are wide open, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision given by Almighty, who bows down in respect with open eyes.
5 雅各伯，你的帳幕，何其壯觀! 以色列，你的居住，何其美好!
How well set out your tents are, Jacob; the places where you live, Israel!
6 如擴展的棕林，似河畔的花園，像牆上上主栽種的沉香，似臨水的香柏。
They look like wooded valleys, like gardens beside a river, like aloe trees the Lord has planted, like cedars at the water's edge.
7 英雄由他的 後裔而出，他將治理許多民族；他的君王超越阿加格，他的王國必受舉揚。
The Israelites will pour out bucketfuls of water; their descendants will have plenty of water. Their king will be greater than King Agag; their kingdom will be glorious.
8 領他出埃及的天主，為他有如野牛的角。他要吞滅那敵對他的人民，粉碎他們的骨骸，折斷他們的箭矢。
God led them out of Egypt with great power, as strong as an ox, destroying enemy nations, breaking their bones, piercing them with arrows.
9 他蹲伏臥下有如雄獅，又似母獅；誰敢令他起立﹖祝福你的，必受祝福；咒罵你的，必受咒罵」。
They are like a lion that crouches and lies down. They are like a lioness that nobody dares to disturb. Those who bless you will be blessed; those who curse you will be cursed.”
10 巴拉克對巴郎大發憤怒，拍手向他說：「我請你來是為咒罵我的仇敵；看，你反而祝福他們，且已三次。
Balak got angry with Balaam, and beat his fists together. He told Balaam, “I brought you here to curse my enemies, and now look! You keep on blessing them, doing it three times.
11 現在你快回你故鄉去! 我原想豐富地酬謝你，但是，上主奪去了你的酬報」。
Leave right now! Go home! I promised to pay you well, but the Lord has made sure you wouldn't receive any payment.”
12 巴郎回答巴拉克說：「我不是已對你遺來的使者聲明過：
But Balaam said to Balak, “Didn't I already explain to the messengers you sent
13 既使巴拉克給我滿屋金銀，我也不能違犯上主的命令，任意去行善或作惡，而只能說上主所吩咐的嗎﹖
that even if you gave me your whole palace full of silver and gold, I couldn't do anything I wanted or disobey the command of the Lord my God in any way? I can only say what the Lord tells me.
14 現在我就要回到我民族那裏去；來，讓我告訴你這民族日後對你的民族所要做事」。
Listen! I'm going back home now to my own people, but first let me warn you what these Israelites are going to do to your people in the future.”
15 於是他吟詩 u金敖爾的兒子巴郎的神諭，明眼男子的神諭，
Then Balaam gave a declaration, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are wide open
16 那聽到天主的話，深知至高者的思慮，得見全能者的神視，在沉睡中開了神眼的神諭：
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who receives knowledge from the Most High, who sees the vision given by Almighty, who bows down in respect with open eyes.
17 我看見衪，卻不是在現在；卻不是在近處：由雅各伯將出現一顆星，由以色列將興起一權杖，擊碎摩阿布木頍角，粉碎特一切子民的腦蓋。
I see him, but this isn't now. I observe him, but this isn't close at hand. In the future a leader like a star will come from Jacob, a ruler with a scepter will come to power from Israel. He will crush the heads of the Moabites, and destroy all the people of Seth.
18 厄東將成為他的屬地，色依爾將成為他的轄境；以色列必行使威權。
The country of Edom will be conquered, his enemy Seir will be conquered, and the Israelites will be victorious.
19 由雅各伯將山生一位統治仇敵者，衪要除滅依爾的遺民」。
A ruler from Jacob will come and destroy those left in the city.”
20 以後他望見阿肋瑪克，遂吟詩說：「阿肋瑪克原是眾民之首，但他的結局是永遠的滅亡」。
Balaam turned his attention to the Amalekites and gave this declaration about them, saying, “Amalek was first among the nations, but they will end up being destroyed.”
21 後又望見刻尼人，遂吟詩說：「你的居住固然鞏固，你的巢穴縱然建在磐石間；
He turned his attention to the Kenites and gave this declaration about them, saying, “Where you live is safe and secure, like a nest on a cliff-face.
22 但刻尼人仍要被毀滅，到何時亞述才將你擄去﹖」
But Kain will be burned down when Assyria conquers you.”
23 他又吟詩說：「嗚呼! 若天主履行此事，誰還能生存!
Then Balaam gave another declaration, saying, “It's a tragedy! Who can survive when God does this?
24 從基廷有船來，征服亞述，征服厄貝爾；他們也要永遠滅亡」。
Ships will be sent from Cyprus to attack Assyria and Eber, but they too will be permanently destroyed.”
25 然後巴郎起身回了本鄉；巴拉克也回去了。
Then Balaam left and returned to his own country, and Balak left too.
