Numbers 24

1 Now when Balaam saw that it was the Lord's pleasure to give his blessing to Israel, he did not, as at other times, make use of secret arts, but turning his face to the waste land,

And Balaam saw that it was good in the sight of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2 And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel there, with their tents in the order of their tribes: and the spirit of God came on him.

And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling [in tents] according to his tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

3 And moved by the spirit, he said, These are the words of Balaam, son of Beor, the words of the man whose eyes are open:

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,

4 He says, whose ears are open to the words of God, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down, but having his eyes open:

He saith, who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:

5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your houses, O Israel!

How goodly are thy tents, Jacob, and thy tabernacles, Israel!

6 They are stretched out like valleys, like gardens by the riverside, like flowering trees planted by the Lord, like cedar-trees by the waters.

Like valleys are they spread forth, like gardens by the river side, Like aloe-trees which Jehovah hath planted, like cedars beside the waters.

7 Peoples will be in fear before his strength, his arm will be on great nations: his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom made great in honour.

Water shall flow out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in great waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 It is God who has taken him out of Egypt; his horns are like those of the mountain ox; the nations warring against him will be his food, their bones will be broken, they will be wounded with his arrows.

God brought him out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a buffalo. He shall consume the nations his enemies, and break their bones, and with his arrows shall smite [them] in pieces.

9 He took his sleep stretched out like a lion, and like a she-lion: by whom will his rest be broken? May a blessing be on everyone who gives you blessing, and a curse on everyone by whom you are cursed.

He stooped, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness: who will stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

10 Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.

Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times!

11 Go back quickly to the place you came from: it was my purpose to give you a place of honour, but now the Lord has kept you back from honour.

And now flee thou to thy place; I said I would very highly honour thee, and behold, Jehovah has kept thee back from honour.

12 Then Balaam said to Balak, Did I not say to the men you sent to me,

And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to thy messengers whom thou sentest to me, saying,

13 Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say?

If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah to do good or bad out of my heart: what Jehovah shall say, that will I speak?

14 So now I will go back to my people: but first let me make clear to you what this people will do to your people in days to come.

And now behold, I go to my people: come, I will admonish thee what this people will do to thy people at the end of days.

15 Then he went on with his story and said, These are the words of Balaam, the son of Beor, the words of him whose eyes are open:

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,

16 He says, whose ear is open to the words of God, who has knowledge of the Most High, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down and having his eyes open:

He saith, who heareth the words of God, who knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:

17 I see him, but not now: looking on him, but not near: a star will come out of Jacob, and a rod of authority out of Israel, sending destruction to the farthest limits of Moab and on the head of all the sons of Sheth.

I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: There cometh a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and he shall cut in pieces the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.

18 Edom will be his heritage, and he will put an end to the last of the people of Seir.

And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir a possession, — they, his enemies; but Israel will do valiantly.

19 And Israel will go on in strength, and Jacob will have rule over his haters.

And one out of Jacob shall have dominion, and will destroy out of the city what remaineth.

20 Then, turning his eyes to Amalek, he went on with his story and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his part will be destruction for ever.

And he saw Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek is the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be for destruction.

21 And looking on the Kenites he went on with his story and said, Strong is your living-place, and your secret place is safe in the rock.

And he saw the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Firm is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest fixed in the rock;

22 But still the Kenites will be wasted, till Asshur takes you away prisoner.

But the Kenite shall be consumed, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

23 Then he went on with his story and said, But who may keep his life when God does this?

And he took up his parable, and said, Alas! Who shall live when God doeth this?

24 But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur and troubling Eber, and like the others their fate will be destruction.

And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and afflict Asshur, and afflict Eber, and he also shall be for destruction.

25 Then Balaam got up and went back to his place: and Balak went away.

And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.