1 B alaam saw that it pleased the Lord to speak good of Israel. So he did not go, as at other times, and look for special things to see. Instead he looked toward the desert.

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2 B alaam looked up and saw Israel living in their tents by their families. And the Spirit of God came upon him.

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

3 H e began speaking and said, “Balaam the son of Beor is the man whose eye is opened.

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

4 H e hears the words of God. He sees what the All-powerful wants him to see. He falls down, but has his eyes open.

he hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

5 H ow fair are your tents, O Jacob, and your homes, O Israel!

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

6 T hey are like valleys that spread out, and like gardens beside the river. They are like aloes planted by the Lord, and like cedars beside the waters.

As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

7 W ater will flow from his pails. His seed will be by many waters. His king will be more powerful than Agag, and his nation will be honored.

He shall pour the water out of 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 brings him out of Egypt. He is for him like the horns of the wild bull. He will destroy the nations who fight against him. He will crush their bones in pieces and cut through them with his arrows.

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

9 H e bows down. He lies down like a lion. And as a lion, who will wake him? Good will come to everyone who prays for you. And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

10 T hen Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he hit his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse those who hate me. But see, you have done nothing but pray that good would come to them these three times!

And 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 S o now run away to your place. I said I would give you much honor, but the Lord has kept you from honor.”

Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.

12 T hen Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell the men you had sent to me,

And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

13 ‘ Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot do anything against the Word of the Lord’? I said, ‘I cannot do good or bad because I want to. What the Lord says, I will say.’

If 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 mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?

14 N ow see, I am going to my people. Come, I will tell you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” Balaam Tells What Will Happen the Fourth Time

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

15 T hen he began speaking and said, “Balaam the son of Beor is the man whose eye is opened.

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

16 H e hears the words of God. He knows what the Most High wants him to know. He sees what the All-powerful wants him to see. He falls down, but has his eyes open.

he hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

17 I see him, but not now. I see him, but he is not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A special stick of power will rise from Israel. It will crush the forehead of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: 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 children of Sheth.

18 I t will take the land of Edom. And it will take the land of Seir, who fights against Israel. And Israel will fight with much power.

And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

19 O ne from Jacob will rule. He will destroy from the city all who are left alive.”

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

20 T hen Balaam looked at Amalek and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations. But he will be destroyed in the end.”

And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

21 T hen he looked at the Kenite and said, “The place where you live is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.

And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

22 B ut Kain will be destroyed. How long will Asshur keep you against your will?”

Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

23 T hen Balaam said, “Who can live when God does this?

And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

24 B ut ships will come from Kittim. They will bring trouble to Asshur and Eber, but they will be destroyed also.”

And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

25 T hen Balaam got up and left. He returned to his place, and Balak went on his way.

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