< Liber Numeri 24 >

1 cumque vidisset Balaam quod placeret Domino ut benediceret Israheli nequaquam abiit ut ante perrexerat ut augurium quaereret sed dirigens contra desertum vultum suum
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.
2 et elevans oculos vidit Israhel in tentoriis commorantem per tribus suas et inruente in se spiritu Dei
When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,
3 adsumpta parabola ait dixit Balaam filius Beor dixit homo cuius obturatus est oculus
and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
4 dixit auditor sermonum Dei qui visionem Omnipotentis intuitus est qui cadit et sic aperiuntur oculi eius
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
5 quam pulchra tabernacula tua Iacob et tentoria tua Israhel
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!
6 ut valles nemorosae ut horti iuxta fluvios inrigui ut tabernacula quae fixit Dominus quasi cedri propter aquas
They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.
7 fluet aqua de situla eius et semen illius erit in aquas multas tolletur propter Agag rex eius et auferetur regnum illius
Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.
8 Deus eduxit illum de Aegypto cuius fortitudo similis est rinocerotis devorabunt gentes hostes illius ossaque eorum confringent et perforabunt sagittis
God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.
9 accubans dormivit ut leo et quasi leaena quam suscitare nullus audebit qui benedixerit tibi erit ipse benedictus qui maledixerit in maledictione reputabitur
He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
10 iratusque Balac contra Balaam conplosis manibus ait ad maledicendum inimicis meis vocavi te quibus e contrario tertio benedixisti
Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.
11 revertere ad locum tuum decreveram quidem magnifice honorare te sed Dominus privavit te honore disposito
Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”
12 respondit Balaam ad Balac nonne nuntiis tuis quos misisti ad me dixi
Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me
13 si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri non potero praeterire sermonem Domini Dei mei ut vel boni quid vel mali proferam ex corde meo sed quicquid Dominus dixerit hoc loquar
that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.
14 verumtamen pergens ad populum meum dabo consilium quid populus tuus huic populo faciat extremo tempore
Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”
15 sumpta igitur parabola rursum ait dixit Balaam filius Beor dixit homo cuius obturatus est oculus
Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are 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 has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
17 videbo eum sed non modo intuebor illum sed non prope orietur stella ex Iacob et consurget virga de Israhel et percutiet duces Moab vastabitque omnes filios Seth
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
18 et erit Idumea possessio eius hereditas Seir cedet inimicis suis Israhel vero fortiter aget
Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.
19 de Iacob erit qui dominetur et perdat reliquias civitatis
A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
20 cumque vidisset Amalech adsumens parabolam ait principium gentium Amalech cuius extrema perdentur
Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”
21 vidit quoque Cineum et adsumpta parabola ait robustum est quidem habitaculum tuum sed si in petra posueris nidum tuum
Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.
22 et fueris electus de stirpe Cain quamdiu poteris permanere Assur enim capiet te
Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”
23 adsumptaque parabola iterum locutus est heu quis victurus est quando ista faciet Deus
Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?
24 venient in trieribus de Italia superabunt Assyrios vastabuntque Hebraeos et ad extremum etiam ipsi peribunt
Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”
25 surrexitque Balaam et reversus est in locum suum Balac quoque via qua venerat rediit
Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.

< Liber Numeri 24 >