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. 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. 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 saw Israel encamping tribe by tribe. 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 discourse, and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Be'or, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

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

5. how fair are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, 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. Like valleys that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like 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. 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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 to your place; I said, `I will certainly honor you,' but the LORD has held you back from honor."

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

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

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 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. 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 am going to my people; come, I will let you know what this people will do to your 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 discourse, and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Be'or, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

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. 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. 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 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. Edom too will be a conquered land, Seir too will be a conquered land, when Israel exerts his strength,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23. And he took up his discourse, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does 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. But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he also shall come to destruction."

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

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