1 A nd when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2 A nd Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

3 A nd he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;

4 H e saith, who heareth the words of God, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

5 H ow goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel!

6 A s valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which Jehovah hath planted, As cedar-trees beside the waters.

7 W ater shall flow from 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 G od bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite them through with his arrows.

9 H e couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.

10 A nd 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 T herefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor.

12 A nd Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers that thou sentest unto me, saying,

13 I f Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak?

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

15 A nd he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;

16 H e saith, who heareth the words of God, And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.

18 A nd Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, who were his enemies; While Israel doeth valiantly.

19 A nd out of Jacob shall one have dominion, And shall destroy the remnant from the city.

20 A nd he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction.

21 A nd he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, And thy nest is set in the rock.

22 N evertheless Kain shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

23 A nd he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?

24 B ut ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber; And he also shall come to destruction.

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