Numbers 24:1-25
24 And Balaam saw that Jehovah was pleased to bless Israel, and did not go as at other times to meet with signs, bud set his face toward the wilderness;
2 * and Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel outspread by tribes, and a spirit of God was upon him,
3 * and he struck up his lay and said
“Quoth Beʽor’s son Balaam,quoth the man enlightened of eye,
4 Quoth he who hears the Deity’s say,who beholds the vision of Shaddai,fallen down and with unveiled eyes:
5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob,your lodges, Israel!
6 * Like far-stretching glens,like riverside gardens,Like spice-trees that Jehovah has planted,like cedars by water.
7 * Let water drip from his buckets,his seed be in much water,And his king be loftier than Agag,and his kingdom hold its head high.
8 * It is a Deity that brings him out of Egypt,he has pikes like a ure’s.He shall eat nations, his foes,and crunch their bonesand shatter by his arrows.
9 He lies down, lies at ease,Like a lion and like a lioness; who will stir him up?He who blesses you is blessedand he who curses you is cursed.”
10 And Balak was angry at Balaam and struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam “It was to lay a curse on my enemies I called you, and here you have been blessing them these three times.
11 Now get away to your place; I meant to do honors to you, but here Jehovah has withheld you from honors.”
12 And Balaam said to Balak “Did I not tell even your messengers whom you sent to me
13 ‘If Balak gives me his house full of silver and gold I cannot do anything good or bad of my own free will in violation of Jehovah’s charge: what Jehovah says, that I say’?
14 Now here I am going to my people; come, I will advise you what this people will do to yours in future days.”
15 * And he struck up his lay and said
“Quoth Beʽor’s son Balaam,quoth the man enlightened of eye,
16 * Quoth he who hears the Deity’s sayand has the knowledge of the Lord above,Who beholds the vision of Shaddai,fallen down and with unveiled eyes:
17 ** I see him, but not now;I behold him, but not near:A star has traveled from Jacoband a scepter has risen from IsraelWhich will shatter Moab’s browand the crown of all sons of Shuth.
18 ** And Edom will be annexed,And Seʽir will be annexed, his enemies,and Israel gain vigor.
19 ** And one will bear empire out of Jacoband destroy every survivor of every city.”
20 ** And he saw the ʽAmalekites, and struck up his lay and said“First of nations was ʽAmalek,but in future it will perish evermore.”
21 * And he saw the Cainites, and struck up his lay and said“Permanent is your home,set on a cliff your nest,
22 * But Cain will come to be nibbled away—How long? Assyria will carry you off to slavery.”
23 * And he struck up his lay and said“Alas, who will live when Deity causes it?
24 * But ships from the Cyprus sideWill tame Assyria and tame ʽEberand he too will perish evermore.”
25 And Balaam went off, and back to his place; and Balak also went his way.
Footnotes
^ 24:2 Lit. alighted by tribes
^ 24:3 (enlightened) Unc.
^ 24:6 (spice-trees) Unc.; susp.
^ 24:7 (beginning) Susp.
^ 24:8 (beginning) Susp.
^ 24:15 (enlightened) Unc.
^ 24:16 Lit. knows the knowledge
^ 24:17 Lit. Moab’s temples (of head)
^ 24:17 Var. and tear down all
^ 24:18 (beginning) Susp.
^ 24:18 Or gain wealth Or do stalwartly
^ 24:19 Unc.; conj. And Moab shall come down, and every survivor shall perish out of ʽAr
^ 24:19 Lit. destroy survivor out of city
^ 24:20 Or is ʽAmalek
^ 24:20 (end) Susp.
^ 24:21 Conj. Permanent make your home
^ 24:22 Conj. But Kain will belong to ʽEber—
^ 24:23 Or when Deity installs him Susp.
^ 24:24 Conj. ships shall come out from the Cyprus side and tame
