Numbers 24

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Balaam then saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel. He did not go as before to seek omens butturned towards the desert.	1 Balaam, however, perceiving that the LORD was pleased to bless Israel, did not go aside as before to seek omens, but turned his gaze toward the desert.
2 Raising his eyes Balaam saw Israel settled tribe by tribe; the spirit of God came on him	2 When he raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon 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,	3 and he gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true,
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.	4 The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:
5 How fair your tents are, Jacob, how fair your dwel ings, Israel,	5 How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O 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!	6 They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the LORD.
7 A hero arises from their stock, he reigns over countless peoples. His king is greater than Agag, andhis kingship held in honour.	7 His wells shall yield free-flowing waters, he shall have the sea within reach; His king shall rise higher than. . . . and his royalty shall be exalted.
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.	8 It is God who brought him out of Egypt, a wild bull of towering might. He shall devour the nations like grass, their bones he shall strip bare.
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!	9 He lies crouching like a lion, or like a lioness; who shall arouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses 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!	10 Balak beat his palms together in a blaze of anger at Balaam and said to him, "It was to curse my foes that I summoned you here; yet three times now you have even blessed them instead!
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.'	11 Be off at once, then, to your home. I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has withheld the reward from you!"
12 Balaam retorted to Balak, 'Did I not tel the messengers you sent me,	12 Balaam replied to Balak, "Did I not warn the very messengers whom you sent to 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"?	13 'Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord to anything, good or evil, contrary to the command of the LORD'? Whatever the LORD says I must repeat.
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.'	14 "But now that I am about to go to my own people, let me first warn you what this people will do to your people in the days 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,	15 Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true,
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.	16 The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured and with eyes unveiled.
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.	17 I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel, That shall smite the brows of Moab, and the skulls of all the Shuthites,
18 Edom too wil be a conquered land, Seir too wil be a conquered land, when Israel exerts hisstrength,	18 Till Edom is dispossessed, and no fugitive is left in Seir. Israel shall do valiantly,
19 when Jacob tramples on his enemies and destroys the last survivors of Ar.	19 and Jacob shall overcome his foes.
20 Balaam then looked at Amalek and declaimed his poem, as fol ows: Amalek, the earliest of nations!But his posterity wil perish forever.	20 Upon seeing Amalek, Balaam gave voice to his oracle: First of the peoples was Amalek, but his end is to 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.	21 Upon seeing the Kenites, he gave voice to his oracle: Your abode is enduring, O smith, and your nest is set on a cliff;
22 But the nest belongs to Beor; how long wil you be Asshur's captive?	22 Yet destined for burning-- even as I watch--are your inhabitants.
23 He then declaimed his poem, as fol ows: The Sea-people are gathering in the north,	23 Upon seeing. . . . he gave voice to his oracle: Alas, who shall survive of Ishmael,
24 the vessels from the coasts of Kittim. They wil bear down on Asshur, bear down on Eber; he too willperish forever.	24 to deliver his people from the hands of the Kittim? When they have conquered Asshur and conquered Eber, He too shall perish forever.
25 Balaam then got up, left and went home, and Balak too went his way.	25 Then Balaam set out on his journey home; and Balak also went his way.