Numbers 23:27-24:14

New International Version

Balaam’s Third Message

²⁷Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place.^(A) Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me^(B) from there.” ²⁸And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor,^(C) overlooking the wasteland.

²⁹Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” ³⁰Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.^(D)

24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,^(E) he did not resort to divination^(F) as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.^(G) ²When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him^(H) ³and he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,^(I)
⁴the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,^(J)
    who sees a vision from the Almighty,^[a]^(K)
    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

⁵“How beautiful are your tents,^(L) Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!

⁶“Like valleys they spread out,
    like gardens beside a river,^(M)
like aloes^(N) planted by the Lord,
    like cedars beside the waters.^(O)
⁷Water will flow from their buckets;
    their seed will have abundant water.

“Their king will be greater than Agag;^(P)
their kingdom will be exalted.^(Q)

⁸“God brought them out of Egypt;
    they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
    and break their bones in pieces;^(R)
    with their arrows they pierce them.^(S)
⁹Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
    like a lioness^(T)—who dares to rouse them?

“May those who bless you be blessed^(U)
and those who curse you be cursed!”^(V)

¹⁰Then Balak’s anger burned^(W) against Balaam. He struck his hands together^(X) and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,^(Y) but you have blessed them^(Z) these three times.^(AA) ¹¹Now leave at once and go home!^(AB) I said I would reward you handsomely,^(AC) but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”

¹²Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,^(AD) ¹³‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord^(AE)—and I must say only what the Lord says’?^(AF) ¹⁴Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”^(AG)