Numbers 24

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 And when Balaam had seen that it was pleasing to the Lord that he should bless Israel, he by no means went out as he had gone before, to seek divination. But directing his face opposite the desert,
2 Raising his eyes Balaam saw Israel settled tribe by tribe; the spirit of God came on him	2 and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel dwelling in tents by their tribes. And with the Spirit of God rushing into 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 taking up his parable, he said: “Balaam, the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,
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 hearer of the sermon of God, he who has gazed upon a vision of the Almighty, he who falls down and so his eyes are opened, has declared:
5 How fair your tents are, Jacob, how fair your dwel ings, Israel,	5 ‘How beautiful are your tabernacles, O Jacob, and your tents, 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 forested valleys, like gardens irrigated next to rivers, like tabernacles which the Lord has fixed, like cedars close to waters.
7 A hero arises from their stock, he reigns over countless peoples. His king is greater than Agag, andhis kingship held in honour.	7 Water shall flow from his jar, and his offspring shall be amid many waters, because Agag, his king, shall be taken, and his kingdom shall be removed.
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 Away from Egypt, God has led him, whose strength is like the rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with 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!	9 Lying down, he has slept like a lion, and like a lioness, whom no one would dare to awaken. He who blesses you, shall himself also be blessed. He who curses you, shall be considered cursed.”
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 And Balak, being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together and said: “I called you to curse my enemies, and, to the contrary, you have blessed them three times.
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 Return to your place. I had decided, indeed, to honor you greatly, but the Lord has deprived you of the designated honor.”
12 Balaam retorted to Balak, 'Did I not tel the messengers you sent me,	12 Balaam responded to Balak: “Did I not say to your 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 would give me his house, filled with silver and gold, I still could not go away from the word of the Lord my God, so as to offer anything, either good or evil, from my own heart; but whatever the Lord will speak, this, too, I shall speak.
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 Yet truly, as I continue on to my own people, I will give you counsel as to what this people shall do to your people in the end times.”
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 Therefore, taking up his parable, he again spoke: “Balaam the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,
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 hearer of the sermon of God, he who knows the doctrine of the Most High, and who sees the visions of the Almighty, who, falling down, has his eyes opened, has declared:
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 shall see him, but not presently. I shall gaze upon him, but not soon. A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a rod shall spring up from Israel. And he shall strike down the commanders of Moab, and he shall devastate all the sons of Seth.
18 Edom too wil be a conquered land, Seir too wil be a conquered land, when Israel exerts hisstrength,	18 And he shall possess Idumea; the inheritance of Seir shall fall to their enemies. Yet truly, Israel shall act with strength.
19 when Jacob tramples on his enemies and destroys the last survivors of Ar.	19 From Jacob will be he who shall be ruler. And he shall perish the remnants of the city.”
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 And when he saw Amalek, taking up his parable, he said: “Amalek, first among the Gentiles, whose very end shall be perdition.”
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 Likewise, he saw the Kainites, and taking up his parable, he said: “Robust, indeed, is your habitation. But though you will set your nest in a rock,
22 But the nest belongs to Beor; how long wil you be Asshur's captive?	22 and you will be elect among the stock of Kain, how long will you be able to remain? For Assur shall take you captive.”
23 He then declaimed his poem, as fol ows: The Sea-people are gathering in the north,	23 And taking up his parable once more he said: “Alas! Who will be able to survive, when God will do these things?
24 the vessels from the coasts of Kittim. They wil bear down on Asshur, bear down on Eber; he too willperish forever.	24 They shall arrive in Greek warships from Italy. They shall overcome the Assyrians, and they shall devastate the Hebrews, and yet, at the very end, even they themselves shall perish.”
25 Balaam then got up, left and went home, and Balak too went his way.	25 And Balaam rose up, and he returned to his place. Likewise, Balak went back, along the way by which he had arrived.