1 Balaam vit que l'Eternel trouvait bon de bénir Israël, et il n'alla point comme les autres fois, à la rencontre des enchantements; mais il tourna son visage du côté du désert.

2 Balaam leva les yeux, et vit Israël campé selon ses tribus. Alors l'esprit de Dieu fut sur lui.

3 Balaam prononça son oracle, et dit: Parole de Balaam, fils de Beor, Parole de l'homme qui a l'oeil ouvert,

4 Parole de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, De celui qui voit la vision du Tout-Puissant, De celui qui se prosterne et dont les yeux s'ouvrent.

5 Qu'elles sont belles, tes tentes, ô Jacob! Tes demeures, ô Israël!

6 Elles s'étendent comme des vallées, Comme des jardins près d'un fleuve, Comme des aloès que l'Eternel a plantés, Comme des cèdres le long des eaux.

7 L'eau coule de ses seaux, Et sa semence est fécondée par d'abondantes eaux. Son roi s'élève au-dessus d'Agag, Et son royaume devient puissant.

8 Dieu l'a fait sortir d'Egypte, Il est pour lui comme la vigueur du buffle. Il dévore les nations qui s'élèvent contre lui, Il brise leurs os, et les abat de ses flèches.

9 Il ploie les genoux, il se couche comme un lion, comme une lionne: Qui le fera lever? Béni soit quiconque te bénira, Et maudit soit quiconque te maudira!

10 La colère de Balak s'enflamma contre Balaam; il frappa des mains, et dit à Balaam: C'est pour maudire mes ennemis que je t'ai appelé, et voici, tu les as bénis déjà trois fois.

11 Fuis maintenant, va-t'en chez toi! J'avais dit que je te rendrais des honneurs, mais l'Eternel t'empêche de les recevoir.

12 Balaam répondit à Balak: Eh! n'ai-je pas dit aux messagers que tu m'as envoyés:

13 Quand Balak me donnerait sa maison pleine d'argent et d'or, je ne pourrais faire de moi-même ni bien ni mal contre l'ordre de l'Eternel; je répéterai ce que dira l'Eternel?

14 Et maintenant voici, je m'en vais vers mon peuple. Viens, je t'annoncerai ce que ce peuple fera à ton peuple dans la suite des temps.

15 Balaam prononça son oracle, et dit: Parole de Balaam, fils de Beor, Parole de l'homme qui a l'oeil ouvert,

16 Parole de celui qui entend les paroles de Dieu, De celui qui connaît les desseins du Très-Haut, De celui qui voit la vision du Tout-Puissant, De celui qui se prosterne et dont les yeux s'ouvrent.

17 Je le vois, mais non maintenant, Je le contemple, mais non de près. Un astre sort de Jacob, Un sceptre s'élève d'Israël. Il perce les flancs de Moab, Et il abat tous les enfants de Seth.

18 Il se rend maître d'Edom, Il se rend maître de Séir, ses ennemis. Israël manifeste sa force.

19 Celui qui sort de Jacob règne en souverain, Il fait périr ceux qui s'échappent des villes.

20 Balaam vit Amalek. Il prononça son oracle, et dit: Amalek est la première des nations, Mais un jour il sera détruit.

21 Balaam vit les Kéniens. Il prononça son oracle, et dit: Ta demeure est solide, Et ton nid posé sur le roc.

22 Mais le Kénien sera chassé, Quand l'Assyrien t'emmènera captif.

23 Balaam prononça son oracle, et dit: Hélas! qui vivra après que Dieu l'aura établi?

24 Mais des navires viendront de Kittim, Ils humilieront l'Assyrien, ils humilieront l'Hébreu; Et lui aussi sera détruit.

25 Balaam se leva, partit, et retourna chez lui. Balak s'en alla aussi de son côté.

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.