< 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
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 Israhel in tentoriis commorantem per tribus suas et inruente 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 adsumpta parabola ait dixit Balaam filius Beor dixit homo cuius 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 eius
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 Iacob et tentoria tua Israhel
How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, the place where you live, Israel!
6 ut valles nemorosae ut horti iuxta fluvios inrigui ut tabernacula quae fixit Dominus quasi cedri propter 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 eius et semen illius erit in aquas multas tolletur propter Agag rex eius 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 Aegypto cuius fortitudo similis est rinocerotis 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 leaena quam suscitare nullus audebit qui benedixerit tibi erit 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 conplosis 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 praeterire sermonem Domini Dei mei ut vel boni quid vel mali proferam ex corde meo sed quicquid 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 huic populo 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 cuius 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 Iacob et consurget virga de Israhel 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 Idumea possessio eius hereditas Seir cedet inimicis suis Israhel 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 Iacob 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 Amalech adsumens parabolam ait principium gentium Amalech cuius 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 Cineum et adsumpta parabola ait robustum est quidem 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 Cain quamdiu poteris permanere Assur enim capiet te
Nevertheless you Kenites will be consumed by fire when Assyria carries you away captive.”
23 adsumptaque 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 Hebraeos 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.