Liber Numeri 24
1 Cumque vidisset Balaam quod placeret Domino ut benediceret Israëli, nequaquam abiit ut ante perrexerat, ut augurium quæreret: sed dirigens contra desertum vultum suum,
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.
2 et elevans oculos, vidit Israël in tentoriis commorantem per tribus suas: et irruente in se spiritu Dei,
He raised his eyes and saw that Israel was camped, each in their own tribe, and the Spirit of God came on him.
3 assumpta parabola, ait: [Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cujus obturatus est oculus:
He received this prophecy and said, “Balaam son of Beor is about to speak, the man whose eyes are wide open.
4 dixit auditor sermonum Dei, qui visionem Omnipotentis intuitus est, qui cadit, et sic aperiuntur oculi ejus:
He speaks and hears God's words. He sees a vision from the Almighty, Before whom he bows down with his eyes open.
5 Quam pulchra tabernacula tua, Jacob, et tentoria tua, Israël!
How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, the place where you live, Israel!
6 ut valles nemorosæ, ut horti juxta fluvios irrigui, ut tabernacula quæ fixit Dominus, quasi cedri prope aquas.
Like valleys they spread out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars beside the waters.
7 Fluet aqua de situla ejus, et semen illius erit in aquas multas. Tolletur propter Agag, rex ejus, et auferetur regnum illius.
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.
8 Deus eduxit illum de Ægypto, cujus fortitudo similis est rhinocerotis. Devorabunt gentes hostes illius, ossaque eorum confringent, et perforabunt sagittis.
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.
9 Accubans dormivit ut leo, et quasi leæna, quam suscitare nullus audebit. Qui benedixerit tibi, erit et ipse benedictus: qui maledixerit, in maledictione reputabitur.]
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.”
10 Iratusque Balac contra Balaam, complosis manibus ait: Ad maledicendum inimicis meis vocavi te, quibus e contrario tertio benedixisti:
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.
11 revertere ad locum tuum. Decreveram quidem magnifice honorare te, sed Dominus privavit te honore disposito.
So leave me right now and go home. I said I would greatly reward you, but Yahweh has kept you from getting any reward.”
12 Respondit Balaam ad Balac: Nonne nuntiis tuis, quos misisti ad me, dixi:
Then Balaam replied to Balak, “I said to the messengers that you sent to me,
13 Si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri, non potero præterire sermonem Domini Dei mei, ut vel boni quid vel mali proferam ex corde meo: sed quidquid Dominus dixerit, hoc loquar?
'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?
14 verumtamen pergens ad populum meum, dabo consilium, quid populus tuus populo huic faciat extremo tempore.
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.”
15 Sumpta igitur parabola, rursum ait: [Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cujus obturatus est oculus:
Balaam began this prophecy. He said, “Balaam son of Beor speaks, The man whose eyes are wide open.
16 dixit auditor sermonum Dei, qui novit doctrinam Altissimi, et visiones Omnipotentis videt, qui cadens apertos habet oculos:
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.
17 Videbo eum, sed non modo: intuebor illum, sed non prope. Orietur stella ex Jacob, et consurget virga de Israël: et percutiet duces Moab, vastabitque omnes filios Seth.
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.
18 Et erit Idumæa possessio ejus: hæreditas Seir cedet inimicis suis: Israël vero fortiter aget.
Then Edom will become a possession of Israel, and Seir will also become their possession, enemies of Israel, whom Israel will conquer with force.
19 De Jacob erit qui dominetur, et perdat reliquias civitatis.]
Out of Jacob a king will come who will have dominion, and he will destroy the survivors of their city.”
20 Cumque vidisset Amalec, assumens parabolam, ait: [Principium gentium Amalec, cujus extrema perdentur.]
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.”
21 Vidit quoque Cinæum: et assumpta parabola, ait: [Robustum quidem est habitaculum tuum: sed si in petra posueris nidum tuum,
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.
22 et fueris electus de stirpe Cin, quamdiu poteris permanere? Assur enim capiet te.]
Nevertheless you Kenites will be consumed by fire when Assyria carries you away captive.”
23 Assumptaque parabola iterum locutus est: [Heu! quis victurus est, quando ista faciet Deus?
Then Balaam began his final prophecy. He said, “Woe! Who will survive when God does this?
24 Venient in trieribus de Italia: superabunt Assyrios, vastabuntque Hebræos, et ad extremum etiam ipsi peribunt.]
Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will attack Assyria and will conquer Eber, but they, too, will end in destruction.”
25 Surrexitque Balaam, et reversus est in locum suum: Balac quoque via, qua venerat, rediit.
Then Balaam got up and left. He returned to his home, and Balak also went away.
