18 Then he spoke his message:(A)

“Arise, Balak, and listen;
    hear me, son of Zippor.(B)
19 God is not human,(C) that he should lie,(D)
    not a human being, that he should change his mind.(E)
Does he speak and then not act?
    Does he promise(F) and not fulfill?
20 I have received a command to bless;(G)
    he has blessed,(H) and I cannot change it.(I)

21 “No misfortune is seen in Jacob,(J)
    no misery observed[a] in Israel.(K)
The Lord their God is with them;(L)
    the shout of the King(M) is among them.
22 God brought them out of Egypt;(N)
    they have the strength of a wild ox.(O)
23 There is no divination against[b] Jacob,
    no evil omens(P) against[c] Israel.
It will now be said of Jacob
    and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
24 The people rise like a lioness;(Q)
    they rouse themselves like a lion(R)
that does not rest till it devours its prey
    and drinks the blood(S) of its victims.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 23:21 Or He has not looked on Jacob’s offenses / or on the wrongs found
  2. Numbers 23:23 Or in
  3. Numbers 23:23 Or in

18 Then Balaam raised his voice and made his address:

“Arise, Balak, and listen;
    hear me out, Zippor’s son.
19 God isn’t a man that he would lie,
    or a human being that he would change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and not done it,
    or promised and not fulfilled it?
20 I received a blessing, and he blessed.
    I can’t take it back.
21 He hasn’t envisioned misfortune for Jacob,
    nor has he seen trouble for Israel.
The Lord his God is with him,
    proclaimed as his king.
22 God, who brought them out of Egypt,
    is like a magnificent wild bull for him.
23 There is no omen against Jacob,
    no divination against Israel.
Instantly it is told to Jacob,
    and to Israel, what God performs.
24 A people now rises like a lioness,
    like a lion it stands up.
It doesn’t lie down until it eats the prey
    and drinks the blood of the slain.”

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