1: When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2: Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him. 3: He took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, The man whose eye was closed says; 4: He says, who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open: 5: How goodly are your tents, Jacob, Your tents, Israel! 6: As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which Yahweh has planted, As cedar trees beside the waters. 7: Water shall flow from his buckets, His seed shall be in many waters, His king shall be higher than Agag, His kingdom shall be exalted. 8: God brings him forth out of Egypt; He has as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, Shall break their bones in pieces, Smite [them] through with his arrows. 9: He couched, he lay down as a lion, As a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be everyone who blesses you, Cursed be everyone who curses you. 10: Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11: Therefore now flee you to your place: I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor. 12: Balaam said to Balak, Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying, 13: If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of Yahweh, to do either good or bad of my own mind; what Yahweh speaks, that will I speak? 14: Now, behold, I go to my people: come, [and] I will advertise you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days. 15: He took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, The man whose eye was closed says; 16: He says, who hears the words of God, Knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open: 17: I see him, but not now; I see him, but not near: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, A scepter shall rise out of Israel, Shall strike through the corners of Moab, Break down all the sons of tumult. 18: Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, [who were] his enemies; While Israel does valiantly. 19: Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, Shall destroy the remnant from the city. 20: He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction. 21: He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is your dwelling-place, Your nest is set in the rock. 22: Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry you away captive. 23: He took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this? 24: But ships [shall come] from the coast of Kittim, They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber; He also shall come to destruction. 25: Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
