1 N ow 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.

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 raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their 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 T hen he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,

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 T he utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide 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 “ How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel!

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

6 L ike valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the Lord, 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 H e 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.

“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 “ 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.

“ 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 ‘ 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.”

“ 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 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!

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

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

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

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

13 ‘ 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’?

‘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, 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

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 S o 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;

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 T he 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:

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 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.

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

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

19 O ut of Jacob One shall have dominion, And destroy the remains of the city.”

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

20 T hen 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.”

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 T hen 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;

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

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

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

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

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

“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 S o Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way.

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