Numbers
24 When Baʹlaam got to see that it was good in the eyes of Jehovah to bless Israel, he did not go away as at the other times+ to come upon any unlucky omens,*+ but he directed his face to the wilderness. 2 When Baʹlaam raised his eyes and saw Israel tabernacling by his tribes,+ then the spirit of God came to be upon him.+ 3 Hence he took up his proverbial utterance+ and said:
“The utterance of Baʹlaam the son of Beʹor,
And the utterance of the able-bodied man* with the eye unsealed,*+
4 The utterance of the one hearing the sayings of God,*+
Who got to see a vision of the Almighty+
While falling down with the eyes uncovered:+
5 How good-looking are your tents, O Jacob, your tabernacles, O Israel!+
6 Like torrent valleys they have extended a long way,+
Like aloe plants* that Jehovah has planted,
Like cedars by the waters.+
7 Water keeps trickling from his two leather buckets,
And his seed is by many waters.+
His king+ also will be higher than Aʹgag,*+
And his kingdom will be lifted up.+
8 God is bringing him out of Egypt;
The swift course of a wild bull* is his.+
He will consume the nations, his oppressors,+
And their bones he will gnaw,+ and he will break them to pieces with his arrows.*+
9 He bowed down, he lay down like the lion,*
And, like a lion,* who dares rouse him?+
Those blessing you are the ones blessed,+
And those cursing you are the ones cursed.”+
10 At that Baʹlak’s anger blazed against Baʹlaam and he clapped his hands,+ and Baʹlak went on to say to Baʹlaam: “It was to execrate+ my enemies that I called you, and, look! you have blessed them to the limit these three times. 11 And now run your way off to your place. I had said to myself I was without fail going to honor you,+ but, look! Jehovah has held you back from honor.”
12 In turn Baʹlaam said to Baʹlak: “Was it not also to your messengers whom you sent to me that I spoke, saying, 13 ‘If Baʹlak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I should not be able to pass beyond the order of Jehovah so as to do something good or bad out of my own heart. Whatever Jehovah may speak is what I shall speak’?+ 14 And now here I am going away to my people. Do come, let me advise you+ what this people will do to your people afterward in the end of the days.”+ 15 So he took up his proverbial utterance+ and said:
“The utterance of Baʹlaam the son of Beʹor,
And the utterance of the able-bodied man* with the eye unsealed,*+
16 The utterance of the one hearing the sayings of God,*+
And the one knowing the knowledge of the Most High—
A vision of the Almighty he got to see+
While falling down with the eyes uncovered:+
17 I shall see him,+ but not now;
I shall behold him, but not near.
A star*+ will certainly step forth* out of Jacob,
And a scepter* will indeed rise out of Israel.+
And he will certainly break apart the temples of Moʹab’s [head]+
And the cranium of all the sons of tumult of war.*
18 And Eʹdom must become a possession,+
Yes, Seʹir+ must become the possession of his enemies,+
While Israel is displaying his courage.
20 When he got to see Amʹa·lek, he carried further his proverbial utterance and went on to say:+
21 When he got to see the Kenʹites,+ he carried further his proverbial utterance and went on to say:
“Durable is your dwelling, and set on the crag is your abode.*
22 But there will come to be one to burn Kaʹin*+ down.
How long will it be till As·syrʹi·a will carry you away captive?”+
23 And he carried further his proverbial utterance and went on to say:
24 And there will be ships from the coast of Kitʹtim,+
And they will certainly afflict As·syrʹi·a,+
And they will indeed afflict Eʹber.*
But he too will eventually perish.”
25 After that Baʹlaam got up and went and returned to his place.+ And Baʹlak also went his own way.