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.

When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to use sorcery. Instead, he looked 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.

He raised his eyes and saw that Israel was camped, each in their own tribe, and the Spirit of God came on him.

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

He received this prophecy and said, “Balaam son of Beor is about to speak, the man whose eyes are wide open.

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

He speaks and hears God's words. He sees a vision from the Almighty, Before whom he bows down with his eyes open.

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

How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, the place where you live, Israel!

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

Like valleys they spread out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by Yahweh, 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 flows from their buckets, and their seed is well-watered. Their king is to be higher than Agag, and their kingdom will be honored.

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 brings him out of Egypt, with strength like a wild ox. He will eat up the nations who fight against him. He will break their bones to pieces. He will shoot them with his 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 down like a lion, like a lioness. Who dares disturb him? May everyone who blesses him be blessed; may everyone who curses him be cursed.”

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.

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

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

So leave me right now and go home. I said I would greatly reward you, but Yahweh has kept you from getting any reward.”

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

Then Balaam replied to Balak, “I said to the messengers that you sent to 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.

'Even if Balak gave me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond Yahweh's word and anything bad or good, or anything at all that I might want to do. I can say only what Yahweh tells me to say.' Did I not say this to them?

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.

So now, look, I will go back to my people. But first let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days ahead.”

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

Balaam began this prophecy. He said, “Balaam son of Beor speaks, The man whose eyes are wide 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.

This is a prophecy of someone who hears words from God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who has visions from the Almighty, Before whom he bows down with open eyes.

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 he is not here now. I look at him, but he is not near. A star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will shatter Moab's leaders and destroy all the descendants of Seth.

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

Then Edom will become a possession of Israel, and Seir will also become their possession, enemies of Israel, whom Israel will conquer with force.

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

Out of Jacob a king will come who will have dominion, and he will destroy the survivors of their 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 looked at Amalek and began his prophecy. He said, “Amalek was once the greatest of nations, but his final end will be 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,

Then Balaam looked toward the Kenites and began his prophecy. He said, “The place where you live is strong, and your nest is in the rocks.

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

Nevertheless you Kenites will be consumed by fire when Assyria carries you away 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?

Then Balaam began his final prophecy. He said, “Woe! Who will survive when God does this?

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 coast of Kittim; they will attack Assyria and will conquer Eber, but they, too, will end in destruction.”

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

Then Balaam got up and left. He returned to his home, and Balak also went away.