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 didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 et elevans oculos, vidit Israël in tentoriis commorantem per tribus suas: et irruente in se spiritu Dei,
Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
3 assumpta parabola, ait: [Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cujus obturatus est oculus:
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
4 dixit auditor sermonum Dei, qui visionem Omnipotentis intuitus est, qui cadit, et sic aperiuntur oculi ejus:
he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
5 Quam pulchra tabernacula tua, Jacob, et tentoria tua, Israël!
How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!
6 ut valles nemorosæ, ut horti juxta fluvios irrigui, ut tabernacula quæ fixit Dominus, quasi cedri prope aquas.
As valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which Yahweh has planted, as cedar trees 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 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 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. 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 Accubans dormivit ut leo, et quasi leæna, quam suscitare nullus audebit. Qui benedixerit tibi, erit et ipse benedictus: qui maledixerit, in maledictione reputabitur.]
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 Iratusque Balac contra Balaam, complosis manibus ait: Ad maledicendum inimicis meis vocavi te, quibus e contrario tertio benedixisti:
Balak’s anger burned 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 revertere ad locum tuum. Decreveram quidem magnifice honorare te, sed Dominus privavit te honore disposito.
Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.”
12 Respondit Balaam ad Balac: Nonne nuntiis tuis, quos misisti ad me, dixi:
Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
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?
‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’?
14 verumtamen pergens ad populum meum, dabo consilium, quid populus tuus populo huic faciat extremo tempore.
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 Sumpta igitur parabola, rursum ait: [Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cujus obturatus est oculus:
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
16 dixit auditor sermonum Dei, qui novit doctrinam Altissimi, et visiones Omnipotentis videt, qui cadens apertos habet oculos:
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 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 not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth.
18 Et erit Idumæa possessio ejus: hæreditas Seir cedet inimicis suis: Israël vero fortiter aget.
Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
19 De Jacob erit qui dominetur, et perdat reliquias civitatis.]
Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”
20 Cumque vidisset Amalec, assumens parabolam, ait: [Principium gentium Amalec, cujus extrema perdentur.]
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 Vidit quoque Cinæum: et assumpta parabola, ait: [Robustum quidem est habitaculum tuum: sed si in petra posueris nidum tuum,
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 et fueris electus de stirpe Cin, quamdiu poteris permanere? Assur enim capiet te.]
Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”
23 Assumptaque parabola iterum locutus est: [Heu! quis victurus est, quando ista faciet Deus?
He took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 Venient in trieribus de Italia: superabunt Assyrios, vastabuntque Hebræos, et ad extremum etiam ipsi peribunt.]
But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”
25 Surrexitque Balaam, et reversus est in locum suum: Balac quoque via, qua venerat, rediit.
Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
