Numbers 24

1 And Balaam sees that [it is] good in the eyes of YHWH to bless Israel, and he has not gone as time by time to seek enchantments, and he sets 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 lifts up his eyes, and sees Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is on 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 takes up his allegory and says: “An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor, And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut,

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

4 An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God, Who sees a vision of the Almighty, Falling—and eyes uncovered:

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 good have been your tents, O Jacob, Your dwelling places, O Israel;

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

6 They have been stretched out as valleys, As gardens by a river; As aloes YHWH has planted, As cedars by waters;

Like valleys they spread out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars beside the waters.

7 He makes water flow from his buckets, And his seed [is] in many waters; And his King [is] higher than Gog [[or Agag]], And his kingdom is exalted.

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 is bringing him out of Egypt, As the swiftness of a wild ox for him, He eats up nations—his adversaries, And he breaks their bones, And he strikes [with] his arrows.

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 has bent, he has lain down as a lion, And as a lioness, who raises him up? He who is blessing you [is] blessed, And he who is cursing you [is] 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 the anger of Balak burns against Balaam, and he strikes his hands; and Balak says to Balaam, “I called you to pierce my enemies, and behold, you have certainly blessed these three times;

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 and now, flee for yourself to your place; I have said, I greatly honor you, and behold, YHWH has kept you back from honor.”

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 says to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you have sent to me, saying,

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

13 If Balak gives to me the fullness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of YHWH, to do good or evil of my own heart; that which YHWH speaks—it 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 am going to my people; come, I counsel you [concerning] that which this people does to your people in the latter end of the 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 takes up his allegory and says: “An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor, And an affirmation of the man whose eyes [are] shut;

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

16 An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God, And knowing knowledge of the Most High; He sees a vision of the Almighty, Falling—and eyes uncovered:

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 see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A star has proceeded from Jacob, And a scepter has risen from Israel, And has struck corners of Moab, And has destroyed all 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 has been a possession, And Seir has been a possession [for] his enemies, And Israel is doing 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] rules out of Jacob, And has destroyed a remnant from the city.”

Out of Jacob a king will come who will have dominion, and he will destroy the survivors of their city.”

20 And he sees Amalek, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Amalek [is] first [among] nations, But his latter end—destruction forever.”

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 he sees the Kenite, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Your dwelling [is] enduring, And your nest is being set 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 But the Kenite is for a burning; Until when does Asshur keep you captive?”

Nevertheless you Kenites will be consumed by fire when Assyria carries you away captive.”

23 And he takes up his allegory and says: “Woe! Who lives when God does this?

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

24 But ships [come] from the side of Chittim, And they have humbled Asshur, And they have humbled Eber, But it is also perishing forever.”

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 rises, and goes, and turns back to his place, and Balak has also gone on his way.

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