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

1 Balaam was sure that the Lord would tell him to bless Israel again. So he did not use any magic to find out what the Lord wanted him to do, as he had the first two times. Instead, he looked out towards the desert 2 and saw the tribes of Israel camped below. Just then, God's Spirit took control of him,

3 and Balaam said:
“I am the son of Beor,
and my words are true,t
so listen to my message!

4 It comes from the Lord,
the God All-Powerful.
I bowed down to him
and saw a vision of Israel.

5 “People of Israel,
your camp is lovely.

6 It's like a grove of palm treest
or a garden beside a river.
You are like tall aloe trees
that the Lord has planted,
or like cedars
growing near water.

7 You and your descendants
will prosper like an orchard
beside a stream.
Your king will rule with power
and be a greater king
than Agag the Amalekite.t

8 With the strength of a wild ox,
God led you out of Egypt.
You will defeat your enemies,
shooting them with arrowst
and crushing their bones.

9 Like a lion you lie down,t
resting after an attack.
Who would dare disturb you?
“Anyone who blesses you
will be blessed;
anyone who curses you
will be cursed.”
10 When Balak heard this, he was so furious that he pounded his fist against his hand and said, “I called you here to place a curse on my enemies, and you've blessed them three times.

11 Leave now and go home! I told you I would pay you well, but since the Lord didn't let you do what I asked, you won't be paid.”
12 Balaam answered, “I told your messengers 13 that even if you offered me a palace full of silver or gold, I would still obey the Lord. And I explained that I would say only what he told me.

14 So I'm going back home, but I'm leaving you with a warning about what the Israelites will some day do to your nation.”

Balaam's fourth message

15 Balaam said:
“I am the son of Beor,
and my words are true,t
so listen to my message!

16 My knowledge comes
from God Most High,
the Lord All-Powerful.
I bowed down to him
and saw a vision of Israel.

17 “What I saw in my vision
hasn't happened yet.
But some day, a king of Israel
will appear like a star.
He will wipe out you Moabitest
and destroyt those tribes
who live in the desert.t

18 Israel will conquer Edom
and capture the land
of that enemy nation.

19 The king of Israel will rule
and destroy the survivors
of every town there.t

20 “And I saw this vision
about the Amalekites:t
Their nation is now great,
but it will some day
disappear for ever.t

21 “And this is what I saw
about the Kenites:t
They think they're safe,
living among the rocks,

22 but they will be wiped out
when Assyria conquers them.t

23 “No one can survive
if God plans destruction.t

24 Ships will come from Cyprus,
bringing people who will invade
the lands of Assyria and Eber.
But finally, Cyprus itself
will be ruined.”
25 After Balaam finished, he started home, and Balak also left.