Numbers 24

1 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.

And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to meet with omens, 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 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him.

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

And he took up his oracle, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, and the man whose eye was closed says,

4 he says, who hears the words of God, who sees 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 your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!

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

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

As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the river-side, as aloes which Jehovah has 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 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.

8 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.

God brings him forth out of Egypt. He has 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.

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 couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness. Who shall rouse him up? He who blesses thee is blessed, And he who curses thee is cursed.

10 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.

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, thou have altogether blessed them these three times.

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

Therefore now flee thou to thy place. I thought to promote thee to great honor, but, lo, Jehovah has kept thee back from honor.

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

And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to thy messengers that thou sent to me, saying,

13 ‘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’?

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of my own mind. What Jehovah speaks, that I will speak?

14 Now, behold, 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 go to my people. Come, I will advise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

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

And he took up his oracle, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, and the man whose eye was closed says,

16 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:

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

17 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.

I see him, but not now. I behold him, but not near. There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of tumult.

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

And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, who were his enemies, while Israel does valiantly.

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

And out of Jacob shall come he who shall have dominion, and shall destroy the 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 looked on Amalek, and took up his oracle, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall come to destruction.

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 Kenite, and took up his oracle, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest is set in the rock.

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

Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur shall 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 oracle, and said, Alas, who shall live 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 shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall come to destruction.

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

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