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.

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 saw Israel dwelling according to his 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 parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,

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

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 goodly are thy tents, Jacob, and thy tabernacles, Israel!

“How lovely 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 by the riverside, 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.

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 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 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 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 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 thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed 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 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.

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

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

‘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 go to my people: come, I will admonish thee what this people will do to thy people at the end of 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 parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,

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 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 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 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 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, and Seir a possession,—they, his enemies; but Israel will do valiantly.

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

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

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

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 saw the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Firm is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest fixed 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 B ut the Kenite shall be consumed, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

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

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

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

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 coasts of Cyprus, And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, And so shall Amalek, until he perishes.”

25 A nd Balaam rose up, and went and 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.