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Numbers 24
New Catholic Bible
Numbers 24
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 24
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as he did before, but rather faced the wilderness. 2 Balaam raised his eyes and he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came upon him[a] 3 and he took up his oracle:
“The oracle of Balaam, the son of Beor,
the oracle of one whose eye is opened.[b]
4 The oracle of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision of the Almighty;
who falls down, with eyes wide open.
5 How pleasant are your tents, O Jacob,
and your dwelling places, O Israel.
6 Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river;
like aloes that the Lord has planted,
like cedars beside the waters;
7 like water that pours forth from buckets,
their seed will be mighty waters.
Their king will be higher than Agag,[c]
their kingdom will be exalted.
8 God has brought them forth from Egypt,
their strength is that of the wild ox.
They will devour nations,
they will break the bones of their enemies,
they will pierce them through with their arrows.
9 He crouches down, he lay down like a lion; who dare rouse him?
Blessed is the one who blesses him,
but cursed is the one who curses him.”
10 Balak became enraged at Balaam. Balak clasped his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now then, leave and go home. I told you that I would reward you richly, but the Lord has kept you from being paid.”
12 But Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers who sent for me, 13 ‘If Balak were to give me a house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord on my own either for good or for bad. Whatever the Lord proclaims, that I must speak!’ 14 Now I am going back to my own people; come, allow me to let you know what this people will do to your people in the future.”
15 Balaam’s Fourth Oracle. So he took up the oracle and said,
“Balaam, the son of Beor,
the man whose eyes are open says,
16 The oracle of he
who has heard the words of God,
who has knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
who falls down with his eyes open:
17 [d]I see him, but not now.
I behold him, but not near.
A star comes forth from Jacob,
and a scepter rises out of Israel.
He will crush the brow of Moab,
he will destroy the children of Seth.
18 Edom[e] will become a possession,
and Seir also will become a possession of its enemies,
but Israel will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob,
he will destroy the remnant of the city.”
20 He then looked toward Amalek and said,
“Amalek was the first of the nations,
but he will be the last until he perishes.”
21 He looked upon the Kenites[f] and took up his oracle and said,
“Strong is your dwelling place,
and your nest is in the rock;
22 but Kain will be consumed.
How long until Asshur[g] carries you away as a captive?”
23 He continued his oracle saying,
“Alas, who can live when God does this?
24 Ships will come from Kittim,
and will humble Asshur and Eber.
They, too, will face destruction.”
25 Then Balaam got up and went home, and Balak also went his way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:2 The Spirit of God came upon him: the unusual wording here suggests that God has intervened and will use Balaam for his purposes.
- Numbers 24:3 One whose eye is opened: one who scrutinizes the secrets of God.
- Numbers 24:7 Agag: the king of the Amalekites, whom Saul will conquer (1 Sam 15:8).
- Numbers 24:17 This star, the sign of a hero sent by God, heralds King David, in keeping with the ancient promises made to Judah (Gen 49:10); this hero was expected to make subjects of the peoples who were Israel’s neighbors. But behind this conqueror can be seen the glorious Messiah, Jesus Son of David (Mt 2:2; Rev 22:16).
- Numbers 24:18 Edom: in the Negeb, the desert in southern Palestine.
- Numbers 24:21 Kenites: nomads of southern Palestine.
- Numbers 24:22 Asshur: the tribe of the Asshurites (Gen 25:3), rather than the Assyrians.
民数记 24
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition
民数记 24
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition
巴兰第三次预言
24 巴兰见耶和华喜欢赐福给以色列，就不像前两次去求法术，却面向旷野。 2 巴兰举目，看见以色列人照着支派扎营。 神的灵就临到他身上， 3 他唱起诗歌说：
“比珥的儿子巴兰说，
眼目关闭[a]的人说，
4 听见 神的言语，
得见全能者的异象，
俯伏着，眼睛却睁开的人说：
5 雅各啊，你的帐棚何等华美！
以色列啊，你的帐幕何其华丽！
6 如连绵的山谷，
如河畔的园子，
如耶和华栽种的沉香树，
又如水边的香柏木。
7 水要从他的桶里流出，
种子要撒在多水之处。
他的王必超越亚甲，
他的国必要振兴。
8 神领他出埃及，
为他有如野牛的角。
他要吞灭那敌对他的国，
压碎他们的骨头，
用箭射透他们。
9 他蹲如公狮，
卧如母狮，
谁敢惹他？
凡为你祝福的，愿他蒙福；
凡诅咒你的，愿他受诅咒。”
巴兰第四次预言
10 巴勒向巴兰怒气发作，就紧握拳头[b]。巴勒对巴兰说：“我召你来诅咒我的仇敌，看哪，你竟然这三次为他们祝福。 11 如今你赶快回本地去吧！我想使你大得尊荣，看哪，耶和华却阻止你得尊荣。” 12 巴兰对巴勒说：“我不是对你所差遣到我那里的使者说： 13 ‘巴勒就是把他满屋的金银给我，我也不能违背耶和华的指示，随自己的心意做好做歹。耶和华说什么，我就说什么。’ 14 现在，看哪，我要回到我的百姓那里。来，让我告诉你这百姓日后要怎样对待你的百姓。” 15 他就唱起诗歌说：
“比珥的儿子巴兰说，
眼目关闭的人说，
16 听见 神的言语，
明白至高者的知识，
看见全能者的异象，
俯伏着，眼睛却睁开的人说：
17 我看见他，却不在现时；
我望见他，却不在近处。
有星出于雅各，
有杖从以色列兴起，
必打破摩押的额头，
必毁坏所有的塞特人[c]。
18 以东将成为产业，
西珥将成为它敌人的产业[d]；
但以色列却要得胜。
19 有一位出于雅各的，必掌大权，
他要除灭城中的幸存者。”
20 巴兰看见亚玛力人，就唱起诗歌说：
“亚玛力是诸国之首，
但它终必永远沉沦[e]。”
21 巴兰看见基尼人，就唱起诗歌说：
23 巴兰又唱起诗歌说：
25 于是巴兰起来，回本地去；巴勒也回他的路去了。
Footnotes
- 24．3 “关闭”：七十士译本是“看得清楚”；下同。
- 24．10 “紧握拳头”：原文直译“击掌”。
- 24．17 “必毁坏…塞特人”：有古卷是“所有塞特人的头顶”。
- 24．18 “以东…它敌人的产业”或译“他必得以东为产业，又得仇敌之地西珥为产业”。
- 24．20 “但它终必永远沉沦”：撒玛利亚五经是“直到它终于沉沦”。
- 24．22 “基尼族”与“巢窝”的希伯来话发音相近。
- 24．22 “然而…掳去？”七十士译本是“虽然比珥有造得坚固的巢窝，亚述人必把你掳去。”
- 24．23 “若 神…存活呢？”原文另译“聚集在北方的那些人是谁呢？”
- 24．24 “有船只”：七十士译本是“有人”。
- 24．24 “他也必永远沉沦”：撒玛利亚五经是“直到他沉沦”。
Numbers 24
King James Version
Numbers 24
King James Version
24 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.
12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?
14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
Numbers 24
New International Version
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.
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition (RCU17SS)
和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.