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.

Balaam 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.

2 B alaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.

Balaam looked up and saw Israel living in their tents by their families. 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;

He began speaking and said, “Balaam the son of Beor is 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 hears the words of God. He sees what the All-powerful wants him to see. He falls down, but has his eyes open.

5 H ow goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel!

How fair are your tents, O Jacob, and your homes, 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.

They 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.

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.

Water 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.

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 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.

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 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.”

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 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!

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.”

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

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

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell the men you had 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’?

‘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.’

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.”

Now 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

15 H e took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

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

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 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.

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 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.

18 E dom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.

It 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.

19 O ut of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”

One from Jacob will rule. He will destroy from the city all who are left alive.”

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.”

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

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.

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

22 N evertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”

But Kain will be destroyed. How long will Asshur keep you against your will?”

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

Then Balaam said, “Who can live when God does this?

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

25 B alaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

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