Numbers 24
Holman Christian Standard Bible
24 Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned[a] toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God(A) came on him, 3 and he proclaimed his poem:
The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,[b]
4 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,(B)
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwellings, Israel.
6 They stretch out like river valleys,[c]
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes the Lord has planted,
like cedars beside the water.
7 Water will flow from his buckets,
and his seed will be by abundant water.
His king will be greater than Agag,[d](C)
and his kingdom will be exalted.
8 God brought him out of Egypt;
He is like[e] the horns of a wild ox for them.(D)
He will feed on enemy nations
and gnaw their bones;
he will strike them with his arrows.
9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion
or a lioness—who dares to rouse him?(E)
Those who bless you will be blessed,
and those who curse you will be cursed.(F)
10 Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, “I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly,(G) but look, the Lord has denied you a reward.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I previously tell the messengers you sent me: 13 If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord’s command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says.(H) 14 Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”
Balaam’s Fourth Oracle
15 Then he proclaimed his poem:
The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;[f]
16 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God
and has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:(I)
17 I see him,[g] but not now;
I perceive him,[h] but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel.(J)
He will smash the forehead[i] of Moab
and strike down[j] all the Shethites.[k]
18 Edom will become a possession;
Seir(K) will become a possession of its enemies,
but Israel will be triumphant.
19 One who comes from Jacob will rule;
he will destroy the city’s survivors.
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:
Amalek was first among the nations,(L)
but his future is destruction.
21 Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem:
Your dwelling place is enduring;
your nest is set in the cliffs.
22 Kain will be destroyed
when Asshur takes you captive.
23 Once more he proclaimed his poem:
Ah, who can live when God does this?
24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim;(M)
they will afflict Asshur and Eber,(N)
but they too will come to destruction.
25 Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:1 Lit set his face
- Numbers 24:3 LXX reads true; Vg reads closed
- Numbers 24:6 Or like date palms
- Numbers 24:7 Sam, LXX, Sym, Theod read Gog
- Numbers 24:8 Or He has
- Numbers 24:15 LXX reads true; Vg reads closed
- Numbers 24:17 Or Him
- Numbers 24:17 Or Him
- Numbers 24:17 Or frontiers
- Numbers 24:17 Sam reads and the skulls of; Jr 48:45
- Numbers 24:17 Or Sethites
Numbers 24
Lexham English Bible
Balaam Continues to Utter Oracles
24 And Balaam saw that it pleased[a] Yahweh to bless Israel, and he did not go as other times[b] to seek out[c] sorcery; instead, he set his face toward the desert. 2 Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon it.[d] 3 He uttered[e] his oracle and said,
“The declaration of Balaam son Beor,
the declaration of the man whose eyes are closed,
4 the declaration of the hearer of God’s words,[f]
who sees the revelation of Shaddai,[g]
falling down but whose eyes are uncovered.
5 How good are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwellings, O Israel!
6 They are spread out like valleys,
like gardens on a river,
like aloes planted by Yahweh,
like cedars at the waters.
7 He will pour water from his buckets,
and his offspring will be like many waters;
his king will be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom will be exalted.
8 God, who brings him out from Egypt,
is like the strength[h] of a wild ox for him.
He will devour the nations who are his enemies;
he will break their bones;
he will pierce them with his arrows.
9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion,
and like a lioness, who will rouse him?
They who bless you will be blessed,
and they who curse you will be cursed.”
10 Then Balak became angry with[i] Balaam, and he clapped his hands and said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have surely blessed them these three times. 11 Flee[j] to your place now. I said I would richly honor you, but look, Yahweh has withheld honor from you.” 12 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 ‘If Balak gave to me the fullness of his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond the command of Yahweh[k] to do good or evil, from my heart; what Yahweh speaks, I will speak’?[l] 14 And now, look, I am about to go to my people; I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the following days.”[m]
15 And he uttered[n] his oracle and said,
“The declaration of Balaam son of Beor,
and the declaration of the man whose eye is closed,
16 the declaration of the hearer of God’s words,[o]
and the knower of the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of Shaddai,[p]
who is falling, and his eyes are revealed.
