Numbers 24
English Standard Version
Balaam's Third Oracle
24 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at (A)other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel (B)camping tribe by tribe. And (C)the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he (D)took up his discourse and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,[a]
4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
(E)falling down with his eyes uncovered:
5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
6 Like palm groves[b] that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
(F)like aloes (G)that the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be (H)in many waters;
his king shall be higher than (I)Agag,
and (J)his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the (K)horns of the wild ox;
he shall (L)eat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall (M)break their bones in pieces
and (N)pierce them through with his arrows.
9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and (O)like a lioness; who will rouse him up?
(P)Blessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you.”
10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he (Q)struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, (R)“I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, (S)‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the Lord has held you back from honor.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13 (T)‘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 (U)of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak’? 14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, (V)I will let you know what this people will do to your people (W)in the latter days.”
Balaam's Final Oracle
15 (X)And he took up his discourse and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of (Y)the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
(Z)falling down with his eyes uncovered:
17 (AA)I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
(AB)a star shall come out of Jacob,
and (AC)a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall (AD)crush the forehead[c] of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 (AE)Edom shall be dispossessed;
(AF)Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
Israel is doing valiantly.
19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
and destroy the survivors of cities!”
20 Then he looked on Amalek and (AG)took up his discourse and said,
“Amalek was the first among the nations,
(AH)but its end is utter destruction.”
21 And 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.
22 Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned
when Asshur takes you away captive.”
23 And he took up his discourse and said,
“Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 But ships shall come from (AI)Kittim
and shall afflict Asshur and (AJ)Eber;
and he too (AK)shall come to utter destruction.”
25 Then Balaam rose and (AL)went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:3 Or closed, or perfect; also verse 15
- Numbers 24:6 Or valleys
- Numbers 24:17 Hebrew corners [of the head]
Numbers 24
Common English Bible
24 Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless the Israelites, so he didn’t go as the other times to seek omens. Instead, he turned toward the desert. 2 Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping by tribes. Then God’s spirit came on him. 3 He raised his voice and made his address:
“The oracle of Balaam, Beor’s son;
the oracle of a man whose eye is open.[a]
4 The oracle of one who hears God’s speech,
who perceives the Almighty’s[b] visions,
who falls down with eyes uncovered.
5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your camps, Israel!
6 Like palm groves that stretch out,
like gardens next to a river,
like eaglewood trees that the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees next to water.
7 Water will drip from his branches;
his seed will have plenty of water;
his king will be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom will be lifted up.
8 God, who brought him from Egypt,
is like a magnificent wild bull for him.
He will devour enemy nations
and break their bones;
he will strike with his arrows.
9 He crouched and lay down like a lion;
like a lioness, who can make her rise?
The one blessing you will be blessed,
and the one cursing you will be cursed.”
10 Balak was angry with Balaam. He pounded his fists. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but now you’ve given a blessing these three times. 11 Now get out of here and go home. I told you I’d greatly honor you, but the Lord has denied you any honor.”
Balaam predicts Moab’s destruction
12 Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I tell your messengers, whom you sent to me, 13 ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I wouldn’t be able to break the Lord’s command for good or ill by my own will. I’ll say whatever the Lord says’? 14 So now I’m going to my people. Let me advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” 15 He raised his voice and made his address:
“The oracle of Balaam, Beor’s son,
the oracle of a man whose eye is open.
16 The oracle of one who hears God’s speech,
and understands the Most High’s[c] knowledge,
who perceives the Almighty’s[d] visions,
who falls down with eyes uncovered.
17 I see him, but not now;
I look at him, but not nearby.
A star comes from Jacob;
a scepter arises from Israel,
smashing Moab’s forehead,
the head of all the Sethites.
18 Edom will become a possession,
Seir a possession of its enemies.
But Israel acts powerfully.
19 Someone from Jacob will rule
and destroy the survivors from Ir.”
20 He looked at Amalek
and raised his voice
and gave his address:
“Amalek is foremost among the nations,
but its end is to perish forever.”
21 He looked at the Kenites
and raised his voice
and gave his address:
“Your dwelling is secure;
your nest is set in the rock.
22 Yet Kain will burn
when Asshur takes you away captive.”
23 He raised his voice
and made his address:
“How terrible!
Who will live when God does this?
24 Ships from Kittim will attack Asshur;
they will attack Eber,
and even he will perish forever.”
25 Then Balaam arose, set out, and returned home. Balak also went on his way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:3 Heb uncertain
- Numbers 24:4 Heb Shaddai or Mountain One
- Numbers 24:16 Heb Elyon
- Numbers 24:16 Heb Shaddai or Mountain One
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible