1Balaam saw that the LORD was pleased to give his blessing to Israel. So he didn’t try to use evil magic as he had done at other times. Instead, he turned and looked towards the desert.2He looked out and saw Israel. They had set up their camps tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came on him.3Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, ‘Here is the message God gave Balaam, the son of Beor. It’s the message God gave to the one who sees clearly.4It’s the message God gave to the one who hears the words of God. He sees a vision from the Mighty One. He falls down flat with his face towards the ground. His eyes have been opened by the LORD.5‘People of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful. Israel, the places where you live are very beautiful.6‘They spread out like valleys. They are like gardens beside a river. They are like aloes the LORD has planted. They are like cedar trees beside a stream.7Their water buckets will run over. Their seeds will have plenty of water. ‘Their king will be greater than King Agag. Their kingdom will be honoured.8‘God brought them out of Egypt. They are as strong as a wild ox. They destroy nations at war with them. They break their bones in pieces. They wound them with their arrows.9Like a male lion they lie down and sleep. They are like a female lion. Who dares to wake them up? ‘May those who bless you be blessed! May those who curse you be cursed!’10Then Balak became very angry with Balaam. He slapped his hands together. He said to Balaam, ‘I sent for you to put a curse on my enemies. But you have given them a blessing three times.11Get out of here right away! Go home! I said I’d make you very rich. But the LORD has kept you from getting rich.’12Balaam answered Balak, ‘Here is what I told the messengers you sent me.13I said, “Balak could give me all the silver and gold in his palace. Even if I wanted to, I still couldn’t do anything at all that goes beyond what the LORD commands. I must say only what the LORD tells me to say.”14Now I’m going back to my people. But come. Let me warn you about what these people will do to your people in days to come.’
Balaam’s fourth message from God
15Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, ‘Here is the message God gave Balaam, the son of Beor. It’s the message God gave to the one who sees clearly.16It’s the message God gave to the one who hears the words of God. The Most High God has given him knowledge. He sees a vision from the Mighty One. He falls down flat with his face towards the ground. His eyes have been opened by the LORD.17‘I see him, but I don’t see him now. I view him, but he isn’t near. A star will come from among the people of Jacob. A king will rise up out of Israel. He’ll crush the foreheads of the people of Moab. He’ll crush the heads of all the people of Sheth.18He’ll win the battle over Edom. He’ll win the battle over his enemy Seir. But Israel will grow strong.19A ruler will come from among the people of Jacob. He’ll destroy those from the city who are still alive.’20Then Balaam saw the Amalekites. He spoke the message he had received from God. He said, ‘Amalek was the first nation to attack Israel. But their end will be total destruction.’
Balaam’s fifth message from God Balaam’s sixth message from God
21Then Balaam saw the Kenites. He spoke the message he had received from God. He said, ‘The place where you live is safe. Your nest is on a high cliff.22But you Kenites will be destroyed. Ashur will take you as prisoners.’
Balaam’s seventh message from God
23Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, ‘Who can live when God does this?24Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus. They will bring Ashur and Eber under their control. But they themselves will also be destroyed.’25Then Balaam got up and returned home. And Balak went on his way.
Numbers 24
English Standard Version
Balaam’s Third Oracle
1When 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)2And 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)3and 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)4the 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)5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!6Like 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)7Water 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)8God 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)9He 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)10And 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)11Therefore 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)12And 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)14And 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)
Balaam’s Final Oracle
15And 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)16the 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)17I 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)18Edom 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)19And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!”20Then 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)21And 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.22Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.”23And he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?24But 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)25Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way. (Nu 31:8)