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 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;

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 lifts up his eyes, and sees Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is on him,

3 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

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,

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

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

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

How good have been your tents, O Jacob, Your dwelling places, 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.

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

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 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.

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 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.”

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 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;

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

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

And Balaam says to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you have sent to 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 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?

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 to my people; come, I counsel you [concerning] that which this people does to your people in the latter end of the days.”

15 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

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;

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:

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:

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 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.

18 Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.

And Edom has been a possession, And Seir has been a possession [for] his enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly;

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

And [One] rules out of Jacob, And has destroyed a remnant from 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 sees Amalek, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Amalek [is] first [among] nations, But his latter end—destruction forever.”

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 sees the Kenite, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Your dwelling [is] enduring, And your nest is being set in a rock,

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

But the Kenite is for a burning; Until when does Asshur keep you captive?”

23 He took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

And he takes up his allegory and says: “Woe! Who lives when God does 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."

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

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

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