Numbers 24

1Now when Balaam saw that it was the Lord's pleasure to give his blessing to Israel, he did not, as at other times, make use of secret arts, but turning his face to the waste land,

1And 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.

1And Balaam seeth that <FI>it is<Fi> good in the eyes of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he hath not gone as time by time to meet enchantments, and he setteth towards the wilderness his face;

2And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel there, with their tents in the order of their tribes: and the spirit of God came on him.

2And 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.

2and Balaam lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Israel tabernacling, by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is upon him,

3And moved by the spirit, he said, These are the words of Balaam, son of Beor, the words of the man whose eyes are open:

3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

3and he taketh up his simile, and saith: `An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor--And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut--

4He says, whose ears are open to the words of God, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down, but having his eyes open:

4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

4An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God--Who a vision of the Almighty seeth, Falling--and eyes uncovered:

5How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your houses, O Israel!

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

5How good have been thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel;

6They are stretched out like valleys, like gardens by the riverside, like flowering trees planted by the Lord, like cedar-trees by the waters.

6As 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.

6As valleys they have been stretched out, As gardens by a river; As aloes Jehovah hath planted, As cedars by waters;

7Peoples will be in fear before his strength, his arm will be on great nations: his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom made great in honour.

7He 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.

7He maketh water flow from his buckets, And his seed <FI>is<Fi> in many waters; And higher than Agag <FI>is<Fi> his king, And exalted is his kingdom.

8It is God who has taken him out of Egypt; his horns are like those of the mountain ox; the nations warring against him will be his food, their bones will be broken, they will be wounded with his arrows.

8God 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.

8God is bringing him out of Egypt; As the swiftness of a Reem is to him, He eateth up nations his adversaries, And their bones he breaketh, And <FI>with<Fi> his arrows he smiteth,

9He took his sleep stretched out like a lion, and like a she-lion: by whom will his rest be broken? May a blessing be on everyone who gives you blessing, and a curse on everyone by whom you are cursed.

9He 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.

9He hath bent, he hath lain down as a lion, And as a lioness: who doth raise him up? He who is blessing thee <FI>is<Fi> blessed, And he who is cursing thee <FI>is<Fi> cursed.'

10Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.

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.

10And the anger of Balak burneth against Balaam, and he striketh his hands; and Balak saith unto Balaam, `To pierce mine enemies I called thee, and lo, thou hast certainly blessed--these three times;

11Go back quickly to the place you came from: it was my purpose to give you a place of honour, but now the Lord has kept you back from honour.

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

11and now, flee for thyself unto thy place; I have said, I do greatly honour thee, and lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honour.'

12Then Balaam said to Balak, Did I not say to the men you sent to me,

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

12And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Did I not also unto thy messengers whom thou hast sent unto me, speak, saying,

13Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say?

13If 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?

13If Balak doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah, to do good or evil of mine own heart--that which Jehovah speaketh--it I speak?

14So now I will go back to my people: but first let me make clear to you what this people will do to your people in days to come.

14And 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.

14and, now, lo, I am going to my people; come, I counsel thee <FI>concerning<Fi> that which this people doth to thy people, in the latter end of the days.'

15Then he went on with his story and said, These are the words of Balaam, the son of Beor, the words of him whose eyes are open:

15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

15And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor--And an affirmation of the man whose eyes <FI>are<Fi> shut--

16He says, whose ear is open to the words of God, who has knowledge of the Most High, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down and having his eyes open:

16He 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:

16An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God--And knowing knowledge of the Most High; A vision of the Almighty he seeth, Falling--and eyes uncovered:

17I see him, but not now: looking on him, but not near: a star will come out of Jacob, and a rod of authority out of Israel, sending destruction to the farthest limits of Moab and on the head of all the sons of Sheth.

17I 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.

17I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not near; A star hath proceeded from Jacob, And a sceptre hath risen from Israel, And hath smitten corners of Moab, And hath destroyed all sons of Sheth.

18Edom will be his heritage, and he will put an end to the last of the people of Seir.

18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

18And Edom hath been a possession, And Seir hath been a possession, <FI>for<Fi> its enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly;

19And Israel will go on in strength, and Jacob will have rule over his haters.

19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

19And <FI>one<Fi> doth rule out of Jacob, And hath destroyed a remnant from Ar.'

20Then, turning his eyes to Amalek, he went on with his story and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his part will be destruction for ever.

20And 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.

20And he seeth Amalek, and taketh up his simile, and saith: `A beginning of the Goyim <FI>is<Fi> Amalek; And his latter end--for ever he perisheth.'

21And looking on the Kenites he went on with his story and said, Strong is your living-place, and your secret place is safe in the rock.

21And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

21And he seeth the Kenite, and taketh up his simile, and saith: `Enduring <FI>is<Fi> thy dwelling, And setting in a rock thy nest,

22But still the Kenites will be wasted, till Asshur takes you away prisoner.

22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

22But the Kenite is for a burning; Till when doth Asshur keep thee captive?'

23Then he went on with his story and said, But who may keep his life when God does this?

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

23And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `Alas! who doth live when God doth this?

24But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur and troubling Eber, and like the others their fate will be destruction.

24And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

24And--ships <FI>are<Fi> from the side of Chittim, And they have humbled Asshur, And they have humbled Eber, And it also for ever is perishing.'

25Then Balaam got up and went back to his place: and Balak went away.

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

25And Balaam riseth, and goeth, and turneth back to his place, and Balak also hath gone on his way.