Numbers 24
1 Balaam now realized that Yahweh wanted to bless the Israeli people, [not curse them]. So he did not use magic/divination [like a shaman would do] to find out what Yahweh wanted, as he often did. Instead, he turned toward the desert.
Afei, Balaam huu sɛ ɛsɔ Awurade ani sɛ ohyira Israel no, wankɔ abisa sɛnea ɔtaa yɛ no; mmom, ɔtoo nʼani hwɛɛ sare no so.
2 He saw the Israeli people camped there [in their tents], with each tribe gathered in its own group. Then the Spirit of God took control of him,
Bere a Balaam huu sɛ Israelfo no abobɔ wɔn atenae sɛnea wɔn mmusuakuw te no, Onyankopɔn honhom baa ne so,
3 and enabled him to give this prophetic message to Balak: “I, Balaam, the son of Beor, am giving this prophecy; I am speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
na eyi ne nkɔmhyɛ a ɔmae: “Beor ba Balaam nkɔmhyɛ, nkɔmhyɛ a efi obi a nʼani hu ade yiye,
4 I hear this message from God; I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
nea ɔte Onyankopɔn nsɛm nkɔmhyɛ; nea onya anisoadehu a efi Otumfo no hɔ; na ɔda fam, a nʼani hu ade:
5 You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful; they are truly lovely!
“Yakob, mo ntamadan yɛ fɛ, Israel, mo atenae yɛ ahomeka!
6 Your tents are spread out [in front of me like groves of palm trees in] valleys, like gardens alongside a river. They are like strong aloe trees/plants that Yahweh has planted, like [strong] cedar trees [that grow] along the rivers.
“Ɛtrɛtrɛw sɛ abon, sɛ nturo a ɛwɔ asubɔnten ho. Wɔte sɛ pɛprɛ a Awurade adua, te sɛ sida a esisi nsu ho.
7 Your water buckets will always be full; the seeds [that you plant] will always have plenty of water [to make them grow]. The Israelis’ king will be greater than [King] Agag; the kingdom that he rules will be honored.
Nsu bɛsen afi wɔn ahina mu. Wɔn aba benya nsu ama aboro so. “Wɔn hene bɛyɛ kɛse asen Agag; wɔn ahenni bɛkorɔn.
8 God brought the Israelis out of Egypt, [leading them along] with his great power [MTY] like a wild ox has. He devastates all the nations that oppose him; he breaks all those people’s bones into pieces, and shoots them with his arrows.
“Onyankopɔn de wɔn fii Misraim na ɛbae; wɔwɔ ahoɔden sɛ wuram nantwi. Wɔsɛe atirimɔdenfo aman na wobubu wɔn nnompe mu asinasin, wɔde wɔn bɛmma wowɔ wɔn.
9 The Israelis are like lions that crouch and lie down, [ready to pounce on their prey] [SIM]. They are like lionesses [that are resting, but ready to attack]; no one [RHQ] would dare to arouse them! [God] will bless everyone who blesses you Israelis, and he will curse everyone who curses you.”
Wobutuw da sɛ gyata; te sɛ gyatabere, hena na obetumi agyigye wɔn? “Wobehyira wɔn a wohyira wo, na wɔbɛdome wɔn a wɔdome wo.”
10 Then King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he [shouted at Balaam], “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have (blessed/asked God to bless) them three times!
Balak bo fuw Balaam. Ɔbɔɔ ne nsam guu ne so kae se, “Mefrɛɛ wo se bɛdome mʼatamfo, nanso woahyira wɔn mprɛnsa yi nyinaa.
11 So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money [if you cursed them], but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”
Fi ha kɔ wo nkyi ntɛm! Mekae se mɛkyɛ wo ade a ɛsom bo nanso, Awurade amma woannya akyɛde no.”
12 Balaam said to Balak, “[Do you not remember what] [RHQ] I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,
Balaam buaa no se, “So manka ankyerɛ abɔfo a wosomaa wɔn baa me nkyɛn no se,
13 ‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good [that he does not approve of].’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.
