Numbers 24
1 And Balaam saw that it was good in the sight of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
When Balaam saw that the Lord wanted to bless Israel, he chose not to use divination as he had previously. Instead he turned towards the desert,
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling [in tents] according to his tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
and as he looked at Israel camped there according to their respective tribes, the Spirit of God came on him.
3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,
He gave a declaration, saying:
4 He saith, who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:
“This is the prophecy of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophecy of a man who sees with eyes are wide open, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision given by Almighty, who bows down in respect with open eyes.
5 How goodly are thy tents, Jacob, and thy tabernacles, Israel!
How well set out your tents are, Jacob; the places where you live, Israel!
6 Like valleys are they spread forth, like gardens by the river side, Like aloe-trees which Jehovah hath planted, like cedars beside the waters.
They look like wooded valleys, like gardens beside a river, like aloe trees the Lord has planted, like cedars at the water's edge.
7 Water shall flow out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in great waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
The Israelites will pour out bucketfuls of water; their descendants will have plenty of water. Their king will be greater than King Agag; their kingdom will be glorious.
8 God brought him out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a buffalo. He shall consume the nations his enemies, and break their bones, and with his arrows shall smite [them] in pieces.
God led them out of Egypt with great power, as strong as an ox, destroying enemy nations, breaking their bones, piercing them with arrows.
9 He stooped, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness: who will stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
They are like a lion that crouches and lies down. They are like a lioness that nobody dares to disturb. Those who bless you will be blessed; those who curse you will be cursed.”
10 Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times!
Balak got angry with Balaam, and beat his fists together. He told Balaam, “I brought you here to curse my enemies, and now look! You keep on blessing them, doing it three times.
11 And now flee thou to thy place; I said I would very highly honour thee, and behold, Jehovah has kept thee back from honour.
Leave right now! Go home! I promised to pay you well, but the Lord has made sure you wouldn't receive any payment.”
12 And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to thy messengers whom thou sentest to me, saying,
But Balaam said to Balak, “Didn't I already explain to the messengers you sent
13 If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah to do good or bad out of my heart: what Jehovah shall say, that will I speak?
that even if you gave me your whole palace full of silver and gold, I couldn't do anything I wanted or disobey the command of the Lord my God in any way? I can only say what the Lord tells me.
14 And now behold, I go to my people: come, I will admonish thee what this people will do to thy people at the end of days.
Listen! I'm going back home now to my own people, but first let me warn you what these Israelites are going to do to your people in the future.”
15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,
Then Balaam gave a declaration, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are wide open
16 He saith, who heareth the words of God, who knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who receives knowledge from the Most High, who sees the vision given by Almighty, who bows down in respect with open eyes.
17 I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: There cometh a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and he shall cut in pieces the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.
I see him, but this isn't now. I observe him, but this isn't close at hand. In the future a leader like a star will come from Jacob, a ruler with a scepter will come to power from Israel. He will crush the heads of the Moabites, and destroy all the people of Seth.
18 And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir a possession, — they, his enemies; but Israel will do valiantly.
The country of Edom will be conquered, his enemy Seir will be conquered, and the Israelites will be victorious.
19 And one out of Jacob shall have dominion, and will destroy out of the city what remaineth.
A ruler from Jacob will come and destroy those left in the city.”
20 And he saw Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek is the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be for destruction.
Balaam turned his attention to the Amalekites and gave this declaration about them, saying, “Amalek was first among the nations, but they will end up being destroyed.”
21 And he saw the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Firm is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest fixed in the rock;
He turned his attention to the Kenites and gave this declaration about them, saying, “Where you live is safe and secure, like a nest on a cliff-face.
22 But the Kenite shall be consumed, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
But Kain will be burned down when Assyria conquers you.”
23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas! Who shall live when God doeth this?
Then Balaam gave another declaration, saying, “It's a tragedy! Who can survive when God does this?
24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and afflict Asshur, and afflict Eber, and he also shall be for destruction.
Ships will be sent from Cyprus to attack Assyria and Eber, but they too will be permanently destroyed.”
25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
Then Balaam left and returned to his own country, and Balak left too.
