< Numbers 24 >
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to meet with omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
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.
3 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
4 he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, and having his eyes open:
He hath said, who heard the words of God, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel.
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
6 As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which the LORD has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
7 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.
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.
8 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.
God brought him forth from 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.
9 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."
He crouched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall rouse him? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
10 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.
And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
11 Therefore now flee you to your place. I thought to promote you to great honor; but, look, the LORD has kept you back from honor."
Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee to great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
12 Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,
And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not speak also to thy messengers whom thou sentest to me, saying,
13 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad in my heart. I will say what God says'?
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
14 Now, look, I go to my people: come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."
And now, behold, I go to my people: come therefore, I will advise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
15 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
16 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:
He hath said, who heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
17 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.
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: 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.
18 Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city."
Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
20 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."
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 shall perish for ever.
21 He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, "Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.
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.
22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive."
Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
23 He took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction."
And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
25 Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
And Balaam arose, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.