Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

When Balaam saw that it pleased YHWH to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to meet with omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him.

Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.

3 And he took up his parable, and said: The saying of Balaam the son of Beor, and the saying of the man whose eye is opened;

He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

4 The saying of him who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes:

he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, and having his eyes open:

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwellings, O Israel!

How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel.

6 As valleys stretched out, as gardens by the river-side; as aloes planted of the LORD, as cedars beside the waters;

As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which YHWH has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.

7 Water shall flow from his branches, and his seed shall be in many waters; and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God who brought him forth out of Egypt is for him like the lofty horns of the wild-ox; he shall eat up the nations that are his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them through with his arrows.

God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, and cursed be every one that curseth thee.

He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed."

10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam: 'I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, look, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place; I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.'

Therefore now flee you to your place. I thought to promote you to great honor; but, look, YHWH has kept you back from honor."

12 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Spoke I not also to thy messengers that thou didst send unto me, saying:

Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what the LORD speaketh, that will I speak?

'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of YHWH, to do either good or bad in my heart. I will say what God says'?

14 And now, behold, I go unto my people; come, and I will announce to thee what this people shall do to thy people in the end of days.'

Now, look, I go to my people: come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."

15 And he took up his parable, and said: The saying of Balaam the son of Beor, and the saying of the man whose eye is opened;

He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

16 The saying of him who heareth the words of God, and knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes:

he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, and having his eyes open:

17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; there shall step 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 Seth.

I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and will crush the forehead of Moab, and the crown of all the sons of tumult.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also, even his enemies, shall be a possession; while Israel doeth valiantly.

Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.

19 And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.

Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city."

20 And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but his end shall come to destruction.

He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his latter end shall come to destruction."

21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said: Though firm be thy dwelling-place, and though thy nest be set in the rock;

He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, "Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.

22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted; How long? Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive."

23 And he took up his parable, and said: Alas, who shall live after God hath appointed him?

He took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live 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.

But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction."

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

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