Numbers 24

1 Balaam now realized that Yahweh wanted to bless the Israeli people, [not curse them]. So he did not use magic/divination [like a shaman would do] to find out what Yahweh wanted, as he often did. Instead, he turned toward the desert.

Afei, Balaam hunuu sɛ Awurade pɛ sɛ ɔhyira Israel. Yei enti, wankɔ abisa sɛdeɛ ɔtaa yɛ no. Na mmom, ɔtoo nʼani hwɛɛ ɛserɛ no so,

2 He saw the Israeli people camped there [in their tents], with each tribe gathered in its own group. Then the Spirit of God took control of him,

hunuu sɛ Israelfoɔ mmusuakuo no abobɔ wɔn atenaeɛ. Afei, Onyankopɔn honhom baa ne so,

3 and enabled him to give this prophetic message to Balak: “I, Balaam, the son of Beor, am giving this prophecy; I am speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.

na yei ne nkɔmhyɛ a ɔmaaeɛ: “Beor ba Balaam nkɔmhyɛ no nie; nkɔmhyɛ a ɛfiri ɔbarima a nʼani hunu adeɛ yie,

4 I hear this message from God; I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.

deɛ ɔte Onyankopɔn asɛm; deɛ ɔhunu anisoadeɛ a ɛfiri Otumfoɔ hɔ; na ɔda fam, a nʼani gu so:

5 You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful; they are truly lovely!

“Ao Yakob, mo ntomadan yɛ fɛ, Ao Israel, mo afie yɛ ahomeka.

6 Your tents are spread out [in front of me like groves of palm trees in] valleys, like gardens alongside a river. They are like strong aloe trees/plants that Yahweh has planted, like [strong] cedar trees [that grow] along the rivers.

“Ɛsam mʼanim te sɛ mmɛfuo, te sɛ nturo frɔmfrɔm wɔ asubɔnten ho. Wɔte sɛ pɛperɛ a Awurade adua, te sɛ ntweneduro a ɛbɛn nsuo ho.

7 Your water buckets will always be full; the seeds [that you plant] will always have plenty of water [to make them grow]. The Israelis’ king will be greater than [King] Agag; the kingdom that he rules will be honored.

Wɔbɛnya nsuo bebree. Wɔn mma bɛnya deɛ ɛhia wɔn nyinaa. “Wɔn ɔhene bɛyɛ kɛse akyɛn Agag; wɔn ahennie bɛkorɔn.

8 God brought the Israelis out of Egypt, [leading them along] with his great power [MTY] like a wild ox has. He devastates all the nations that oppose him; he breaks all those people’s bones into pieces, and shoots them with his arrows.

“Onyankopɔn de wɔn firi Misraim aba; ɔtwee wɔn sɛ wiram nantwie. Ɔsɛe amanaman a wɔtia no nyinaa, ɔbubu wɔn nnompe mu asinasini, ɔto bɛmma wowɔ wɔn.

9 The Israelis are like lions that crouch and lie down, [ready to pounce on their prey] [SIM]. They are like lionesses [that are resting, but ready to attack]; no one [RHQ] would dare to arouse them! [God] will bless everyone who blesses you Israelis, and he will curse everyone who curses you.”

Israel butu hɔ sɛ gyata; ɔte sɛ gyataburu, na hwan na ɔbɛtumi anyane no? “Ao Israel, nhyira nka obiara a ɔhyira wo, na nnome nka obiara a ɔdome wo.”

10 Then King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he [shouted at Balaam], “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have (blessed/asked God to bless) them three times!

Ɔhene Balak bo fuu Balaam. Ɔde Abufuo bɔɔ ne nsam guu ne so teaam sɛ, “Mefrɛɛ wo sɛ bɛdome, mʼatamfoɔ nanso woahyira wɔn mprɛnsa.

11 So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money [if you cursed them], but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”

Firi me so kɔ! Sane kɔ wo nkyi! Meyɛɛ mʼadwene sɛ anka mɛhyɛ wo animuonyam, nanso, Awurade de akame wo!”

12 Balaam said to Balak, “[Do you not remember what] [RHQ] I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,

Balaam buaa no sɛ, “Wonkae asɛm a meka kyerɛɛ wʼasomafoɔ no? Mekaa sɛ,

13 ‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good [that he does not approve of].’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.

