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 Balaam seeth that good in the eyes of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he hath not gone as time by time to meet enchantments, and he setteth towards the wilderness his face;

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 lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Israel tabernacling, by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is upon him,

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

and he taketh up his simile, and saith: `An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut --

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.

An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God -- Who a vision of the Almighty seeth, Falling -- and eyes uncovered:

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

How good have been thy tents, O Jacob, 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 valleys they have been stretched out, As gardens by a river; As aloes Jehovah hath planted, As cedars by 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 maketh water flow from his buckets, And his seed in many waters; And higher than Agag his king, And exalted is his kingdom.

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 is bringing him out of Egypt; As the swiftness of a Reem is to him, He eateth up nations his adversaries, And their bones he breaketh, And his arrows he smiteth,

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 hath bent, he hath lain down as a lion, And as a lioness: who doth raise him up? He who is blessing thee blessed, And he who is cursing thee cursed.'

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 the anger of Balak burneth against Balaam, and he striketh his hands; and Balak saith unto Balaam, `To pierce mine enemies I called thee, and lo, thou hast certainly blessed -- 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.”

and now, flee for thyself unto thy place; I have said, I do greatly honour thee, and lo, Jehovah 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 saith unto Balak, `Did I not also unto thy messengers whom thou hast sent unto me, speak, 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 doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah, to do good or evil of mine own heart -- that which Jehovah speaketh -- it 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, lo, I am going to my people; come, I counsel thee that which this people doth to thy people, in the latter end of the days.'

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

And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes shut --

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.

An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God -- And knowing knowledge of the Most High; A vision of the Almighty he seeth, Falling -- and 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 it, but not now; I behold it, but not near; A star hath proceeded from Jacob, And a sceptre hath risen from Israel, And hath smitten corners of Moab, And hath destroyed all 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.

And Edom hath been a possession, And Seir hath been a possession, its enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly;

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

And doth rule out of Jacob, And hath destroyed a remnant from Ar.'

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 seeth Amalek, and taketh up his simile, and saith: `A beginning of the Goyim Amalek; And his latter end -- for ever he perisheth.'

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 seeth the Kenite, and taketh up his simile, and saith: `Enduring thy dwelling, And setting in a rock thy nest,

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

But the Kenite is for a burning; Till when doth Asshur keep thee captive?'

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

And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `Alas! who doth live when God doth 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 from the side of Chittim, And they have humbled Asshur, And they have humbled Eber, And it also for ever is perishing.'

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

And Balaam riseth, and goeth, and turneth back to his place, and Balak also hath gone on his way.