24
1 When
Balaam saw that
it pleased the
LORD 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
the LORD 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, the LORD
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 the
LORD’s word, to
do either good
or bad from
my own mind. I
will say what
the LORD 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.