Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to meet with omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Viendo Balaam que era del agrado de Yahvé bendecir a Israel, no fue, como las otras veces, en busca de augurio, sino que volvió su rostro hacia el desierto.

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him.

Y cuando alzando los ojos vio a Israel acampado según sus tribus, vino sobre él el Espíritu de Dios,

3 And he took up his oracle, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, and the man whose eye was closed says,

y formulando su oráculo dijo: “Palabra de Balaam, hijo de Beor; palabra del hombre de ojos cerrados,

4 he says who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open,

palabra del que oye los dichos de Dios, y ve las visiones del Todopoderoso; recibe visión y se les abren los ojos:

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy tabernacles, O Israel!

¡Cuan hermosas tus tiendas, oh Jacob, tus moradas, oh Israel!

6 As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the river-side, as aloes which Jehovah has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.

Son como valles extendidos, como jardines a lo largo del río; como áloes plantados por Yahvé, como cedros junto a las aguas.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

Se desbordan de sus cubos las aguas, abundan las aguas en sus sembrados. Más poderoso que Agag será su rey, y se ensalzará su reino.

8 God brings him forth out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild-ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and smite them through with his arrows.

El Dios que le sacó de Egipto, le ha dado fuerzas como de búfalo; devorará pueblos, sus enemigos, les desmenuzará los huesos, y con sus saetas los traspasará.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness. Who shall rouse him up? He who blesses thee is blessed, And he who curses thee is cursed.

Se agazapa, se posa como león, y cual leona; ¿quién osará despertarle? ¡Bendito el que te bendiga, y maldito el que te maldiga!”

10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, thou have altogether blessed them these three times.

Se airó entonces Balac contra Balaam, y dando palmadas dijo a Balaam: “Para maldecir a mis enemigos te he llamado, y he aquí que tú les has echado bendiciones ya tres veces.

11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place. I thought to promote thee to great honor, but, lo, Jehovah has kept thee back from honor.

Retírate ahora a tu lugar. Yo pensaba colmarte de honores, mas he aquí que Yahvé te ha negado el honor.”

12 And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to thy messengers that thou sent to me, saying,

Respondió Balaam a Balac: “¿No dije ya a tus mensajeros que tú me enviaste:

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of my own mind. What Jehovah speaks, that I will speak?

Aun cuando Balac me diera tanta plata y oro como cabe en su casa, no podré transgredir la orden de Yahvé, haciendo por mi cuenta cosa buena o mala, pues repetiré solamente lo que dijere Yahvé?

14 And now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will advise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

Ahora, pues, al volverme a mi pueblo, ven, que te anunciaré lo que este pueblo hará a tu pueblo en los días postreros.”

15 And he took up his oracle, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, and the man whose eye was closed says,

Y pronunció su oráculo diciendo: “Palabra de Balaam, hijo de Beor; palabra del hombre de ojos cerrados,

16 he says who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:

palabra del que oye los dichos de Dios, conoce los pensamientos del Altísimo, y ve las visiones del Todopoderoso; recibe visión y se le abren los ojos.

17 I see him, but not now. I behold him, but not near. There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of tumult.

Le veo, pero no como presente, le contemplo, mas no de cerca: una estrella sale de Jacob, y de Israel surge un cetro, que destrozará las sienes de Moab, y destruirá a todos los hijos de Set.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, who were his enemies, while Israel does valiantly.

Edom será propiedad suya, Seír será presa de sus enemigos, e Israel hará proezas.

19 And out of Jacob shall come he who shall have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.

De Jacob saldrá un dominador, el cual destruirá los restos de la ciudad.”

20 And he looked on Amalek, and took up his oracle, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall come to destruction.

Y mirando a Amalec, dijo este oráculo: “Amalec es el primero de los pueblos, mas su fin será eterno exterminio.”

21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his oracle, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest is set in the rock.

Echando su mirada hacia el Cineo, pronunció este oráculo: “Fuerte es tu morada, tu nido está colocado en la peña; con todo será devastado el Cineo.

22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

Tiempo vendrá, y Asur te llevará cautivo.”

23 And he took up his oracle, and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this?

Prosiguió su oráculo, y dijo: “¡Ay! ¿quién subsistirá cuando Dios lo ponga por obra?

24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall come to destruction.

Vendrán naves de Kitim que humillarán a Asur, y oprimirán a Eber, y él mismo al fin perecerá.”

25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.

Con esto se levantó Balaam y se fue, y volvió a su lugar. También Balac se fue por su camino.