Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

And Balaam sees that [it is] good in the eyes of YHWH to bless Israel, and he has not gone as time by time to seek enchantments, and he sets his face toward the wilderness;

2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,

and Balaam lifts up his eyes, and sees Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is on him,

3 and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

and he takes up his allegory and says: “An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor, And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut,

4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God, Who sees a vision of the Almighty, Falling—and eyes uncovered:

5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!

How good have been your tents, O Jacob, Your dwelling places, O Israel;

6 They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.

They have been stretched out as valleys, As gardens by a river; As aloes YHWH has planted, As cedars by waters;

7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.

He makes water flow from his buckets, And his seed [is] in many waters; And his King [is] higher than Gog [[or Agag]], And his kingdom is exalted.

8 God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

God is bringing him out of Egypt, As the swiftness of a wild ox for him, He eats up nations—his adversaries, And he breaks their bones, And he strikes [with] his arrows.

9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”

He has bent, he has lain down as a lion, And as a lioness, who raises him up? He who is blessing you [is] blessed, And he who is cursing you [is] cursed.”

10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

And the anger of Balak burns against Balaam, and he strikes his hands; and Balak says to Balaam, “I called you to pierce my enemies, and behold, you have certainly blessed these three times;

11 Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

and now, flee for yourself to your place; I have said, I greatly honor you, and behold, YHWH has kept you back from honor.”

12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me

And Balaam says to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you have sent to me, saying,

13 that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.

If Balak gives to me the fullness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of YHWH, to do good or evil of my own heart; that which YHWH speaks—it I speak?

14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, I counsel you [concerning] that which this people does to your people in the latter end of the days.”

15 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

And he takes up his allegory and says: “An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor, And an affirmation of the man whose eyes [are] shut;

16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God, And knowing knowledge of the Most High; He sees a vision of the Almighty, Falling—and eyes uncovered:

17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A star has proceeded from Jacob, And a scepter has risen from Israel, And has struck corners of Moab, And has destroyed all sons of Seth.

18 Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.

And Edom has been a possession, And Seir has been a possession [for] his enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly;

19 A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

And [One] rules out of Jacob, And has destroyed a remnant from the city.”

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”

And he sees Amalek, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Amalek [is] first [among] nations, But his latter end—destruction forever.”

21 Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.

And he sees the Kenite, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Your dwelling [is] enduring, And your nest is being set in a rock,

22 Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”

But the Kenite is for a burning; Until when does Asshur keep you captive?”

23 Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?

And he takes up his allegory and says: “Woe! Who lives when God does this?

24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”

But ships [come] from the side of Chittim, And they have humbled Asshur, And they have humbled Eber, But it is also perishing forever.”

25 Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.

And Balaam rises, and goes, and turns back to his place, and Balak has also gone on his way.