1 W hen Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to meet with 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 B alaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on 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 H e took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

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

4 h e says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and 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 goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel!

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

6 A s valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which Yahweh has planted, as cedar trees 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 W ater shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. 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 brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them 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, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”

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 B alak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have 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 you to your place! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.”

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 B alaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

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

13 ‘ If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad of my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’?

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 N ow, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your 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 H e took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

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

16 h e says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and 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 see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.

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 E dom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does 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 one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”

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

20 H e looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But his latter end shall come to destruction.”

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 H e looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the 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 N evertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”

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

23 H e took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?

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

24 B ut ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”

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

25 B alaam 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.