Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;

4 He saith, who heareth the words of God, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel!

6 As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which Jehovah hath planted, As cedar-trees beside the waters.

7 Water shall flow from 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 God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite them through with his arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.

10 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 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor.12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers that thou sentest unto me, saying,13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak?14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;

16 He saith, who heareth the words of God, And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, who were his enemies; While Israel doeth valiantly.

19 And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, And shall destroy the remnant from the city.

20 And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction.

21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, And thy nest is set in the rock.

22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

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

24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber; And he also shall come to destruction.

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

Numbers 24

Balaam Prophesies Yet Again

1 s When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,t he did not go as at the other timest to seek for omens,t but he set his facet toward the wilderness.2 When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe;t and the Spirit of God came upon him.

3 Then he uttered this oracle:t
“The oraclet of Balaam son of Beor;
the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;t

4 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
although falling flat on the groundt with eyes open:t

5 ‘Howt beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
and your dwelling places, O Israel!

6 They are liket valleyst stretched forth,
like gardens by the river’s side,
like aloess that the Lord has planted,
and like cedar trees beside the waters.

7 He will pour the water out of his buckets,s
and their descendants will be like abundantt water;s
their king will be greater than Agag,s
and their kingdom will be exalted.

8 God brought them out of Egypt.
They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull;
they will devour hostile peoplet
and will break their bones
and will pierce them through with arrows.

9 They crouch and lie down like a lion,
and as a lioness,t who can stir him?
Blessed is the one who blesses you,
and cursed is the one who curses you!’”
10 Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together.s Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but blesst them these three times!

11 So now, go back where you came from!t I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the Lord has stood in the way of your honor.”
12 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me,13 ‘If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyondt the commandmentt of the Lord to do either good or evil of my own will,t but whatever the Lord tells me I must speak’?

14 And now, I am about to got back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future.”t

Balaam Prophesies a Fourth Time

15 Then he uttered this oracle:t
“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor;
the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;

16 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God,
and who knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
although falling flat on the ground with eyes open:

17 ‘I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not close at hand.t
A stars will march fortht out of Jacob,
and a scepters will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the skullst of Moab,
and the headss of all the sons of Sheth.s

18 Edom will be a possession,
Seir,s his enemies, will also be a possession;
but Israel will act valiantly.

19 A ruler will be established from Jacob;
he will destroy the remains of the city.’”t

Balaam’s Final Prophecies

20 Then Balaamt looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle:t
“Amalek was the firsts of the nations,
but his end will be that he will perish.”

21 Then he looked on the Kenites and uttered this oracle:
“Your dwelling place seems strong,
and your nests is set on a rocky cliff.

22 Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed.s
How long will Asshur take you away captive?”

23 Then he uttered this oracle:
“O, who will survive when God does this!s

24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim,s
and will afflict Asshur,t and will afflict Eber,
and he will also perish forever.”t

25 Balaam got up and departed and returned to his home,t and Balak also went his way.