‘Sɛ Balak ma me dwetɛ ne sikakɔkɔɔ a ɛwɔ nʼahemfi hɔ nyinaa koraa a, minni tumi sɛ mɛyɛ biribi atia Awurade ahyɛde, sɛ ɛyɛ papa anaa bɔne.’ Mmom nea Awurade aka no nko ara na ɛsɛ sɛ meka.
14 So yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab people in the future.”
Afei, meresan akɔ me nkurɔfo nkyɛn. Nanso ma menka nea Israelfo no bɛyɛ wo nkurɔfo no daakye no nkyerɛ wo.”
15 So Balaam said this [to Balak]: “I, Balaam, son of Beor, am again giving a prophecy, speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
Eyi ne nkɔmhyɛ a Balaam de mae: “Beor ba Balaam nkɔmhyɛ, nkɔmhyɛ a efi ɔbarima a nʼani hu ade yiye,
16 I hear a message from God; I know things that God, who lives in heaven, has [revealed to me]. I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
nea ɔte Onyankopɔn nsɛm no nkɔmhyɛ, nea ɔwɔ nimdeɛ a efi Ɔsorosoroni no hɔ, nea onya anisoadehu a efi Otumfo no hɔ, na ɔda fam, a nʼani hu ade no:
17 The things that I see [in the vision] are not [going to happen] now; I see things [that God will cause to happen] in the future. A man who is [a descendant of] Jacob will appear like a star [MET]; a king who holds a scepter will be one of the Israeli people. He will crush the heads of you people of Moab; he will wipe out the descendants of Seth.
“Mihu no, nanso ɛnyɛ mprempren; mehwɛ no, nanso ɔmmɛn. Nsoromma bepue afi Yakob mu; ahempema bepue afi Israel mu. Ɔbɛdwerɛw Moabfo ti, Moabfo nyinaa tikora.
18 The Israelis will occupy Edom, and they will conquer their enemies [who live near] Seir [Mountain]. The Israeli people will be victorious/strong.
Wɔbɛfa Edom, na Seir a ɔyɛ ne tamfo no, wobedi ne so nkonim, na Israel bɛkɔ so ayɛ den.
19 A ruler who is a descendant of Jacob will come; he will get rid of the people who still live in the city [where Balaam first met Balak].”
Ɔhene bi bɛsɔre wɔ Yakob mu ɔno na ɔbɛsɛe kurow no mu nkaefo.”
20 Then Balaam looked out over where the Amalek people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “The Amalek people-group were the greatest nation, but they will be wiped out.”
Afei, Balaam hwɛɛ Amalekfo na ɔhyɛɛ nkɔm: “Amalek na na ɔyɛ aman nyinaa abakan, nanso nʼawiei bɛyɛ ɔsɛe pasaa.”
21 Then he looked out over the area where the Ken people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “You [think that] the place where you live is secure/safe like a nest that is made in the cliffs [MET],
Afei, ohuu Kenifo, na ɔhyɛɛ ne nkɔm: “Mo atenae wɔ bammɔ, wɔanwen mo berebuw wɔ abotan mu;
22 but you will be wiped out when the army of Assyria conquers you.”
Nanso wɔbɛsɛe mo Kenifo bere a Asur fa mo nnommum no.”
23 Balaam ended his prophecies by saying, “Also, (who can (survive/escape) when God does all these things?/no one will be able to (survive/escape) when God does all these things!) [RHQ]
Afei ɔhyɛɛ ne nkɔm: “Aa! Sɛ Onyankopɔn yɛ sɛɛ a, hena na ɔbɛtena nkwa mu?
24 Ships will come from Cyprus [Island], and [the men in those ships] will defeat [the armies of] Assyria and Eber. But God will get rid of those men, too.”
Ahyɛn befi Kipro mpoano aba; wobedi Eber ne Asur so. Nanso wɔn nso, wɔbɛsɛe wɔn pasaa.”
25 Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.
Afei, Balaam sɔree na ɔsan kɔɔ ne kurom, na Balak nso kɔɔ ne kwan.
