Nomery 24
1 Ary rehefa hitan’ i Balama fa sitrak’ i Jehovah ny hitahy ny Isiraely, dia tsy nandeha tahaka ny teo hanao sikidy intsony izy, fa nitodika nanatrika ny efitra fotsiny.
Balaam now realized that Yahweh wanted to bless the Israeli people, [not curse them]. So he did not use magic/divination [like a shaman would do] to find out what Yahweh wanted, as he often did. Instead, he turned toward the desert.
2 Dia natopin’ i Balama ny masony, ka nahita ny Isiraely mitoby araka ny fireneny izy; ary ny Fanahin’ Andriamanitra tonga tamin’ i Balama.
He saw the Israeli people camped there [in their tents], with each tribe gathered in its own group. Then the Spirit of God took control of him,
3 Dia nanao oha-teny izy ka nilaza hoe: Hoy Balama, zanak’ i Beora, dia ny lehilahy izay voakimpy ny masony
and enabled him to give this prophetic message to Balak: “I, Balaam, the son of Beor, am giving this prophecy; I am speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
4 Izay mandre ny tenin’ Andriamanitra sady mahita fahitana avy amin’ ny Tsitoha, torana, kanefa voahiratra ny masony:
I hear this message from God; I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
5 Endrey ny hatsaran’ ny lainao, ry Jakoba ô! sy ny lasinao, ry Isiraely ô!
You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful; they are truly lovely!
6 Tahaka ny lohasaha malalaka, tahaka ny saha ao amoron’ ony, tahaka ny hazo manitra nambolen’ i Jehovah, tahaka ny hazo sedera ao amoron-drano.
Your tents are spread out [in front of me like groves of palm trees in] valleys, like gardens alongside a river. They are like strong aloe trees/plants that Yahweh has planted, like [strong] cedar trees [that grow] along the rivers.
7 Hisy rano mandeha avy eo amin’ ny sininy, ary ny taranany ho any amoron’ ny renirano maro. Hisandratra noho Agaga ny mpanjakany, ary handroso voninahitra ny fanjakany.
Your water buckets will always be full; the seeds [that you plant] will always have plenty of water [to make them grow]. The Israelis’ king will be greater than [King] Agag; the kingdom that he rules will be honored.
8 Nentin’ Andriamanitra nivoaka avy tany Egypta izy. Ary manan-kery toy ny ombimanga; Handany ny jentilisa fahavalony izy, ka hotapatapahiny ny taolany, ary haripany amin’ ny zana-tsipìkany.
God brought the Israelis out of Egypt, [leading them along] with his great power [MTY] like a wild ox has. He devastates all the nations that oppose him; he breaks all those people’s bones into pieces, and shoots them with his arrows.
9 Mamitaka izy, mandry toy ny liona, ary toy ny liom-bavy, ka iza no hanaitra azy? Hohasoavina anie izay manisy soa anao, ary ho voaozona anie izay manozona anao!
The Israelis are like lions that crouch and lie down, [ready to pounce on their prey] [SIM]. They are like lionesses [that are resting, but ready to attack]; no one [RHQ] would dare to arouse them! [God] will bless everyone who blesses you Israelis, and he will curse everyone who curses you.”
10 Dia nirehitra tamin’ i Balama ny fahatezeran’ i Balaka, ka niteha-tanana izy; dia hoy izy tamin’ i Balama: Hanozona ny fahavaloko no niantsoako anao, kanjo efa nitso-drano azy intelo ianao izao.
Then King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he [shouted at Balaam], “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have (blessed/asked God to bless) them three times!
11 Koa ankehitriny, mandosira ho any amin’ ny fonenanao ianao. Hoy izaho teo: Hanome voninahitra anao tokoa aho; fa, indro, Jehovah efa nisakana anao tsy hahazo voninahitra.
