Numbers 24

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

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

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

When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,

3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith:

and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

4 He saith, which heareth the words of God, Which seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

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

How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!

6 As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river side, As lign-aloes which the LORD hath planted, As cedar trees beside the waters.

They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.

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.

Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.

8 God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath 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.

God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.

He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”

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

Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me

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

that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.

14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come, [and] I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith:

Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

16 He saith, which heareth the words of God, And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Which seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

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

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, [which were] his enemies; While Israel doeth valiantly.

Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.

19 And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, And shall destroy the remnant from the city.

A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

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

Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”

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

Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.

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

Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”

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

Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?

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.

Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”

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

Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.