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. |
2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him |
3 and he uttered his oracle: |
4 the oracle of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,1 24:4 Hebrew Shaddai ; also in verse 16
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: |
5 "How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwelling places, O Israel! |
6 "Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the LORD ,
like cedars beside the waters. |
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water. |
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. |
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness-who dares to rouse them? |
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. |
11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded." |
12 Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, |
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'? |
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." |
15 Then he uttered his oracle: |
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: |
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 skulls2 24:17 Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain. of3 24:17 Or possibly Moab, / batter all the sons of Sheth.4 24:17 Or all the noisy boasters |
18 Edom will be conquered;
Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
but Israel will grow strong. |
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob
and destroy the survivors of the city." |
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and uttered his oracle: |
21 Then he saw the Kenites and uttered his oracle: |
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
when Asshur takes you captive." |
23 Then he uttered his oracle: |
24 Ships will come from the shores of Kittim;
they will subdue Asshur and Eber,
but they too will come to ruin." |
25 Then Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went his own way. |