17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
a star will go out from Jacob,
and a scepter will rise from Israel;
it will crush the foreheads of Moab
and destroy all the children of Seth.
18 Edom will be a captive;
Seir, its enemies, will be a captive,
and Israel will be acting courageously.[q]
19 Someone[r] from Jacob will rule
and will destroy a remnant[s] from the city.”
20 And he looked at Amalek, uttered[t] his oracle, and said,
“Amalek is first[u] of the nations,
but his future will be forever ruin.”
21 And he looked at the Kenites,[v] uttered[w] his oracle, and said,
“Steady is your dwelling place;
in the rock is your nest.
22 Nevertheless, the Kenite will be burned;
how long will Asshur keep[x] you captive?”
23 Again he uttered[y] his oracle and said,
“Woe, who will live when God establishes this?[z]
24 The ships will come from the hand of the Kittim,
and they will afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber;
also he will be forever ruin.”
25 Then Balaam got up and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:1 Literally “it was good in the eyes of Yahweh”
- Numbers 24:1 Literally “as time on time”
- Numbers 24:1 Literally “to meet”
- Numbers 24:2 That is, Israel
- Numbers 24:3 Literally “lifted up”
- Numbers 24:4 Or “God’s sayings”
- Numbers 24:4 Often translated “the Almighty”
- Numbers 24:8 Or “the horns”
- Numbers 24:10 Literally “the nose of Balak became hot against”
- Numbers 24:11 Literally “Flee for yourself”
- Numbers 24:13 Literally “the mouth of Yahweh”
- Numbers 24:13 Hebrew “I will speak it”
- Numbers 24:14 Literally “in the last of the days”
- Numbers 24:15 Literally “lifted up”
- Numbers 24:16 Or “God’s sayings”
- Numbers 24:16 Often translated “the Almighty”
- Numbers 24:18 Literally “with physical strength”
- Numbers 24:19 Hebrew “He”
- Numbers 24:19 Or “survivor”
- Numbers 24:20 Literally “lifted up”
- Numbers 24:20 Or “among”
- Numbers 24:21 Hebrew “Kenite”
- Numbers 24:21 Literally “lifted up”
- Numbers 24:22 Hebrew “take”
- Numbers 24:23 Literally “lifted up”
- Numbers 24:23 Hebrew “it”
Números 24
Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian)
24 Pero, cuando Balán se dio cuenta de que al Señor le complacía que se bendijera a Israel, no recurrió a la hechicería, como otras veces, sino que volvió su rostro hacia el desierto. 2 Cuando Balán alzó la vista y vio a Israel acampando por tribus, el Espíritu del Señor vino sobre él; 3 entonces pronunció su oráculo:
«Palabras de Balán hijo de Beor;
palabras del varón clarividente.
4 Palabras del que oye las palabras de Dios,
del que contempla la visión del Todopoderoso,
del que cae en trance y tiene visiones.
5 »¡Cuán hermosas son tus tiendas, Jacob!
¡Qué bello es tu campamento, Israel!
6 Son como arroyos que se ensanchan,
como jardines a la orilla del río,
como áloes plantados por el Señor,
como cedros junto a las aguas.
7 Sus cántaros rebosan de agua;
su semilla goza de agua abundante.
Su rey es más grande que Agag;
su reinado se engrandece.
8 »Dios los sacó de Egipto
con la fuerza de un toro salvaje.
Israel devora a las naciones hostiles
y les parte los huesos;
¡las atraviesa con sus flechas!
9 Se agacha como un león,
se tiende como una leona:
¿quién se atreverá a molestarlo?
¡Benditos sean los que te bendigan!
¡Malditos sean los que te maldigan!»
10 Entonces la ira de Balac se encendió contra Balán y, batiendo sus manos, le dijo:
―Te mandé llamar para que echaras una maldición sobre mis enemigos, ¡y estas tres veces no has hecho sino bendecirlos! 11 ¡Más te vale volver a tu tierra! Prometí que te recompensaría, pero esa recompensa te la ha negado el Señor.