So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money [if you cursed them], but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”
12 Dia hoy Balama tamin’ i Balaka: Moa tsy efa nilaza tamin’ ny irakao izay nirahinao tamiko va aho ka nanao hoe:
Balaam said to Balak, “[Do you not remember what] [RHQ] I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,
13 Na dia homen’ i Balaka volafotsy sy volamena eran’ ny tranony aza aho, dia tsy mahazo manoatra ny didin’ i Jehovah, na hanao soa, na hanao ratsy, avy amin’ ny saiko; izay holazain’ i Jehovah ihany no holazaiko?
‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good [that he does not approve of].’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.
14 Ary ankehitriny, indro, efa handeha ho any amin’ ny fireneko aho, dia aoka hananatra anao aho ny amin’ izay hataon’ ity firenena ity amin’ ny vahoakanao any am-parany.
So yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab people in the future.”
15 Dia nanao oha-teny izy ka nilaza hoe: Hoy Balama, zanak’ i Beora, dia ny lehilahy izay voakimpy ny masony;
So Balaam said this [to Balak]: “I, Balaam, son of Beor, am again giving a prophecy, speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
16 Izay mandre ny tenin’ Andriamanitra sady mahalala ny fahalalan’ ny Avo Indrindra, izay mahita fahitana avy amin’ ny Tsitoha, torana, kanefa voahiratra ny masony:
I hear a message from God; I know things that God, who lives in heaven, has [revealed to me]. I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
17 Hitako Izy, nefa tsy ankehitriny; tazako Izy, nefa tsy akaiky; misy kintana miseho avy amin’ i Jakoba sy tehim-panjakana miposaka avy amin’ Isiraely ka mandrava ny sisin-tanin’ i Moaba Ary mandringana ny mpitabataba rehetra.
The things that I see [in the vision] are not [going to happen] now; I see things [that God will cause to happen] in the future. A man who is [a descendant of] Jacob will appear like a star [MET]; a king who holds a scepter will be one of the Israeli people. He will crush the heads of you people of Moab; he will wipe out the descendants of Seth.
18 Edoma sy Seïra fahavalony dia samy lasany ho azy, ary ny Isiraely mandroso amin-kery.
The Israelis will occupy Edom, and they will conquer their enemies [who live near] Seir [Mountain]. The Israeli people will be victorious/strong.
19 Ary avy amin’ i Jakoba no isehoan’ Izay hanapaka ka handringana izay sisa avy ao an-tanàna.
A ruler who is a descendant of Jacob will come; he will get rid of the people who still live in the city [where Balaam first met Balak].”
20 Ary nahita ny Amalekita izy, dia nanao oha-teny hoe: Voalohany tamin’ ny jentilisa Amaleka, fa ho lany ringana no hiafarany.
Then Balaam looked out over where the Amalek people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “The Amalek people-group were the greatest nation, but they will be wiped out.”
21 Ary nahita ny Kenita izy, dia nanao oha-teny hoe: Mafy orina ny fonenanao, ary atao ao amin’ ny vatolampy ny akaninao.
Then he looked out over the area where the Ken people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “You [think that] the place where you live is secure/safe like a nest that is made in the cliffs [MET],
22 Kanefa ho ringana Kaina, alohan’ ny hamaboan’ i Asyra anao.
but you will be wiped out when the army of Assyria conquers you.”
23 Dia nanao oha-teny koa izy ka nilaza hoe: Indrisy! iza no ho velona, raha manao izany Andriamanitra?
Balaam ended his prophecies by saying, “Also, (who can (survive/escape) when God does all these things?/no one will be able to (survive/escape) when God does all these things!) [RHQ]
24 Ary hisy sambo avy any amin’ ny tany Kitima, dia hampietry an’ i Asyra sy Ebera, ka ho lany ringana no hiafarany.
Ships will come from Cyprus [Island], and [the men in those ships] will defeat [the armies of] Assyria and Eber. But God will get rid of those men, too.”
25 Dia niainga Balama ka lasa nody tany amin’ ny fonenany; fa Balaka kosa nandeha tany amin’ izay nalehany.
Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.
