1 ¶ And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as the first and second 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 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.

2 a nd lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

And 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

3 T hen he took up his parable and said, Balaam, the son of Beor, has said and the man whose eyes are open has said,

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

4 h e who has heard the words of God has said, who saw the vision of the Almighty, fallen, but having his eyes open:

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

5 H ow beautiful are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy habitations, O Israel!

How attractive and considerable are your tents, O Jacob, and your tabernacles, O Israel!

6 A s the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD has planted, and as cedars beside the waters.

As 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.

7 F rom his branches he shall distil waters, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

shall 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.

8 G od brought him forth out of Egypt; he has, as it were, the strength of a unicorn; he shall eat up the Gentiles his enemies and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows.

God 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.

9 H e couched, he lay down as a lion and as a great lion; who shall awaken him? Blessed is he that blesses thee, and cursed is he that curses thee.

He 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.

10 ¶ Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and smiting his hands together he said, I called thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

Then 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.

11 T herefore, now flee thou to thy place; I said that I would honour thee; but, behold, the LORD has deprived thee of honour.

Therefore 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.

12 A nd Balaam replied unto Balak, Did I not declare also unto thy messengers which thou didst send unto me, saying,

Balaam said to Balak, Did I not say to your messengers whom you sent to me,

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

If 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?

14 T herefore, behold, I go now unto my people; come and I will indicate unto thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

And 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.

15 ¶ And he took up his parable and said, Balaam, the son of Beor, has said, the man whose eyes are open has said,

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

16 h e who has heard the words of God has said, and he who knows the knowledge of the most High, he who saw the vision of the Almighty, fallen, but having his eyes open:

He 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:

17 I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not near by; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the sons of Seth.

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.

18 A nd Edom shall be taken; Seir also shall be taken by his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

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

19 O ut of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion and shall destroy what remains of the city.

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

20 A nd when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek, head of the Gentiles; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

looked 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.

21 A nd he looked on the Kenite and took up his parable and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock;

And 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.

22 b ecause the Kenite shall be thrown out, when Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

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

23 A nd he took up his parable again and said, Alas, who shall live when God shall do these things!

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

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

But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Assyria and Eber, and he also shall come to destruction.

25 T hen Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

And Balaam rose up, returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.