Liber Numeri, 24

1. Cumque vidisset Balaam quod placeret Domino, ut be nediceret Israeli, nequaquam abiit, ut ante perrexerat, ut augurium quaereret; sed dirigens contra desertum vultum suum

1. When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.

2. et elevans oculos vidit Israel commorantem per tribus suas et, irruente in se spiritu Dei,

2. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel encamping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,

3. assumpta parabola sua, ait: “Dixit Balaam filius Beor, dixit homo, cuius apertus est oculus,

3. and he took up his discourse, and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Be'or, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

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

4. the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes uncovered:

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

5. how fair are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!

6. Ut valles dilatantur, ut horti iuxta fluvios irrigui, ut aloe, quam plantavit Dominus, quasi cedri prope aquas.

6. Like valleys that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.

7. Fluet aqua de situlis eius, et semen illius erit in aquis multis. Extolletur super Agag rex eius, et elevabitur regnum illius.

7. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8. Deus eduxit illum de Aegypto, sicut cornua bubali est ei. Devorabit gentes, hostes suos, ossaque eorum confringet et perforabit sagittis.

8. God brings him out of Egypt; he has as it were the horns of the wild ox, he shall eat up the nations his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them through with his arrows.

9. Accubans dormit ut leo, et quasi leaena, quis suscitare illum audebit? Qui benedixerit tibi, erit et ipse benedictus; qui maledixerit tibi, maledictus erit!”.

9. He couched, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed be every one who blesses you, and cursed be every one who curses you."

10. Iratusque Balac contra Balaam, complosis manibus, ait: “Ad maledicendum inimicis meis vocavi te, quibus iam tertio benedixisti!

10. And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.

11. Revertere nunc ad locum tuum! Decreveram quidem magnifice honorare te, sed Dominus privavit te honore disposito”.

11. Therefore now flee to your place; I said, `I will certainly honor you,' but the LORD has held you back from honor."

12. Respondit Balaam ad Balac: “Nonne iam nuntiis tuis, quos misisti ad me, dixi:

12. And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me,

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

13. `If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will; what the LORD speaks, that will I speak'?

14. Et nunc, pergens ad populum meum dabo consilium, quid populus hic populo tuo faciat extremo tempore”.

14. And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days."

15. Sumpta igitur parabola sua, rursum ait: “Dixit Balaam filius Beor, dixit homo, cuius apertus est oculus,

15. And he took up his discourse, and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Be'or, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

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

16. the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes uncovered:

17. Video eum, sed non modo; intueor illum, sed non prope. Oritur stella ex Iacob, et consurgit virga de Israel; et percutit tempora Moab et verticem omnium filiorum Seth.

17. I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.

18. Et erit Idumaea possessio eius, et hereditas eius Seir, inimicus eius; Israel vero fortiter aget.

18. Edom shall be dispossessed, Se'ir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed, while Israel does valiantly.

19. De Iacob erit, qui dominetur et perdat reliquias civitatis”.

19. By Jacob shall dominion be exercised, and the survivors of cities be destroyed!"

20. Cumque vidisset Amalec, assumens parabolam suam ait: “Principium gentium Amalec, cuius extrema perdentur”.

20. Then he looked on Am'alek, and took up his discourse, and said, "Am'alek was the first of the nations, but in the end he shall come to destruction."

21. Vidit quoque Cinaeum et, assumpta parabola sua, ait: “Robustum quidem est habitaculum tuum, et in petra positus nidus tuus.

21. And he looked on the Ken'ite, and took up his discourse, and said, "Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock;

22. Erit in combustionem Cain, donec Assur capiat te”.

22. nevertheless Kain shall be wasted. How long shall Asshur take you away captive?"

23. Assumptaque parabola sua, iterum locutus est: “Heu! Quis vivet, quando ista faciet Deus?

23. And he took up his discourse, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

24. Venient naves de Cetthim, superabunt Assyrios vastabuntque Heber; et ad extremum etiam ipsi peribunt”. Surrexitque Balaam et reversus est in locum suum; Balac quoque via, qua venerat, rediit.

24. But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he also shall come to destruction."

25.

25. Then Balaam rose, and went back to his place; and Balak also went his way.