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.

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 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 saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; 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.

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 hears the words of God. He sees what the All-powerful wants him to see. He falls down, but has 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 fair are your tents, O Jacob, and your homes, O Israel!

How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, 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.

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

“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 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 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 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 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 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!

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

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

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

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

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 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 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 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.

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

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

“One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from 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 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 at the Kenite and said, “The place where you live is strong. 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 B ut Kain will be destroyed. How long will Asshur keep you against your will?”

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

23 T hen Balaam said, “Who can 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 will come from Kittim. They will bring trouble to Asshur and Eber, but they will be destroyed also.”

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

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