Numbers 24

1 Now when Balaam saw that it was the Lord's pleasure to give his blessing to Israel, he did not, as at other times, make use of secret arts, but turning his face to the waste land,

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

2 And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel there, with their tents in the order of their tribes: and the spirit of God came on him.

Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Ruach of God came on him.

3 And moved by the spirit, he said, These are the words of Balaam, son of Beor, the words of the man whose eyes are open:

He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

4 He says, whose ears are open to the words of God, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down, but having his eyes open:

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

5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your houses, O Israel!

How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel.

6 They are stretched out like valleys, like gardens by the riverside, like flowering trees planted by the Lord, like cedar-trees by the waters.

As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which the LORD has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.

7 Peoples will be in fear before his strength, his arm will be on great nations: his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom made great in honour.

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 It is God who has taken him out of Egypt; his horns are like those of the mountain ox; the nations warring against him will be his food, their bones will be broken, they will be wounded with his arrows.

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

9 He took his sleep stretched out like a lion, and like a she-lion: by whom will his rest be broken? May a blessing be on everyone who gives you blessing, and a curse on everyone by whom you are cursed.

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 Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.

Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, look, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

11 Go back quickly to the place you came from: it was my purpose to give you a place of honour, but now the Lord has kept you back from honour.

Therefore now flee you to your place. I thought to promote you to great honor; but, look, the LORD has kept you back from honor."

12 Then Balaam said to Balak, Did I not say to the men you sent to me,

Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

13 Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say?

'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad in my heart. I will say what God says'?

14 So now I will go back to my people: but first let me make clear to you what this people will do to your people in days to come.

Now, look, I go to my people: come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."

15 Then he went on with his story and said, These are the words of Balaam, the son of Beor, the words of him whose eyes are open:

He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

16 He says, whose ear is open to the words of God, who has knowledge of the Most High, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down and having his eyes open:

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

17 I see him, but not now: looking on him, but not near: a star will come out of Jacob, and a rod of authority out of Israel, sending destruction to the farthest limits of Moab and on the head of all the sons of Sheth.

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 will crush the forehead of Moab, and the crown of all the sons of tumult.

18 Edom will be his heritage, and he will put an end to the last of the people of Seir.

Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.

19 And Israel will go on in strength, and Jacob will have rule over his haters.

Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city."

20 Then, turning his eyes to Amalek, he went on with his story and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his part will be destruction for ever.

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 And looking on the Kenites he went on with his story and said, Strong is your living-place, and your secret place is safe in the rock.

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 But still the Kenites will be wasted, till Asshur takes you away prisoner.

Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive."

23 Then he went on with his story and said, But who may keep his life when God does this?

He took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

24 But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur and troubling Eber, and like the others their fate will be destruction.

But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction."

25 Then Balaam got up and went back to his place: and Balak went away.

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