Numbers 24

1And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

1When Balaam saw that the LORD was pleased to bless Israel, he did not try to use magic as he had before. Instead, he turned his face toward the wilderness.

2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

2Balaam looked up and saw the people of Israel camped tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him.

3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;

3He spoke his message, saying: 'This is the message from Balaam son of Beor, the message from the man whose eyes see clearly.

4He saith, who heareth the words of God, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

4This is the message from one who hears the words of God and sees a vision from the Almighty, falling down with his eyes wide open:

5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel!

5How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, and your homes, Israel!

6As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which Jehovah hath planted, As cedar-trees beside the waters.

6They spread out like valleys, like gardens beside a river, like aloe trees planted by the LORD, or like cedars beside the water.

7Water shall flow from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.

7Water will flow from their buckets, and their crops will have plenty of rain. Their king will be greater than Agag, and their kingdom will be very powerful.

8God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite them through with his arrows.

8God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They will swallow up the nations that oppose them, crushing their bones and piercing them with arrows.

9He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.

9Like a lion, they crouch and lie down; like a lioness, who would dare to wake them up? Anyone who blesses you will be blessed, and anyone who curses you will be cursed.'

10And 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.

10Then Balak became very angry with Balaam. He clapped his hands together and said, 'I called you here to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times!

11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor.

11Now get out of here and go home! I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has kept you from receiving any honor.'

12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers that thou sentest unto me, saying,

12Balaam answered Balak, 'Didn't I tell the messengers you sent to me:

13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak?

13Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own will, good or bad, that goes against the LORD's command? I must say only what the LORD tells me.

14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

14Now I am going back to my own people. But first, come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.'

15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;

15Then he spoke this message: 'This is the message from Balaam son of Beor, the message from the man whose eyes see clearly.

16He saith, who heareth the words of God, And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

16This is the message from one who hears the words of God and has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, falling down with his eyes wide open:

17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.

17I see him, but not right now; I look at him, but not nearby. A star will come out of Jacob, and a king's scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of the Moabites and destroy all the followers of Sheth.

18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, who were his enemies; While Israel doeth valiantly.

18Edom will be conquered, and Seir, his enemy, will also be conquered, while Israel grows in power.

19And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, And shall destroy the remnant from the city.

19A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy those who survive in the cities.'

20And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction.

20Then Balaam looked toward the people of Amalek and spoke this message: 'Amalek was the greatest of nations, but in the end, it will be destroyed forever.'

21And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, And thy nest is set in the rock.

21Then he looked toward the Kenites and spoke this message: 'Your home is secure; your nest is set in the rocks.

22Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

22Yet the Kenites will be destroyed when Assyria takes you away as prisoners.'

23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?

23He spoke this message again: 'Oh, who can survive when God brings this to pass?

24But shipsshall comefrom the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber; And he also shall come to destruction.

24Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus. They will conquer Assyria and Eber, but they too will be destroyed in the end.'

25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

25Then Balaam got up and returned to his home, and Balak also went his own way.