Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

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,

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came on him.

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.

3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said:

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:

4 He has said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

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:

5 How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, and your tabernacles, O Israel!

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

6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD has planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

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

7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

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.

8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he has as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

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.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesses you, and cursed is he that curses you.

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.

10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

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.

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

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.

12 And Balaam said to Balak, Spoke I not also to your messengers which you sent to me, saying,

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

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what the LORD says, that will I speak?

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?

14 And now, behold, I go to my people: come therefore, and I will advertise you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.

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.

15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said:

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:

16 He has said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

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:

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

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.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

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

19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remains of the city.

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

20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

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.

21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is your dwelling place, and you put your nest in a rock.

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.

22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry you away captive.

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

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

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

24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

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

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

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