Numbers 24
1 Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, so he did not go, as he had before, to seek omens. Instead, he turned his face toward the wilderness.
2 Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, and the Spirit of God came upon him.
3 Then he spoke his oracle and said: “A declaration of Balaam son of Beor, a declaration of the man whose eye is open.
4 A declaration of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls down with his eyes open.
5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel!
6 They stretch out like valleys, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.
8 God brought him out of Egypt; he is like the horns of a wild ox to him. He will devour the nations, his adversaries, gnaw their bones, and shatter their arrows.
9 He crouches and lies 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 clapped his hands. Balak said to Balaam: “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them three times now.
11 Now flee to your place! I said I would greatly honor you, but the LORD has kept you from that honor.”
12 Balaam said to Balak: “Did I not also tell the messengers you sent me,
13 ‘Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the LORD’s command to do good or evil of my own accord. What the LORD says, that I will say’?”
14 “Now I am going back to my people. Come, and I will tell you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”
15 Then he spoke his oracle and said: “A declaration of Balaam son of Beor, a declaration of the man whose eye is open.
16 A declaration of one who hears the words of God and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls down with his eyes open.
17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will advance from Jacob, and a scepter will rise from Israel. He will crush Moab’s temples and devastate all the descendants of Seth.
18 Edom will become a possession, and Seir, his enemy, will become a possession; Israel will perform mighty deeds.
19 A ruler will come from Jacob, and he will destroy the survivors of the city.”
20 He saw Amalek, spoke his oracle, and said: “Amalek was the first of the nations, but in the end he will perish.”
21 He saw the Kenites, spoke his oracle, and said: “Your dwelling is secure, and your nest is set in the rock.
22 Yet Cain will be consumed. How long until Assyria takes you captive?”
23 He spoke another oracle and said: “Alas! Who can live when God brings this about?
24 Ships will come from the direction of Kittim and afflict Assyria and Eber; but they too will perish.”
25 Balaam got up, went away, and returned to his place; Balak also went on his way.
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