民數記 24
1 巴蘭見耶和華喜歡賜福與以色列，就不像前兩次去求法術，卻面向曠野。
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 巴蘭舉目，看見以色列人照着支派居住。上帝的靈就臨到他身上，
and as he looked at Israel camped there according to their respective tribes, the Spirit of God came on him.
3 他便題起詩歌說： 比珥的兒子巴蘭說， 眼目閉住的人說，
He gave a declaration, saying:
4 得聽上帝的言語， 得見全能者的異象， 眼目睜開而仆倒的人說：
“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 雅各啊，你的帳棚何等華美！ 以色列啊，你的帳幕何其華麗！
How well set out your tents are, Jacob; the places where you live, Israel!
6 如接連的山谷， 如河旁的園子， 如耶和華所栽的沉香樹， 如水邊的香柏木。
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 水要從他的桶裏流出； 種子要撒在多水之處。 他的王必超過亞甲； 他的國必要振興。
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 上帝領他出埃及； 他似乎有野牛之力。 他要吞吃敵國， 折斷他們的骨頭， 用箭射透他們。
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 他蹲如公獅， 臥如母獅，誰敢惹他？ 凡給你祝福的，願他蒙福； 凡咒詛你的，願他受咒詛。
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 巴勒向巴蘭生氣，就拍起手來，對巴蘭說：「我召你來為我咒詛仇敵，不料，你這三次竟為他們祝福。
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 如今你快回本地去吧！我想使你得大尊榮，耶和華卻阻止你不得尊榮。」
Leave right now! Go home! I promised to pay you well, but the Lord has made sure you wouldn't receive any payment.”
12 巴蘭對巴勒說：「我豈不是對你所差遣到我那裏的使者說：
But Balaam said to Balak, “Didn't I already explain to the messengers you sent
13 『巴勒就是將他滿屋的金銀給我，我也不得越過耶和華的命，憑自己的心意行好行歹。耶和華說甚麼，我就要說甚麼』？」
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 「現在我要回本族去。你來，我告訴你這民日後要怎樣待你的民。」
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 他就題起詩歌說： 比珥的兒子巴蘭說： 眼目閉住的人說，
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 得聽上帝的言語， 明白至高者的意旨， 看見全能者的異象， 眼目睜開而仆倒的人說：
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 我看他卻不在現時； 我望他卻不在近日。 有星要出於雅各，有杖要興於以色列， 必打破摩押的四角，毀壞擾亂之子。
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 他必得以東為基業， 又得仇敵之地西珥為產業； 以色列必行事勇敢。
The country of Edom will be conquered, his enemy Seir will be conquered, and the Israelites will be victorious.
19 有一位出於雅各的，必掌大權； 他要除滅城中的餘民。
A ruler from Jacob will come and destroy those left in the city.”
20 巴蘭觀看亞瑪力，就題起詩歌說： 亞瑪力原為諸國之首， 但他終必沉淪。
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 巴蘭觀看基尼人，就題起詩歌說： 你的住處本是堅固； 你的窩巢做在巖穴中。
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 然而基尼必至衰微， 直到亞述把你擄去。
But Kain will be burned down when Assyria conquers you.”
23 巴蘭又題起詩歌說： 哀哉！上帝行這事，誰能得活？
Then Balaam gave another declaration, saying, “It's a tragedy! Who can survive when God does this?
24 必有人乘船從基提界而來， 苦害亞述，苦害希伯； 他也必至沉淪。
Ships will be sent from Cyprus to attack Assyria and Eber, but they too will be permanently destroyed.”
25 於是巴蘭起來，回他本地去；巴勒也回去了。
Then Balaam left and returned to his own country, and Balak left too.
