Numbers, 24

1. Balaam then saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel. He did not go as before to seek omens but turned towards the desert.

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.

2. Raising his eyes Balaam saw Israel settled tribe by tribe; the spirit of God came on him

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 upon him.

3. and he declaimed his poem, as follows: The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of the man with far-seeing eyes,

3. 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. the prophecy of one who hears the words of God. He sees what Shaddai makes him see, receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.

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

5. How fair your tents are, Jacob, how fair your dwellings, Israel,

5. How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy tabernacles, O Israel!

6. like valleys that stretch afar, like gardens by the banks of a river, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars beside the waters!

6. 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. A hero arises from their stock, he reigns over countless peoples. His king is greater than Agag, and his kingship held in honour.

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.

8. God has brought him out of Egypt, is like the wild ox's horns to him. He devours the corpses of his enemies, breaking their bones, piercing them with his arrows.

8. God brought him forth out of 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. He has crouched, he has lain down, like a lion, like a lioness; who dare rouse him? Blessed be those who bless you, and accursed be those who curse you!

9. He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed [is] he that blesseth thee, and cursed [is] he that curseth thee.

10. Balak flew into a rage with Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to Balaam, 'I brought you to curse my enemies, and you have insisted on blessing them three times over!

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.

11. So now go home as fast as your legs can carry you. I promised to load you with honours. Yahweh himself has deprived you of them.'

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.

12. Balaam retorted to Balak, 'Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,

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

13. "Even if Balak gave me his house full of gold and silver I could not go against Yahweh's order and do anything of my own accord, whether for good or ill; whatever Yahweh says is what I shall say"?

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 mine own mind; [but] what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

14. Now that I am going back to my own folk, let me warn you what this people will do to your people, in days to come.'

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

15. He then declaimed his poem, as follows: The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of the man with far-seeing eyes,

15. 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. the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, of one who knows the knowledge of the Most High. He sees what Shaddai makes him see, receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.

16. He hath 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:

17. I see him -- but not in the present. I perceive him -- but not close at hand: a star is emerging from Jacob, a sceptre is rising from Israel, to strike the brow of Moab, the skulls of all the children of Seth.

17. I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: 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. Edom too will be a conquered land, Seir too will be a conquered land, when Israel exerts his strength,

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

19. when Jacob tramples on his enemies and destroys the last survivors of Ar.

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

20. Balaam then looked at Amalek and declaimed his poem, as follows: Amalek, the earliest of nations! But his posterity will perish forever.

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.

21. He then looked at the Kenites and declaimed his poem, as follows: Your dwelling was firm, Kain, your nest perched high in the rock.

21. 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. But the nest belongs to Beor; how long will you be Asshur's captive?

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

23. He then declaimed his poem, as follows: The Sea-people are gathering in the north,

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

24. the vessels from the coasts of Kittim. They will bear down on Asshur, bear down on Eber; he too will perish forever.

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.

25. Balaam then got up, left and went home, and Balak too went his way.

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