1 When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him. 3 He took up his parable, and said,

"Balaam the son of Beor says,

the man whose eyes are open says;

4 he says, who hears the words of God,

who sees the vision of the Almighty,

falling down, and having his eyes open:

5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob,

and your dwellings, Israel!

6 As valleys they are spread out,

as gardens by the riverside,

as aloes which Yahweh has planted,

as cedar trees beside the waters.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets.

His seed shall be in many waters.

His king shall be higher than Agag.

His kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God brings him out of Egypt.

He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.

He shall consume the nations his adversaries,

shall break their bones in pieces,

and pierce them with his arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion,

as a lioness;

who shall rouse him up?

Everyone who blesses you is blessed.

Everyone who curses you is cursed."

10 Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor."

12 Balaam said to Balak, "Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’? 14 Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."

15 He took up his parable, and said,

"Balaam the son of Beor says,

the man whose eyes are open says;

16 he says, who hears the words of God,

knows the knowledge of the Most High,

and who sees the vision of the Almighty,

falling down, and having his eyes open:

17 I see him, but not now.

I see him, but not near.

A star will come out of Jacob.

A scepter will rise out of Israel,

and shall strike through the corners of Moab,

and crush all the sons of Sheth.

18 Edom shall be a possession.

Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession,

while Israel does valiantly.

19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion,

and shall destroy the remnant from the city."

20 He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said,

"Amalek was the first of the nations,

But his latter end shall come to destruction."

21 He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said,

"Your dwelling place is strong.

Your nest is set in the rock.

22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted,

until Asshur carries you away captive."

23 He took up his parable, and said,

"Alas, who shall live when God does this?

24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim.

They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber.

He also shall come to destruction."

25 Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as the first and second times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness;

2 and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding [in his tents] according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

3 Then he took up his parable and said, Balaam, the son of Beor, has said and the man whose eyes are open has said,

4 he who has heard the words of God has said, who saw the vision of the Almighty, fallen, but having his eyes open:

5 How beautiful are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy habitations, O Israel!

6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD has planted, [and] as cedars beside the waters.

7 From his branches he shall distil waters, and his seed [shall be] in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he has, as it were, the strength of a unicorn; he shall eat up the Gentiles his enemies and shall break their bones and pierce [them] through with his arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion and as a great lion; who shall awaken him? Blessed [is] he that blesses thee, and cursed [is] he that curses thee.

10 Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and smiting his hands together he said, I called thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times.

11 Therefore, now flee thou to thy place; I said that I would honour thee; but, behold, the LORD has deprived thee of honour.

12 And Balaam replied unto Balak, Did I not declare also unto thy messengers which thou didst send unto me, saying,

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do [either] good or bad of my own heart; [but] what the LORD saith that will I speak?

14 Therefore, behold, I go now unto my people; come and I will indicate unto 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, has said, the man whose eyes are open has said,

16 he who has heard the words of God has said, and he who knows the knowledge of the most High, he who saw the vision of the Almighty, fallen, but having his eyes open:

17 I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not near by; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the sons of Seth.

18 And Edom shall be taken; Seir also shall be taken by his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion and shall destroy what remains of the city.

20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek, head of the Gentiles; but his latter end [shall be] that he perish for ever.

21 And he looked on the Kenite and took up his parable and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock;

22 because the Kenite shall be thrown out, when Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

23 And he took up his parable again and said, Alas, who shall live when God shall do these things!

24 And ships [shall come] from the coast of Chittim and shall afflict Asshur and shall afflict Eber, but he also shall perish for ever.

25 Then Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.: