1 A nd Balaam saw that it was good in the sight of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

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

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

And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; 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 of opened eye saith,

He took up his discourse and said, “ The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened;

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

The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,

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

How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!

6 L ike valleys are they spread forth, like gardens by the river side, Like aloe-trees which Jehovah hath planted, like cedars beside the waters.

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

7 W ater shall flow out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in great waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

“Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 G od brought him out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a buffalo. He shall consume the nations his enemies, and break their bones, and with his arrows shall smite in pieces.

“ God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.

9 H e stooped, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness: who will stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

“ He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone 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 thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed these three times!

Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!

11 A nd now flee thou to thy place; I said I would very highly honour thee, and behold, Jehovah has kept thee back from honour.

Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor.”

12 A nd Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to thy messengers whom thou sentest to me, saying,

Balaam said to Balak, “ Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying,

13 I f Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah to do good or bad out of my heart: what Jehovah shall say, that will I speak?

‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the Lord, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the Lord speaks, that I will speak’?

14 A nd now behold, I go to my people: come, I will admonish thee what this people will do to thy people at the end of days.

And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

15 A nd he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,

He took up his discourse and said, “ The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

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

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, yet having his eyes uncovered.

17 I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: There cometh a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and he shall cut in pieces the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

18 A nd Edom shall be a possession, and Seir a possession,—they, his enemies; but Israel will do valiantly.

“ Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly.

19 A nd one out of Jacob shall have dominion, and will destroy out of the city what remaineth.

“One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from the city.”

20 A nd he saw Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek is the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be for destruction.

And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction.”

21 A nd he saw the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Firm is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest fixed in the rock;

And he looked at the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, “Your dwelling place is enduring, And your nest is set in the cliff.

22 B ut the Kenite shall be consumed, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

“Nevertheless Kain will be consumed; How long will Asshur keep you captive?”

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

Then he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?

24 A nd ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and afflict Asshur, and afflict Eber, and he also shall be for destruction.

“But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber; So they also will come to destruction.”

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

Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.