Numbers 24

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to use sorcery. Instead, he looked 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 He raised his eyes and saw that Israel was camped, each in their own tribe, 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 on him.

3 He received this prophecy and said, “Balaam son of Beor is about to speak, the man whose eyes are wide open.

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said:

4 He speaks and hears God's words. He sees a vision from the Almighty, Before whom he bows down with his eyes open.

He has said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, the place where you live, Israel!

How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, and your tabernacles, O Israel!

6 Like valleys they spread out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars 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 has planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

7 Water flows from their buckets, and their seed is well-watered. Their king is to be higher than Agag, and their kingdom will be honored.

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, with strength like a wild ox. He will eat up the nations who fight against him. He will break their bones to pieces. He will shoot them with his arrows.

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he has 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 crouches down like a lion, like a lioness. Who dares disturb him? May everyone who blesses him be blessed; may everyone who curses him be cursed.”

He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesses you, and cursed is he that curses you.

10 Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam and he struck his hands together in anger. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have blessed them three times.

And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

11 So leave me right now and go home. I said I would greatly reward you, but Yahweh has kept you from getting any reward.”

Therefore now flee you to your place: I thought to promote you to great honor; but, see, the LORD has kept you back from honor.

12 Then Balaam replied to Balak, “I said to the messengers that you sent to me,

And Balaam said to Balak, Spoke I not also to your messengers which you sent to me, saying,

13 'Even if Balak gave me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond Yahweh's word and anything bad or good, or anything at all that I might want to do. I can say only what Yahweh tells me to say.' Did I not say this to them?

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

14 So now, look, I will go back to my people. But first let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days ahead.”

And now, behold, I go to my people: come therefore, and I will advertise you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.

15 Balaam began this prophecy. He said, “Balaam son of Beor speaks, The man whose eyes are wide open.

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said:

16 This is a prophecy of someone who hears words from God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who has visions from the Almighty, Before whom he bows down with open eyes.

He has said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

17 I see him, but he is not here now. I look at him, but he is not near. A star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will shatter Moab's leaders and destroy all the descendants of Seth.

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

18 Then Edom will become a possession of Israel, and Seir will also become their possession, enemies of Israel, whom Israel will conquer with force.

And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

19 Out of Jacob a king will come who will have dominion, and he will destroy the survivors of their city.”

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remains of the city.

20 Then Balaam looked at Amalek and began his prophecy. He said, “Amalek was once the greatest of nations, but his final end will be 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 perish for ever.

21 Then Balaam looked toward the Kenites and began his prophecy. He said, “The place where you live is strong, and your nest is in the rocks.

And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is your dwelling place, and you put your nest in a rock.

22 Nevertheless you Kenites will be consumed by fire when Assyria carries you away captive.”

Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry you away captive.

23 Then Balaam began his final prophecy. He said, “Woe! Who will survive when God does this?

And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this!

24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will attack Assyria and will conquer Eber, but they, too, will end in 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 Then Balaam got up and left. He returned to his home, and Balak also went away.

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