Numbers 24

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

And when Balaam had seen that it was pleasing to the Lord that he should bless Israel, he by no means went out as he had gone before, to seek divination. But directing his face opposite the desert,

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel dwelling in tents by their tribes. And with the Spirit of God rushing into him,

3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

taking up his parable, he said: “Balaam, the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,

4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

the hearer of the sermon of God, he who has gazed upon a vision of the Almighty, he who falls down and so his eyes are opened, has declared:

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

‘How beautiful are your tabernacles, O Jacob, and your tents, O Israel!

6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which Yhwh hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

They are like forested valleys, like gardens irrigated next to rivers, like tabernacles which the Lord has fixed, like cedars close to waters.

7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, 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 jar, and his offspring shall be amid many waters, because Agag, his king, shall be taken, and his kingdom shall be removed.

8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

Away from Egypt, God has led him, whose strength is like the rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

Lying down, he has slept like a lion, and like a lioness, whom no one would dare to awaken. He who blesses you, shall himself also be blessed. He who curses you, shall be considered 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.

And Balak, being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together and said: “I called you to curse my enemies, and, to the contrary, you have blessed them three times.

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

Return to your place. I had decided, indeed, to honor you greatly, but the Lord has deprived you of the designated honor.”

12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

Balaam responded to Balak: “Did I not say to your messengers, whom you sent to me:

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

Even if Balak would give me his house, filled with silver and gold, I still could not go away from the word of the Lord my God, so as to offer anything, either good or evil, from my own heart; but whatever the Lord will speak, this, too, I shall speak.

14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

Yet truly, as I continue on to my own people, I will give you counsel as to what this people shall do to your people in the end times.”

15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

Therefore, taking up his parable, he again spoke: “Balaam the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,

16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

the hearer of the sermon of God, he who knows the doctrine of the Most High, and who sees the visions of the Almighty, who, falling down, has his eyes opened, has declared:

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

I shall see him, but not presently. I shall gaze upon him, but not soon. A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a rod shall spring up from Israel. And he shall strike down the commanders of Moab, and he shall devastate all the sons of Seth.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

And he shall possess Idumea; the inheritance of Seir shall fall to their enemies. Yet truly, Israel shall act with strength.

19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

From Jacob will be he who shall be ruler. And he shall perish the remnants of the city.”

20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

And when he saw Amalek, taking up his parable, he said: “Amalek, first among the Gentiles, whose very end shall be perdition.”

21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

Likewise, he saw the Kainites, and taking up his parable, he said: “Robust, indeed, is your habitation. But though you will set your nest in a rock,

22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

and you will be elect among the stock of Kain, how long will you be able to remain? For Assur shall take you captive.”

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

And taking up his parable once more he said: “Alas! Who will be able to survive, when God will do these things?

24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

They shall arrive in Greek warships from Italy. They shall overcome the Assyrians, and they shall devastate the Hebrews, and yet, at the very end, even they themselves shall perish.”

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

And Balaam rose up, and he returned to his place. Likewise, Balak went back, along the way by which he had arrived.