Liber Numeri 24

1 Cumque vidisset Balaam quod placeret Domino ut benediceret Israeli, nequaquam abiit ut ante perrexerat, ut augurium quæreret: sed dirigens contra desertum vultum suum,

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.

2 et elevans oculos, vidit Israel in tentoriis commorantem per tribus suas: et irruente in se Spiritu Dei,

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

3 assumpta parabola, ait: Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cuius obturatus est oculus:

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

4 dixit auditor sermonum Dei, qui visionem Omnipotentis intuitus est, qui cadit, et sic aperiuntur oculi eius:

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

5 Quam pulchra tabernacula tua Iacob, et tentoria tua Israel!

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

6 ut valles nemorosæ, ut horti iuxta fluvios irrigui, ut tabernacula quæ fixit Dominus, quasi cedri prope aquas.

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

7 Fluet aqua de situla eius, et semen illius erit in aquas multas. Tolletur propter Agag, rex eius, et auferetur regnum illius.

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.

8 Deus eduxit illum de Ægypto, cuius fortitudo similis est rhinocerotis. Devorabunt gentes hostes illius, ossaque eorum confringent, et perforabunt sagittis.

God brought him forth from Egypt; he hath 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.

9 Accubans dormivit ut leo, et quasi leæna, quam suscitare nullus audebit. Qui benedixerit tibi, erit et ipse benedictus: qui maledixerit, in maledictione reputabitur.

He crouched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall rouse him? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

10 Iratusque Balac contra Balaam, complosis manibus ait: Ad maledicendum inimicis meis vocavi te, quibus econtrario tertio benedixisti:

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

11 revertere ad locum tuum. Decreveram quidem magnifice honorare te, sed Dominus privavit te honore disposito.

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

12 Respondit Balaam ad Balac: Nonne nunciis tuis, quos misisti ad me, dixi:

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

13 Si dederit mihi Balac: plenam domum suam argenti et auri, non potero præterire sermonem Domini Dei mei, ut vel boni quid, vel mali proferam ex corde meo: sed quidquid Dominus dixerit, hoc loquar?

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

14 Verumtamen pergens ad populum meum, dabo consilium, quid populus tuus populo huic faciat extremo tempore.

And now, behold, I go to my people: come therefore, I will advise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

15 Sumpta igitur parabola, rursum ait: Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cuius obturatus est oculus:

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

16 dixit auditor sermonum Dei, qui novit doctrinam Altissimi, et visiones Omnipotentis videt, qui cadens apertos habet oculos.

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

17 Videbo eum, sed non modo: intuebor illum, sed non prope. Orietur stella ex Iacob, et consurget virga de Israel: et percutiet duces Moab, vastabitque omnes filios Seth.

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

18 Et erit Idumæa possessio eius: hereditas Seir cedet inimicis suis: Israel vero fortiter aget.

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

19 De Iacob erit qui dominetur. Et perdat reliquias civitatis.

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

20 Cumque vidisset Amalec, assumens parabolam, ait: Principium Gentium Amalec, cuius extrema perdentur.

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 shall perish for ever.

21 Vidit quoque Cinæum: et assumpta parabola, ait: Robustum quidem est habitaculum tuum: sed si in petra posueris nidum tuum,

And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

22 et fueris electus de stirpe Cin, quamdiu poteris permanere? Assur enim capiet te.

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

23 Assumptaque parabola iterum locutus est: Heu, quis victurus est, quando ista faciet Deus?

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

24 Venient in Trieribus de Italia, superabunt Assyrios, vastabuntque Hebræos, et ad extremum etiam ipsi peribunt.

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

25 Surrexitque Balaam, et reversus est in locum suum: Balac quoque via, qua venerat, rediit.

And Balaam arose, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.