1 And Balaam saw that it was good in the sight of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling {in tents} according to his 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 of opened eye saith,4 He saith, who heareth the words of *God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:5 How goodly are thy tents, Jacob, and thy tabernacles, Israel!6 Like valleys are they spread forth, like gardens by the river side, Like aloe-trees which Jehovah hath planted, like cedars beside the waters.7 Water shall flow out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in great waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.8 *God brought him out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a buffalo. He shall consume the nations his enemies, and break their bones, and with his arrows shall smite {them} in pieces.9 He stooped, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness: who will stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.10 Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed {them} these three times!11 And now flee thou to thy place; I said I would very highly honour thee, and behold, Jehovah has kept thee back from honour.12 And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to thy messengers whom thou sentest to me, saying,13 If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah to do good or bad out of my heart: what Jehovah shall say, that will I speak?14 And now behold, I go to my people: come, I will admonish thee what this people will do to thy people at the end of days.15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,16 He saith, who heareth the words of *God, who knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:17 I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: There cometh a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and he shall cut in pieces the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.18 And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir a possession, -they, his enemies; but Israel will do valiantly.19 And one out of Jacob shall have dominion, and will destroy out of the city what remaineth.20 And he saw Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek is the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be for destruction.21 And he saw the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Firm is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest fixed in the rock;22 But the Kenite shall be consumed, 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 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and afflict Asshur, and afflict Eber, and he also shall be for destruction.25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

1 Toe B¡leam sien dat dit goed was in die oë van die HERE om Israel te seën, het hy hom nie soos die vorige kere tot towery gewend nie, maar sy gesig na die woestyn gedraai.2 Toe B¡leam sy oë opslaan en Israel sien soos hy volgens sy stamme in die laer staan, het die Gees van God op hom gekom.3 En hy het sy spreuk aangehef en gesê: B¡leam, die seun van Beor, spreek, en die man met geopende oog spreek.4 Die hoorder van die woorde van God spreek, hy wat die gesigte van die Almagtige sien, wat neerval en geopende oë het.5 Hoe mooi is jou tente, o Jakob, jou wonings, o Israel!6 Soos dale met waterlope wat hulle ver uitstrek, soos tuine by 'n rivier, soos alewees wat die HERE geplant het, soos seders by die water.7 Water vloei uit sy emmers, en sy saad is by baie waters. En laat sy koning hoër wees as Agag, en sy koninkryk hom verhef!8 God wat hom uit Egipte uitgelei het, is vir hom soos die horings van 'n buffel; hy sal nasies, sy vyande, verteer en hulle gebeente stukkend breek en met sy pyle verbrysel.9 Hy buig hom, hy gaan lê soos 'n leeu en soos 'n leeuin: wie sal hom opjaag? Geseënd is hulle wat jou seën, en vervloek is hulle wat jou vervloek!10 Toe het Balak baie kwaad geword vir B¡leam en sy hande saamgeslaan, en Balak het aan B¡leam gesê: Ek het jou laat roep om my vyande te vloek, en kyk, jy het nou al drie maal net geseën!11 Trek dan nou gou na jou woonplek! Ek het gesê dat ek jou hoog sal vereer; maar kyk, die HERE het jou van verering teruggehou.12 Toe het B¡leam vir Balak gesê: Het ek nie alreeds met jou boodskappers wat jy na my gestuur het, gespreek en gesê nie:13 Al gee Balak my sy huis vol silwer en goud, ek kan die bevel van die HERE nie oortree om goed of kwaad uit my eie hart te doen nie; wat die HERE spreek, dit sal ek spreek.14 En nou, kyk, ek gaan na my volk toe. Kom, ek sal jou inligting gee, wat hierdie volk jou volk sal aandoen aan die einde van die dae.15 Toe het hy sy spreuk aangehef en gesê: B¡leam, die seun van Beor, spreek, en die man met geopende oog spreek.16 Die hoorder van die woorde van God spreek, en hy wat die wetenskap van die Allerhoogste ken, wat die gesigte van die Almagtige sien wat neerval en geopende oë het.17 Ek sien hom, maar nie nou nie, ek aanskou hom, maar nie naby nie: 'n ster kom te voorskyn uit Jakob, en 'n septer kom uit Israel op, en hy verbrysel die slape van die hoof van Moab en werp al die oorlogsugtiges omver.18 Ook sal Edom 'n besitting wees; en Se‹r, sy vyande, sal 'n besitting wees, maar Israel neem toe in krag.19 En laat daar een uit Jakob heers en die vrygeraaktes uit die stede vernietig.20 Toe hy Amalek sien, het hy sy spreuk aangehef en gesê: Amalek is die eersteling van die heidene, maar sy einde is ondergang.21 Toe hy die Keniete sien, het hy sy spreuk aangehef en gesê: Jou woonplek is vas, en jou nes is gebou op die rots.22 Ewenwel sal Kain tot verwoesting wees. Hoe lank nog? Assur sal jou as gevangene wegvoer.23 Verder het hy sy spreuk aangehef en gesê: Wee, wie sal lewe as God d¡t beskik?24 En skepe kom van die kant van die Kittiërs af, en hulle verneder Assur en hulle verneder Heber; en hy is ook tot ondergang bestem.25 Toe het B¡leam hom klaargemaak en weggetrek en na sy woonplek teruggekeer. En Balak het ook sy koers gegaan.