Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased God to bless Israel, he did not go according to his custom to meet the omens, but turned his face toward the wilderness.

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.

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and sees Israel encamped by their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

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

3 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam son of Beor says, the man who sees truly says,

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,

4 he says who hears the oracle of the Mighty One, who saw a vision of God in sleep; his eyes were opened:

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

5 How goodly [are] your habitations, Jacob, and your tents, Israel!

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

6 as shady groves, and as gardens by a river, and as tents which God pitched, and as cedars by the waters.

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

7 There shall come a man out of his seed, and he shall rule over many nations; and the kingdom of Gog shall be exalted, and his kingdom shall be increased.

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.

8 God led him out of Egypt; he has as it were the glory of a unicorn: he shall consume the nations of his enemies, and he shall drain their marrow, and with his darts he shall shoot through the enemy.

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.

9 He lay down, he rested as a lion, and as a young lion; who shall stir him up? they that bless you are blessed, and they that curse you are cursed.

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.”

10 And Balac was angry with Balaam, and clapped his hands together; and Balac said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemy, and behold you have decidedly blessed [him] this third time.

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.

11 Now therefore flee to your place: I said, I will honor you, but now the Lord has deprived you of glory.

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

12 And Balaam said to Balac, Did I not speak to your messengers also whom you sent to me, saying,

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

13 If Balac should give me his house full of silver and gold, I shall not be able to transgress the word of the Lord to make it good or bad by myself; whatever things God shall say, them will I speak.

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.

14 And now, behold, I return to my place; come, I will advise you of what this people shall do to your people in the last days.

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.”

15 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, the man who sees truly says,

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,

16 hearing the oracles of God, receiving knowledge from the Most High, and having seen a vision of God in sleep; his eyes were opened.

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:

17 I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth.

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.

18 And Edom shall be an inheritance, and Esau his enemy shall be an inheritance [of Israel], and Israel wrought valiantly.

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

19 And [one] shall arise out of Jacob, and destroy out of the city him that escapes.

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

20 And having seen Amalec, he took up his parable and said, Amalec [is] the first of the nations; yet his seed shall perish.

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

21 And having seen the Kenite, he took up his parable and said, your dwelling-place [is] strong; yet though you should put your nest in a rock,

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

22 and though Beor should have a skillfully contrived hiding-place, the Assyrians shall carry you away captive.

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

23 And he looked upon Og, and took up his parable and said, Oh, oh, who shall live, when God shall do these things?

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

24 And one shall come forth from the hands of the Citians, and shall afflict Assur, and shall afflict the Hebrews, and they shall perish together.

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

25 And Balaam rose up and departed and returned to his place, and Balac went to his own home.

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