12 Balán le contestó:
―Yo les dije a los mensajeros que me enviaste: 13 “Aunque Balac me diera su palacio lleno de oro y de plata, yo no podría hacer nada bueno ni malo, sino ajustarme al mandamiento del Señor mi Dios. Lo que el Señor me ordene decir, eso diré”. 14 Ahora que vuelvo a mi pueblo, voy a advertirte en cuanto a lo que este pueblo hará con tu pueblo en los días postreros.
Cuarto oráculo de Balán
15 Entonces Balán pronunció su oráculo:
«Palabras de Balán hijo de Beor,
palabras del varón clarividente.
16 Palabras del que oye las palabras de Dios
y conoce el pensamiento del Altísimo;
del que contempla la visión del Todopoderoso,
del que cae en trance y tiene visiones:
17 »Lo veo, pero no ahora;
lo contemplo, pero no de cerca.
Una estrella saldrá de Jacob;
un rey surgirá en Israel.
Aplastará las sienes de Moab
y el cráneo de todos los hijos de Set.
18 Edom será conquistado;
Seír, su enemigo, será dominado,
mientras que Israel hará proezas.
19 De Jacob saldrá un soberano,
y destruirá a los sobrevivientes de Ar».
Últimos oráculos de Balán
20 Balán miró a Amalec y pronunció este oráculo:
«Amalec fue el primero entre las naciones,
pero su fin será la destrucción total».
21 Luego miró Balán al quenita y pronunció este oráculo:
«Aunque tienes una morada segura
y tu nido está sobre las rocas,
22 tú, Caín, estás destinado al fuego,
y Asiria te llevará cautivo».
23 Después Balán pronunció este oráculo:
«¡Ay!, ¿quién seguirá con vida
cuando Dios determine hacer esto?
24 Vendrán barcos desde las costas de Chipre,
que oprimirán a Asiria y a Éber,
pues ellos también serán destruidos».
25 Después de esto Balán se levantó y volvió a su tierra, y también Balac se fue por su camino.
Numbers 24
New International Version
24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,(A) he did not resort to divination(B) as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.(C) 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him(D) 3 and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,(E)
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,(F)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,[a](G)
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 “How beautiful are your tents,(H) Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!
6 “Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,(I)
like aloes(J) planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.(K)
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.
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;(N)
with their arrows they pierce them.(O)
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness(P)—who dares to rouse them?
10 Then Balak’s anger burned(S) against Balaam. He struck his hands together(T) and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,(U) but you have blessed them(V) these three times.(W) 11 Now leave at once and go home!(X) I said I would reward you handsomely,(Y) but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,(Z) 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(AA)—and I must say only what the Lord says’?(AB) 14 Now 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.”(AC)
Balaam’s Fourth Message
15 Then he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words(AD) of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,(AE)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
17 “I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.(AF)
A star will come out of Jacob;(AG)
a scepter will rise out of Israel.(AH)
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,(AI)
the skulls[b](AJ) of[c] all the people of Sheth.[d]
18 Edom(AK) will be conquered;
Seir,(AL) his enemy, will be conquered,(AM)
but Israel(AN) will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob(AO)
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
Balaam’s Fifth Message
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek(AP) and spoke his message:
“Amalek was first among the nations,
but their end will be utter destruction.”(AQ)
Balaam’s Sixth Message
21 Then he saw the Kenites(AR) and spoke his message:
“Your dwelling place is secure,(AS)
your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
when Ashur(AT) takes you captive.”
Balaam’s Seventh Message
23 Then he spoke his message:
“Alas! Who can live when God does this?[e]
24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;(AU)
they will subdue Ashur(AV) and Eber,(AW)
but they too will come to ruin.(AX)”
25 Then Balaam(AY) got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:4 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16
- Numbers 24:17 Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
- Numbers 24:17 Or possibly Moab, / batter
- Numbers 24:17 Or all the noisy boasters
- Numbers 24:23 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.
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