Numbers 24
1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to meet with omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
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 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him.
and as he looked at Israel camped there according to their respective tribes, the Spirit of God came on him.
3 And he took up his oracle, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, and the man whose eye was closed says,
He gave a declaration, saying:
4 he says who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open,
“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 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy tabernacles, O Israel!
How well set out your tents are, Jacob; the places where you live, Israel!
6 As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the river-side, as aloes which Jehovah has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
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 Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
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 God brings him forth out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild-ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and smite them through with his arrows.
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 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness. Who shall rouse him up? He who blesses thee is blessed, And he who curses thee is cursed.
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 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, thou have altogether blessed them these three times.
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 Therefore now flee thou to thy place. I thought to promote thee to great honor, but, lo, Jehovah has kept thee back from honor.
Leave right now! Go home! I promised to pay you well, but the Lord has made sure you wouldn't receive any payment.”
12 And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to thy messengers that thou sent to me, saying,
But Balaam said to Balak, “Didn't I already explain to the messengers you sent
13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of my own mind. What Jehovah speaks, that I will speak?
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 And now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will advise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
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 And he took up his oracle, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, and the man whose eye was closed says,
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 he says who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
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 I see him, but not now. I behold him, but not near. There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of tumult.
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 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, who were his enemies, while Israel does valiantly.
The country of Edom will be conquered, his enemy Seir will be conquered, and the Israelites will be victorious.
19 And out of Jacob shall come he who shall have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.
A ruler from Jacob will come and destroy those left in the city.”
20 And he looked on Amalek, and took up his oracle, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall come to destruction.
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 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his oracle, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest is set in the rock.
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 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
But Kain will be burned down when Assyria conquers you.”
23 And he took up his oracle, and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this?
Then Balaam gave another declaration, saying, “It's a tragedy! Who can survive when God does this?
24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall come to destruction.
Ships will be sent from Cyprus to attack Assyria and Eber, but they too will be permanently destroyed.”
25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.
Then Balaam left and returned to his own country, and Balak left too.
