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。
Balaam now realized that Yahweh wanted to bless the Israeli people, [not curse them]. So he did not use magic/divination [like a shaman would do] to find out what Yahweh wanted, as he often did. Instead, he turned toward 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，
He saw the Israeli people camped there [in their tents], with each tribe gathered in its own group. Then the Spirit of God took control of him,
3 他便題起詩歌說： 比珥的兒子巴蘭說， 眼目閉住的人說，
and enabled him to give this prophetic message to Balak: “I, Balaam, the son of Beor, am giving this prophecy; I am speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
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：
I hear this message from God; I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
5 雅各啊，你的帳棚何等華美！ 以色列啊，你的帳幕何其華麗！
You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful; they are truly lovely!
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。
Your tents are spread out [in front of me like groves of palm trees in] valleys, like gardens alongside a river. They are like strong aloe trees/plants that Yahweh has planted, like [strong] cedar trees [that grow] along the rivers.
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。
Your water buckets will always be full; the seeds [that you plant] will always have plenty of water [to make them grow]. The Israelis’ king will be greater than [King] Agag; the kingdom that he rules will be honored.
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 brought the Israelis out of Egypt, [leading them along] with his great power [MTY] like a wild ox has. He devastates all the nations that oppose him; he breaks all those people’s bones into pieces, and shoots them with his 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。
The Israelis are like lions that crouch and lie down, [ready to pounce on their prey] [SIM]. They are like lionesses [that are resting, but ready to attack]; no one [RHQ] would dare to arouse them! [God] will bless everyone who blesses you Israelis, and he will curse everyone who curses you.”
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。
Then King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he [shouted at Balaam], “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have (blessed/asked God to bless) them 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。」
So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money [if you cursed them], but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”
12 巴蘭對巴勒說：「我豈不是對你所差遣到我那裏的使者說：
Balaam said to Balak, “[Do you not remember what] [RHQ] I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,
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』？」
‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good [that he does not approve of].’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to 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。」
So yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab 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，
So Balaam said this [to Balak]: “I, Balaam, son of Beor, am again giving a prophecy, speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
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：
I hear a message from God; I know things that God, who lives in heaven, has [revealed to me]. I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
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。
The things that I see [in the vision] are not [going to happen] now; I see things [that God will cause to happen] in the future. A man who is [a descendant of] Jacob will appear like a star [MET]; a king who holds a scepter will be one of the Israeli people. He will crush the heads of you people of Moab; he will wipe out the descendants 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 Israelis will occupy Edom, and they will conquer their enemies [who live near] Seir [Mountain]. The Israeli people will be victorious/strong.
19 有一位出於雅各的，必掌大權； 他要除滅城中的餘民。
A ruler who is a descendant of Jacob will come; he will get rid of the people who still live in the city [where Balaam first met Balak].”
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。
Then Balaam looked out over where the Amalek people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “The Amalek people-group were the greatest nation, but they will be wiped out.”
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。
Then he looked out over the area where the Ken people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “You [think that] the place where you live is secure/safe like a nest that is made in the cliffs [MET],
22 然而基尼必至衰微， 直到亞述把你擄去。
but you will be wiped out when the army of Assyria conquers you.”
23 巴蘭又題起詩歌說： 哀哉！上帝行這事，誰能得活？
Balaam ended his prophecies by saying, “Also, (who can (survive/escape) when God does all these things?/no one will be able to (survive/escape) when God does all these things!) [RHQ]
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 come from Cyprus [Island], and [the men in those ships] will defeat [the armies of] Assyria and Eber. But God will get rid of those men, too.”
25 於是巴蘭起來，回他本地去；巴勒也回去了。
Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.
