Numbers 23:18-24

New International Reader's Version

“Balak, rise up and listen.
    Son of Zippor, hear me.
¹⁹ God isn’t a mere human. He can’t lie.
    He isn’t a human being. He doesn’t change his mind.
He speaks, and then he acts.
    He makes a promise, and then he keeps it.
²⁰ He has commanded me to bless Israel.
    He has given them his blessing. And I can’t change it.

²¹ “I don’t see any trouble coming on the people of Jacob.
    I don’t see any suffering in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them.
    The shout of the King is among them.
²² God brought them out of Egypt.
    They are as strong as a wild ox.
²³ There isn’t any magic that can hurt the people of Jacob.
    No one can use magic words to harm Israel.
Here is what will be said about the people of Jacob.
    Here is what will be said about Israel.
    People will say, ‘See what God has done!’
²⁴ The Israelites are going to wake up like a female lion.
    They are going to get up like a male lion.
They are like a lion that won’t rest
    until it eats what it has caught.
They are like a lion that won’t rest
    until it drinks the blood of what it has killed.”