Numbers

¹ And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Yahweh to bless Israel, so he did not go as at other times to encounter omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

² And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

³ And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered;

⁴ Who beholds the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes opened,

⁵ Your dwellings, O Israel!

⁶ Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by Yahweh, Like cedars beside the waters.

⁷ And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be lifted up higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.

⁸ He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will gnaw their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.

⁹ And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

¹⁰ Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have blessed them repeatedly these three times!

¹¹ So now, flee to your place. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, Yahweh has held you back from honor.”

¹² And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying,

¹³ ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything to trespass the command of Yahweh, either good or bad, of my own accord. What Yahweh speaks, that I will speak’?

¹⁴ So now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the last days.”

¹⁵ Then he took up his discourse and said,“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered,

¹⁶ And knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who beholds the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes opened.

¹⁷ I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

¹⁸ Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly.

¹⁹ And will make the survivor perish from the city.”

²⁰ But his end shall be destruction.”

²¹ And your nest is set in the cliff.

²² How long will Asshur keep you captive?”

²⁴ And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber; So they also will come to destruction.”

²⁵ Then Balaam arose and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.