Numbers 24

English Standard Version

from Crossway
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. (Nu 23:3; Nu 23:15)2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, (Nu 2:22; Jud 3:10; 1Sa 19:20; 1Sa 19:23; 2Ch 15:1; 2Ch 20:14)3 and he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,[1] (Nu 23:7)4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: (Eze 1:28; Eze 3:23; Re 1:10; Re 1:17)5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!6 Like palm groves[2] that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. (Ps 1:3; Ps 104:16; Isa 61:3; Jer 17:8)7 Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. (1Sa 15:8; 2Sa 5:12; 1Ch 14:2; Jer 51:13; Re 17:1)8 God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows. (Nu 14:9; Nu 23:22; Nu 23:24; Ps 45:5; Isa 38:13; Jer 50:9; Jer 50:17)9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.” (Ge 12:3; Ge 27:29; Ge 49:9; Nu 23:24)10 And 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 blessed them these three times. (Nu 23:11; Job 27:23; La 2:15; Eze 21:14; Eze 21:17; Eze 22:13)11 Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the Lord has held you back from honor.” (Nu 22:17; Nu 22:37)12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me,13 ‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak’? (Nu 16:28; Nu 22:18)14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” (Ge 49:1; Mic 6:5; Re 2:14)15 And he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, (Nu 21:27; Nu 23:7)16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: (Nu 24:4; Ac 7:48)17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead[3] of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. (Ge 49:10; Nu 23:9; 2Sa 8:2; Jer 48:45; Mt 2:2; Re 22:16)18 Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. (Ge 32:3; Ge 36:8; 2Sa 8:14; Ps 60:8; Am 9:12)19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!”20 Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.” (Ex 17:14; Nu 23:7; 1Sa 15:3; 1Sa 15:8)21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, “Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock.22 Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.”23 And he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?24 But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction.” (Ge 10:4; Ge 10:21; Ge 10:25; Nu 24:20; Da 11:30)25 Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way. (Nu 31:8)

Numbers 24

圣经当代译本修订版

from Biblica
1 巴兰见耶和华乐意赐福给以色列人,就不再像先前两次那样去求兆头,而是面向旷野,2 举目四望,看见以色列人按支派扎营。上帝的灵降在他身上,3 他便吟诗预言说: “比珥之子巴兰的预言, 是眼睛明亮者的话,4 他得听上帝之言, 俯伏在地, 得见全能者的异象。5 雅各啊, 你的帐篷何等华美! 以色列啊, 你的居所何等佳美!6 像连绵的山谷, 河畔的园子; 又如耶和华栽种的沉香, 水边的香柏树。7 他们沐浴充沛的甘霖, 撒种于湿润的沃土。 他们的君王高过亚甲, 国度名震四方。8 上帝把他们带出埃及, 祂[1]的力量如野牛之角。 他们要吞灭敌国, 打碎敌人的骨头, 用利箭射穿仇敌。9 他们蹲伏如雄狮, 躺卧如母狮,谁敢招惹? 祝福他们的人有福了! 咒诅他们的人有祸了!”10 巴勒听了大怒,用力击掌,对巴兰说:“我请你来咒诅我的仇敌,你竟三次祝福他们。11 现在快回家去吧!我说过要给你重赏,但耶和华不让你得到。”12 巴兰说:“我不是对你派来的使臣说过吗?13 就是你把满屋的金银都给我,我也不能违背耶和华的命令、凭自己的意思行事——无论好事坏事。我只能说耶和华让我说的话。14 现在我要回本族去了。但我要告诉你日后以色列人会怎样对待你的人民。”15 巴兰吟诗预言说: “比珥之子巴兰的预言, 是眼睛明亮者的话,16 他得听上帝之言, 明白至高者的旨意, 俯伏在地, 得见全能者的异象。17 我所见的尚未发生, 我目睹的关乎将来。 一颗星要从雅各家升起, 一位君王要从以色列兴起。 他要打烂摩押的前额, 击碎舍特人的头颅。18 他必征服以东, 占领敌疆西珥, 以色列必勇往直前。19 雅各的后裔必掌权, 消灭城中的余民。”20 巴兰观看亚玛力人,并以诗歌预言说: “亚玛力原是列国之首, 但他的结局却是灭亡。”21 巴兰又观看基尼人,并以诗歌预言说: “虽然你的居所坚固, 你的巢筑在峭壁,22 但你必遭灭顶, 被亚述掳去。”23 巴兰又以诗歌预言说: “唉!若非上帝许可, 谁能存活呢?24 船只从基提驶来, 征服亚述和希伯, 但他也要灭亡。”25 说完,巴兰动身返回家乡,巴勒也回去了。