1 W hen Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as he had done each time before to meet with omens and signs in the natural world, but he set his face toward the wilderness or desert.

Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2 A nd Balaam lifted up his eyes and he saw Israel abiding in their tents according to their tribes. And the Spirit of God came upon him

And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

3 A nd he took up his discourse and said: Balaam son of Beor, the man whose eye is opened,

Then he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,

4 H e who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered, he says:

The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

5 H ow attractive and considerable are your tents, O Jacob, and your tabernacles, O Israel!

“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel!

6 A s valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as of lignaloes which the Lord has planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the Lord, Like cedars beside the waters.

7 s hall pour water out of his own buckets, and his offspring shall dwell by many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

He shall pour water 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 G od brought forth out of Egypt; has strength like the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his enemies, crushing their bones and piercing them through with his arrows.

“God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones And pierce them with his arrows.

9 H e couched, he lay down as a lion; and as a lioness, who shall rouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you and cursed is he who curses you.

‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’ “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.”

10 T hen Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have done nothing but bless them these three times.

Then Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times!

11 T herefore now go back where you belong and do it in a hurry! I had intended to promote you to great honor, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor.

Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the Lord has kept you back from honor.”

12 B alaam said to Balak, Did I not say to your messengers whom you sent to me,

So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,

13 I f Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the command of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will, but what the Lord says, that will I speak?

‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do good or bad of my own will. What the Lord says, that I must speak’?

14 A nd now, behold, I am going to my people; come, I will tell you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.

And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” Balaam’s Fourth Prophecy

15 A nd he took up his discourse, and said: Balaam son of Beor speaks, the man whose eye is opened speaks,

So he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;

16 H e speaks, who heard the words of God and knew the knowledge of the Most High, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered:

The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

17 I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but He is not near. A star (Star) shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter (Scepter) shall rise out of Israel and shall crush all the corners of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.

18 A nd Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be dispossessed, who were Israel’s enemies, while Israel does valiantly.

“And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, While Israel does valiantly.

19 O ut of Jacob shall one (One) come having dominion and shall destroy the remnant from the city.

Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, And destroy the remains of the city.”

20 l ooked at Amalek and took up his utterance, and said: Amalek is the foremost of the nations, but in his latter end he shall come to destruction.

Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: “Amalek was first among the nations, But shall be last until he perishes.”

21 A nd he looked at the Kenites and took up his utterance, and said: Strong is your dwelling place, and you set your nest in the rock.

Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said: “Firm is your dwelling place, And your nest is set in the rock;

22 N evertheless the Kenites shall be wasted. How long shall Asshur (Assyria) take you away captive?

Nevertheless Kain shall be burned. How long until Asshur carries you away captive?”

23 A nd he took up his speech, and said: Alas, who shall live when God does this and establishes ?

Then he took up his oracle and said: “Alas! Who shall live when God does this?

24 B ut ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Assyria and Eber, and he also shall come to destruction.

But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus, And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, And so shall Amalek, until he perishes.”

25 A nd Balaam rose up, returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.

So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way.