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 it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face towards the wilderness.

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.

Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and 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 took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

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:

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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 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 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.

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'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’s anger burnt 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 And now flee thou to thy place; I said I would very highly honour thee, and behold, Jehovah has kept thee back from honour.

Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honour; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honour.”

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

Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,

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?

‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the LORD’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what the LORD says’?

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.

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 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,

He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

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:

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 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 not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A sceptre will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir a possession, — they, his enemies; but Israel will do valiantly.

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

19 And one out of Jacob shall have dominion, and will destroy out of the city what remaineth.

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

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 he saw the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Firm is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest fixed 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 the Kenite shall be consumed, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

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

23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas! Who shall live when God doeth this?

He took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live 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.

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

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

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