24:1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at other times, but turned his face toward the desert.
24:2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him
24:3 and he uttered his oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,
24:4 the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
24:5 “How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!
24:6 “Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.
24:7 Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. “Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.
24:8 “God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.
24:9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness–who dares to rouse them? “May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!”
24:10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.
24:11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded.”
24:12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,
24:13 ‘Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD–and I must say only what the LORD says’?
24:14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
24:15 Then he uttered his oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,
24:16 the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.
24:18 Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.
24:19 A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
24:20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and uttered his oracle: “Amalek was first among the nations, but he will come to ruin at last.”
24:21 Then he saw the Kenites and uttered his oracle: “Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;
24:22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”
24:23 Then he uttered his oracle: “Ah, who can live when God does this?
24:24 Ships will come from the shores of Kittim; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin.”
24:25 Then Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went his own way.
24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him.
24:3 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor declares, / And the man whose eye is opened declares;
24:4 He declares, he who hears the words of God, / Who sees the vision of the All-sufficient One, / Falling down, but having his eyes uncovered:
24:5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob, / Your tabernacles, O Israel!
24:6 Like valleys they are spread forth, / Like gardens beside a river, / Like aloes which Jehovah has planted, / Like cedars beside water.
24:7 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.
24:8 God is the One who brought him forth out of Egypt; / He has as it were the horns of the wild ox. / He shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, / And shall break their bones in pieces, / And shatter them with his arrows.
24:9 He couches; he lies down like a lion / And like a lioness; who will rouse him up? / Blessed is everyone who blesses you, / And cursed is everyone who curses you.
24:10 Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, but now you have altogether blessed them these three times.
24:11 Therefore now flee to your place! I said I would greatly honor you, but now Jehovah has kept you away from honor.
24:12 And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
24:13 Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad from my own heart? What Jehovah speaks, that I will speak.
24:14 And now therefore, I am going to my people. Come, let me give you counsel as to what this people will do to your people in the last days.
24:15 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor declares, / And the man whose eye is opened declares;
24:16 He declares, he who hears the words of God / And obtains the knowledge of the Most High, / Who sees the vision of the All-sufficient One, / Falling down, but having his eyes uncovered:
24:17 I see Him, but not now; / I behold Him, but not near. / There shall come forth a Star out of Jacob, / And a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, / And He shall crush the corners of Moab / And break down all the sons of Sheth.
24:18 And Edom shall be dispossessed ? / Seir, His enemies, shall also be dispossessed ? / While Israel does valiantly.
24:19 And One from Jacob shall have dominion / And destroy the remnant from the city.
24:20 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.
24:21 And he looked on the Kenites and took up his parable and said, Strong is your dwelling place, / And your nest is set in the rock.
24:22 Nevertheless Kain shall be burned / Until Asshur carry you away captive.
24:23 And he took up his parable and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24:24 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.
24:25 And Balaam rose up and went back to his place, and Balak also went his way.