Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face towards the wilderness.

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.

3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith:

He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

4 He saith, which heareth the words of God, Which seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

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

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel!

How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!

6 As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river side, As lign-aloes which the LORD hath planted, As cedar trees beside the waters.

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

7 Water shall flow from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.

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.

8 God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite [them] through with his arrows.

God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall consume the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.

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.”

10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

Balak’s anger burnt against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honour; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honour.”

12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what the LORD speaketh, that will I speak?

‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the LORD’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what the LORD says’?

14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come, [and] I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”

15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith:

He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

16 He saith, which heareth the words of God, And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Which seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:

17 I see him, but not now: I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.

I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A sceptre will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, [which were] his enemies; While Israel doeth valiantly.

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

19 And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, And shall destroy the remnant from the city.

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

20 And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction.

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.”

21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling place, And thy nest is set in the rock.

He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.

22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

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

23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?

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

24 But ships [shall come] from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, And he also shall come to destruction.

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

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

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