Liber Numeri 24
1 Cumque vidisset Balaam quod placeret Domino ut benediceret Israeli, nequaquam abiit ut ante perrexerat, ut augurium quaereret: sed dirigens contra desertum vultum suum,
When Balaam saw that the Lord wanted to bless Israel, he chose not to use divination as he had previously. Instead he turned towards the desert,
2 et elevans oculos, vidit Israel in tentoriis commorantem per tribus suas: et irruente in se spiritu Dei,
and as he looked at Israel camped there according to their respective tribes, the Spirit of God came on him.
3 assumpta parabola ait: Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cuius obturatus est oculus:
He gave a declaration, saying:
4 dixit auditor sermonum Dei, qui visionem Omnipotentis intuitus est, qui cadit, et sic aperiuntur oculi eius:
“This is the prophecy of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophecy of a man who sees with eyes are wide open, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision given by Almighty, who bows down in respect with open eyes.
5 Quam pulchra tabernacula tua Iacob, et tentoria tua Israel!
How well set out your tents are, Jacob; the places where you live, Israel!
6 ut valles nemorosae, ut horti iuxta fluvios irrigui, ut tabernacula quae fixit Dominus, quasi cedri prope aquas.
They look like wooded valleys, like gardens beside a river, like aloe trees the Lord has planted, like cedars at the water's edge.
7 Fluet aqua de situla eius, et semen illius erit in aquas multas. Tolletur propter Agag, rex eius, et auferetur regnum illius.
The Israelites will pour out bucketfuls of water; their descendants will have plenty of water. Their king will be greater than King Agag; their kingdom will be glorious.
8 Deus eduxit illum de Aegypto, cuius fortitudo similis est rhinocerotis. Devorabunt gentes hostes illius, ossaque eorum confringent, et perforabunt sagittis.
God led them out of Egypt with great power, as strong as an ox, destroying enemy nations, breaking their bones, piercing them with arrows.
9 Accubans dormivit ut leo, et quasi leaena, quam suscitare nullus audebit. Qui benedixerit tibi, erit et ipse benedictus: qui maledixerit, in maledictione reputabitur.
They are like a lion that crouches and lies down. They are like a lioness that nobody dares to disturb. Those who bless you will be blessed; those who curse you will be cursed.”
10 Iratusque Balac contra Balaam, complosis manibus ait: Ad maledicendum inimicis meis vocavi te, quibus econtrario tertio benedixisti:
Balak got angry with Balaam, and beat his fists together. He told Balaam, “I brought you here to curse my enemies, and now look! You keep on blessing them, doing it three times.
11 revertere ad locum tuum. Decreveram quidem magnifice honorare te, sed Dominus privavit te honore disposito.
Leave right now! Go home! I promised to pay you well, but the Lord has made sure you wouldn't receive any payment.”
12 Respondit Balaam ad Balac: Nonne nunciis tuis, quos misisti ad me, dixi:
But Balaam said to Balak, “Didn't I already explain to the messengers you sent
13 Si dederit mihi Balac: plenam domum argenti et auri, non potero praeterire sermonem Domini Dei mei, ut vel boni quid, vel mali proferam ex corde meo: sed quidquid Dominus dixerit, hoc loquar?
that even if you gave me your whole palace full of silver and gold, I couldn't do anything I wanted or disobey the command of the Lord my God in any way? I can only say what the Lord tells me.
14 Verumtamen pergens ad populum meum, dabo consilium, quid populus tuus populo huic faciat extremo tempore.
Listen! I'm going back home now to my own people, but first let me warn you what these Israelites are going to do to your people in the future.”
15 Sumpta igitur parabola, rursum ait: Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cuius obturatus est oculus:
Then Balaam gave a declaration, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are wide open
16 dixit auditor sermonum Dei, qui novit doctrinam Altissimi, et visiones Omnipotentis videt, qui cadens apertos habet oculos.
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who receives knowledge from the Most High, who sees the vision given by Almighty, who bows down in respect with open eyes.
17 Videbo eum, sed non modo: intuebor illum, sed non prope. ORIETUR STELLA ex Iacob, et consurget virga de Israel: et percutiet duces Moab, vastabitque omnes filios Seth.
I see him, but this isn't now. I observe him, but this isn't close at hand. In the future a leader like a star will come from Jacob, a ruler with a scepter will come to power from Israel. He will crush the heads of the Moabites, and destroy all the people of Seth.
18 Et erit Idumaea possessio eius: hereditas Seir cedet inimicis suis: Israel vero fortiter aget.
The country of Edom will be conquered, his enemy Seir will be conquered, and the Israelites will be victorious.
19 De Iacob erit qui dominetur. et perdat reliquias civitatis.
A ruler from Jacob will come and destroy those left in the city.”
20 Cumque vidisset Amalec, assumens parabolam, ait: Principium Gentium Amalec, cuius extrema perdentur.
Balaam turned his attention to the Amalekites and gave this declaration about them, saying, “Amalek was first among the nations, but they will end up being destroyed.”
21 Vidit quoque Cinaeum: et assumpta parabola, ait: Robustum quidem est habitaculum tuum: sed si in petra posueris nidum tuum,
He turned his attention to the Kenites and gave this declaration about them, saying, “Where you live is safe and secure, like a nest on a cliff-face.
22 et fueris electus de stirpe Cin, quamdiu poteris permanere? Assur enim capiet te.
But Kain will be burned down when Assyria conquers you.”
23 Assumptaque parabola iterum locutus est: Heu, quis victurus est, quando ista faciet Deus?
Then Balaam gave another declaration, saying, “It's a tragedy! Who can survive when God does this?
24 Venient in trieribus de Italia, superabunt Assyrios, vastabuntque Hebraeos, et ad extremum etiam ipsi peribunt.
Ships will be sent from Cyprus to attack Assyria and Eber, but they too will be permanently destroyed.”
25 Surrexitque Balaam, et reversus est in locum suum: Balac quoque via, qua venerat, rediit.
Then Balaam left and returned to his own country, and Balak left too.
