24
1 Balaam saw that it was good in the LORD’s eyes to bless Israel, so he did not go in search of omens as he had done before. Instead, he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him.
3 He took up his oracle and said,
“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
4 the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with eyes uncovered:
5 How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!
6 Like valleys they stretch out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be among abundant waters.
His king shall rise above Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him out of Egypt;
he has strength like a wild ox.
He shall devour the nations, his adversaries, crush their bones, and shatter them with his arrows.
9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion, like a lioness;
who will rouse him?
Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you!”
10 Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, and look, you have surely blessed them these three times! 11 Now flee to your own place! I said I would surely honor you, but look, the LORD has kept you from honor.” 12 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD to do good or evil of my own heart. Whatever the LORD says, that I will speak’? 14 Now look, I am going to my people. Come, I will tell you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”
15 He took up his oracle and said,
“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16 the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with eyes uncovered:
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.
He shall crush the temples of Moab and destroy all the sons of Seth.
18 Edom shall become a possession, and Seir shall become a possession, both his enemies;
Israel shall act valiantly.
19 One from Jacob shall rule and destroy the survivor from the city.”
20 He saw Amalek, took up his oracle, and said, “Amalek is first among the nations, but his end shall be destruction forever.”
21 He saw the Kenite, took up his oracle, and said, “Enduring is your dwelling, and your nest is set in the rock,
22 yet Kain shall be consumed.
How long until Asshur carries you away captive?”
23 He took up his oracle and said, “Alas!
Who can live when God ordains it?
24 Ships shall come from the coast of Kittim.
They shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, and he too shall perish forever.”
25 Balaam rose, went away, and returned to his place. Balak also went on his way.