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

• “Balaam the son of Beor says,
• the man whose eye was closed says;

• ⁴he says, who hears the words of God,
• who sees the vision of the Almighty,
• falling down, and having his eyes open:

• ⁵How goodly are your tents, Jacob,
• and your tents, Israel!

• ⁶As valleys they are spread forth,
• as gardens by the riverside,
• as aloes which Yahweh has planted,
• as cedar trees beside the waters.

• ⁷Water shall flow from his buckets.
• His seed shall be in many waters.

• His king shall be higher than Agag.
• His kingdom shall be exalted.

• ⁸God brings him out of Egypt.
• He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.

• He shall eat up the nations his adversaries,
• shall break their bones in pieces,
• and pierce them with his arrows.

• ⁹He 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.”

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

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

¹⁵He took up his parable, and said,

• “Balaam the son of Beor says,
• the man whose eye was closed says;
• ¹⁶he 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:

• ¹⁷I 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 break down all the sons of Sheth.

• ¹⁸Edom shall be a possession.
• Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession,
• while Israel does valiantly.

• ¹⁹Out of Jacob shall one have dominion,
• and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”

²⁰He 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.”

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

• “Your dwelling place is strong.
• Your nest is set in the rock.

• ²²Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted,
• until Asshur carries you away captive.”

²³He took up his parable, and said,

• “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
• ²⁴But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim.

• They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber.
• He also shall come to destruction.”

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