1 Now when Balaam saw that it was the Lord's pleasure to give his blessing to Israel, he did not, as at other times, make use of secret arts, but turning his face to the waste land,

2 And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel there, with their tents in the order of their tribes: and the spirit of God came on him.

3 And moved by the spirit, he said, These are the words of Balaam, son of Beor, the words of the man whose eyes are open:

4 He says, whose ears are open to the words of God, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down, but having his eyes open:

5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your houses, O Israel!

6 They are stretched out like valleys, like gardens by the riverside, like flowering trees planted by the Lord, like cedar-trees by the waters.

7 Peoples will be in fear before his strength, his arm will be on great nations: his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom made great in honour.

8 It is God who has taken him out of Egypt; his horns are like those of the mountain ox; the nations warring against him will be his food, their bones will be broken, they will be wounded with his arrows.

9 He took his sleep stretched out like a lion, and like a she-lion: by whom will his rest be broken? May a blessing be on everyone who gives you blessing, and a curse on everyone by whom you are cursed.

10 Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.

11 Go back quickly to the place you came from: it was my purpose to give you a place of honour, but now the Lord has kept you back from honour.

12 Then Balaam said to Balak, Did I not say to the men you sent to me,

13 Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say?

14 So now I will go back to my people: but first let me make clear to you what this people will do to your people in days to come.

15 Then he went on with his story and said, These are the words of Balaam, the son of Beor, the words of him whose eyes are open:

16 He says, whose ear is open to the words of God, who has knowledge of the Most High, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down and having his eyes open:

17 I see him, but not now: looking on him, but not near: a star will come out of Jacob, and a rod of authority out of Israel, sending destruction to the farthest limits of Moab and on the head of all the sons of Sheth.

18 Edom will be his heritage, and he will put an end to the last of the people of Seir.

19 And Israel will go on in strength, and Jacob will have rule over his haters.

20 Then, turning his eyes to Amalek, he went on with his story and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his part will be destruction for ever.

21 And looking on the Kenites he went on with his story and said, Strong is your living-place, and your secret place is safe in the rock.

22 But still the Kenites will be wasted, till Asshur takes you away prisoner.

23 Then he went on with his story and said, But who may keep his life when God does this?

24 But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur and troubling Eber, and like the others their fate will be destruction.

25 Then Balaam got up and went back to his place: and Balak went away.

1 巴兰见耶和华喜欢赐福以色列， 就不再像前两次一样去求观兆的方法， 却面向旷野。

2 巴兰举目， 看见以色列人按着支派居住， 神的灵就临到他身上。

3 他就作歌， 说： "比珥的儿子巴兰说： ‘有眼光的人说，

4 得听 神的话语、得见全能者的异象、身体仆倒而眼目睁开的人说：

5 雅各啊， 你的会幕多么佳美； 以色列啊， 你的帐幕多么美好！

6 像扩展的棕林， 如河边的园子， 似耶和华栽种的沉香树， 又像水旁的香柏树。

7 必有水从他的桶中流出来， 他的后裔必在多水之处； 他的王必超过亚甲， 他的国度必被高举。

8 领他出埃及的 神， 对他好像野牛的角； 他要吞吃敌国， 打碎他们的骨头， 用箭射透他们。

9 他蹲伏躺下， 好像公狮， 又像母狮， 谁敢使他起立呢？给你祝福的， 愿他蒙福； 咒诅你的， 愿他受咒诅。’"

10 巴勒向巴兰生气， 就拍起手； 巴勒对巴兰说： "我请你来咒诅我的敌人， 如今你反倒祝福他们这三次。

11 现在你逃回你的地方去吧； 我说过我要大大地使你得尊荣， 但是耶和华阻止你使你不得尊荣。"

12 巴兰对巴勒说： "我不是告诉了你派来的使者说：

13 ‘就算巴勒把满屋的金银给我， 我也不能越过耶和华的命令， 随自己的心意行好行歹’吗？耶和华说什么， 我就说什么。

14 现在我要回我本族去了； 你来， 我要告诉你这个民族日后要怎样待你的人民。"

15 他就作歌， 说： "比珥的儿子巴兰说： ‘开着眼的人说，

16 那得听 神的话语、明白至高者的知识、得见全能者的异象、身体仆倒而眼目睁开的人说：

17 我看见他， 却不是现在； 我望见他， 却不是近处； 必有一星从雅各而出， 必有一杖从以色列兴起； 他必打碎摩押的额角， 粉碎一切舍特人的头顶。

18 他必得以东作产业， 又得仇敌之地西珥作产业； 只有以色列人成为强壮。

19 有一位从雅各而出的必掌大权， 他要除灭城中余下的人。’"

20 巴兰看见了亚玛力， 就作歌， 说： "亚玛力原是列国之首， 他的结局却是灭亡。"

21 巴兰看见了基尼人， 就作歌， 说： "你的居所坚固， 你的窝巢建在磐石中；

22 但基尼必被毁灭； 亚述要到几时才把你掳去呢？"

23 巴兰又作歌， 说： "哀哉， 神决定这事， 谁能得活呢？

24 必有船从基提而来， 苦害亚述， 苦害希伯； 他却要灭亡。"

25 于是巴兰起来， 回自己的地方去； 巴勒也回去了。