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 didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 et elevans oculos vidit Israhel in tentoriis commorantem per tribus suas et inruente 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 adsumpta parabola ait dixit Balaam filius Beor dixit homo cuius 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 eius
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 Iacob et tentoria tua Israhel
How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!
6 ut valles nemorosae ut horti iuxta fluvios inrigui ut tabernacula quae fixit Dominus quasi cedri propter 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 eius et semen illius erit in aquas multas tolletur propter Agag rex eius 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 Aegypto cuius fortitudo similis est rinocerotis 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 leaena quam suscitare nullus audebit qui benedixerit tibi erit 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 conplosis 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 praeterire sermonem Domini Dei mei ut vel boni quid vel mali proferam ex corde meo sed quicquid 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 huic populo 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 cuius 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 Iacob et consurget virga de Israhel 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 Idumea possessio eius hereditas Seir cedet inimicis suis Israhel vero fortiter aget
Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
19 de Iacob 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 Amalech adsumens parabolam ait principium gentium Amalech cuius 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 Cineum et adsumpta parabola ait robustum est quidem 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 Cain quamdiu poteris permanere Assur enim capiet te
Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”
23 adsumptaque 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 Hebraeos 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.
