Numbers 24:1-14

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. ²Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping by tribes. Then God’s spirit came on him. ³He raised his voice and made his address:

“The oracle of Balaam, Beor’s son;
    the oracle of a man whose eye is open.^[a]
⁴The oracle of one who hears God’s speech,
    who perceives the Almighty’s^[b] visions,
    who falls down with eyes uncovered.
⁵How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
    your camps, Israel!
⁶Like 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.
⁷Water 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.
⁸God, 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.
⁹He 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.”

¹⁰Balak 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. ¹¹Now 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

¹²Balaam 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’? ¹⁴So now I’m going to my people. Let me advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

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