Numbers, 24

1. Balaam, however, perceiving that the LORD was pleased to bless Israel, did not go aside as before to seek omens, but turned his gaze toward the desert.

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.

2. When he raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him,

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

3. and he gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true,

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

4. The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:

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.

5. How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel!

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

6. They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the LORD.

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

7. His wells shall yield free-flowing waters, he shall have the sea within reach; His king shall rise higher than. . . . and his royalty shall be exalted.

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

8. It is God who brought him out of Egypt, a wild bull of towering might. He shall devour the nations like grass, their bones he shall strip bare.

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.

9. He lies crouching like a lion, or like a lioness; who shall arouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you!

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!

10. Balak beat his palms together in a blaze of anger at Balaam and said to him, "It was to curse my foes that I summoned you here; yet three times now you have even blessed them instead!

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!

11. Be off at once, then, to your home. I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has withheld the reward from you!"

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.'

12. Balaam replied to Balak, "Did I not warn the very messengers whom you sent to me,

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

13. 'Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord to anything, good or evil, contrary to the command of the LORD'? Whatever the LORD says I must repeat.

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"?

14. "But now that I am about to go to my own people, let me first warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come."

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.'

15. Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true,

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

16. The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured and with eyes unveiled.

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.

17. I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel, That shall smite the brows of Moab, and the skulls of all the Shuthites,

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.

18. Till Edom is dispossessed, and no fugitive is left in Seir. Israel shall do valiantly,

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

19. and Jacob shall overcome his foes.

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

20. Upon seeing Amalek, Balaam gave voice to his oracle: First of the peoples was Amalek, but his end is to perish forever.

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

21. Upon seeing the Kenites, he gave voice to his oracle: Your abode is enduring, O smith, and your nest is set on a cliff;

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.

22. Yet destined for burning-- even as I watch--are your inhabitants.

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

23. Upon seeing. . . . he gave voice to his oracle: Alas, who shall survive of Ishmael,

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

24. to deliver his people from the hands of the Kittim? When they have conquered Asshur and conquered Eber, He too shall perish forever.

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

25. Then Balaam set out on his journey home; and Balak also went his way.

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