Numbers 24

¹ Balaam then saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel. He did not go as before to seek omens butturned towards the desert.

² Raising his eyes Balaam saw Israel settled tribe by tribe; the spirit of God came on him

³ and he declaimed his poem, as fol ows: The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of theman with far-seeing eyes,

⁴ the prophecy of one who hears the words of God. He sees what Shaddai makes him see, receivesthe divine answer, and his eyes are opened.

⁵ How fair your tents are, Jacob, how fair your dwel ings, Israel,

⁶ like val eys that stretch afar, like gardens by the banks of a river, like aloes planted by Yahweh, likecedars beside the waters!

⁷ A hero arises from their stock, he reigns over countless peoples. His king is greater than Agag, andhis kingship held in honour.

⁸ God has brought him out of Egypt, is like the wild ox's horns to him. He devours the corpses of hisenemies, breaking their bones, piercing them with his arrows.

⁹ He has crouched, he has lain down, like a lion, like a lioness; who dare rouse him? Blessed be thosewho bless you, and accursed be those who curse you!

¹⁰ Balak flew into a rage with Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to Balaam, 'I brought youto curse my enemies, and you have insisted on blessing them three times over!

¹¹ So now go home as fast as your legs can carry you. I promised to load you with honours. Yahwehhimself has deprived you of them.'

¹² Balaam retorted to Balak, 'Did I not tel the messengers you sent me,

¹³ "Even if Balak gave me his house ful of gold and silver I could not go against Yahweh's order anddo anything of my own accord, whether for good or il ; whatever Yahweh says is what I shal say"?

¹⁴ Now that I am going back to my own folk, let me warn you what this people wil do to your people, indays to come.'

¹⁵ He then declaimed his poem, as fol ows: The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of theman with far-seeing eyes,

¹⁶ the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, of one who knows the knowledge of the MostHigh. He sees what Shaddai makes him see, receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.

¹⁷ I see him -- but not in the present. I perceive him -- but not close at hand: a star is emerging fromJacob, a sceptre is rising from Israel, to strike the brow of Moab, the skul s of al the children of Seth.

¹⁸ Edom too wil be a conquered land, Seir too wil be a conquered land, when Israel exerts hisstrength,

¹⁹ when Jacob tramples on his enemies and destroys the last survivors of Ar.

²⁰ Balaam then looked at Amalek and declaimed his poem, as fol ows: Amalek, the earliest of nations!But his posterity wil perish forever.

²¹ He then looked at the Kenites and declaimed his poem, as fol ows: Your dwel ing was firm, Kain,your nest perched high in the rock.

²² But the nest belongs to Beor; how long wil you be Asshur's captive?

²³ He then declaimed his poem, as fol ows: The Sea-people are gathering in the north,

²⁴ the vessels from the coasts of Kittim. They wil bear down on Asshur, bear down on Eber; he too willperish forever.

²⁵ Balaam then got up, left and went home, and Balak too went his way.