‘Sɛ Balak ma me ahemfie a wɔde dwetɛ ne sikakɔkɔɔ ahyɛ hɔ ma koraa a, menni tumi sɛ mɛyɛ biribi atia Awurade apɛdeɛ.’ Meka kyerɛɛ wo sɛ asɛm a Awurade aka no nko ara na mɛka.

14 So yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab people in the future.”

Afei, meresane akɔ me nkurɔfoɔ nkyɛn. Nanso, deɛ ɛdi ɛkan no, ma menka deɛ Israelfoɔ no bɛyɛ wo nkurɔfoɔ daakye no nkyerɛ wo.”

15 So Balaam said this [to Balak]: “I, Balaam, son of Beor, am again giving a prophecy, speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.

Yei ne nkɔmhyɛ a Balaam de maeɛ: “Beor ba Balaam nkɔmhyɛ no nie; nkɔmhyɛ a ɛfiri ɔbarima a nʼani hunu adeɛ yie,

16 I hear a message from God; I know things that God, who lives in heaven, has [revealed to me]. I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.

deɛ ɔte Onyankopɔn asɛm; deɛ ɔwɔ nyansa a ɛfiri Ɔsorosoroni no deɛ ɔhunu anisoadeɛ a ɛfiri Otumfoɔ hɔ; na ɔda fam, a nʼani gu so:

17 The things that I see [in the vision] are not [going to happen] now; I see things [that God will cause to happen] in the future. A man who is [a descendant of] Jacob will appear like a star [MET]; a king who holds a scepter will be one of the Israeli people. He will crush the heads of you people of Moab; he will wipe out the descendants of Seth.

“Mɛhunu no, nanso ɛnyɛ seesei; mehwɛ no wɔ daakye akyirikyiri. Nsoromma bɛpue afiri Yakob mu! Ahempoma bɛfiri Israel mu. Ɔbɛyam Moabfoɔ tiri, na wapaapae Moab mma tikwankora.

18 The Israelis will occupy Edom, and they will conquer their enemies [who live near] Seir [Mountain]. The Israeli people will be victorious/strong.

Wɔbɛfa Edom, na Seir a ɔyɛ ne ɔtamfoɔ no, wɔbɛdi ne so nkonim, na Israel bɛkɔ so adi nkonim.

19 A ruler who is a descendant of Jacob will come; he will get rid of the people who still live in the city [where Balaam first met Balak].”

Ɔhene bi bɛsɔre wɔ Yakob mu ɔno na ɔbɛsɛe Ir nkaeɛfoɔ.”

20 Then Balaam looked out over where the Amalek people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “The Amalek people-group were the greatest nation, but they will be wiped out.”

Afei, Balaam hwɛɛ Amalekfoɔ fie hyɛɛ nkɔm sɛ, “Amalek na na ɛyɛ aman nyinaa abakan, nanso ne hyɛberɛ ne ɔsɛeɛ!”

21 Then he looked out over the area where the Ken people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “You [think that] the place where you live is secure/safe like a nest that is made in the cliffs [MET],

Afei, ɔhwɛɛ Kenifoɔ hyɛɛ nkɔm sɛ, “Mo atenaeɛ yɛ pa ara, wanwono mo pirebuo wɔ abotan mu.

22 but you will be wiped out when the army of Assyria conquers you.”

Nanso, wɔbɛsɛe Kenifoɔ ɛberɛ a Asurhene afa mo nnomum.”

23 Balaam ended his prophecies by saying, “Also, (who can (survive/escape) when God does all these things?/no one will be able to (survive/escape) when God does all these things!) [RHQ]

Nsɛm a ɔde wiee ne nkɔmhyɛ no ne sɛ: “Aa, sɛ Onyankopɔn yɛ sei a, hwan na ɔbɛtena nkwa mu?

24 Ships will come from Cyprus [Island], and [the men in those ships] will defeat [the armies of] Assyria and Eber. But God will get rid of those men, too.”

Ahyɛn bɛfiri Kipro mpoano aba Na abɛka Eber ne Asur ahyɛ. Nanso wɔn nso, wɔbɛsɛe wɔn pasaa.”

25 Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.

Enti, Balaam ne Balak sane kɔɔ wɔn kurom.