Numbers 24

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased YHWH 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 Bil'am saw that it was pleasing in the eyes of 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 Bil'am lifted up his eyes, and when he saw Israel encamped according to their tribes, there came upon him the spirit of God.

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, Thus saith Bil'am the son of Beor, and thus saith the man whose eyes are open;

4 he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, and having his eyes open:

Thus saith he who heareth the sayings of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, falling down, with unvailed eyes:

5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel.

How beautiful are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwelling, O Israel!

6 As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which YHWH has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.

As streams are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as aloe-trees, which the Lord hath planted, 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.

Water runneth out of His buckets, that his seed may be moistened by abundance of water; and exalted above Agag shall be his king, and raised on high shall be his kingdom.

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, who brought him forth out of Egypt, is to him like the heights of the reem; he will devour nations, his oppressors, and their bones will he break, 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 coucheth, he lieth down as a lion, and as a lioness: who shall make him rise up? They that bless thee be blessed, and they that curse thee be cursed.

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 the anger of Balak was kindled against Bil'am, and he struck his hands together: and Balak said unto Bil'am, To denounce my enemies did I call thee, and, behold, thou hast even blessed them these three times.

11 Therefore now flee you to your place. I thought to promote you to great honor; but, look, YHWH has kept you back from honor."

And now flee thou to thy place: I thought to honor thee greatly; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor.

12 Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

And Bil'am said unto Balak, Did I not already speak to thy messengers, whom thou sentest unto me, saying,

13 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of YHWH, 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 transgress the order of the Lord, to do good or evil out of my own heart: what the Lord will speak, that must 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 am going unto my people: come, I will advise thee against what this people will do to thy people in the end of 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, Thus saith Bil'am the son of Beor, and thus saith the man whose eyes are open;

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:

Thus saith he who heareth the sayings of God, and knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, falling down, with unvailed eyes:

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 see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; there steppeth forth a star out of Jacob, and there ariseth a sceptre out of Israel, and he pierceth the chiefs of Moab, and destroyeth 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 conquest, and Seir shall be a conquest for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city."

And there shall rule the one from Jacob, and he shall destroy whatever escapeth out 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 he looked on Amalek, and he took up his parable, and said, The first of nations is Amalek; but his latter end shall be destruction 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 dwelling-place, and placed on the rock is thy nest.

22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive."

Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted: whither will Asshur 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 doth appoint this one?

24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction."

But ships will come from the coast of Kittim, and will afflict Asshur, and will afflict 'Eber; and he also will be given to destruction for ever.

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

And Bil'am rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.