Numbers 24

¹And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not seek omens as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

²When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,

³and he lifted up an oracle, saying:

“This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,

the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

⁴the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,^a

who bows down with eyes wide open:

⁵How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,

your dwellings, O Israel!

⁶They spread out like palm groves,^a

like gardens beside a stream,

like aloes the LORD has planted,

like cedars beside the waters.

⁷Water will flow from his buckets,

and his seed will have abundant water.

His king will be greater than Agag,

and his kingdom will be exalted.

⁸God brought him out of Egypt

with strength like a wild ox,

to devour hostile nations and crush their bones,

to pierce them with arrows.

⁹He crouches, he lies down like a lion,

like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?

Blessed are those who bless you

and cursed are those who curse you.”

¹⁰Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

¹¹Therefore , flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

¹²Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me

¹³that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I must speak whatever the LORD says.

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

¹⁵Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying,

“This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,

the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

¹⁶the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,

who has knowledge from the Most High,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

who bows down with eyes wide open:

¹⁷I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near.

A star will come forth from Jacob,

and a scepter will arise from Israel.

He will crush the skulls^a of Moab

and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

¹⁸Edom will become a possession,

as will Seir, his enemy;

but Israel will perform with valor.

¹⁹A ruler will come from Jacob

and destroy the survivors of the city.”

²⁰Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Amalek was first among the nations,

but his end is destruction.”

²¹Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Your dwelling place is secure,

and your nest is set in a cliff.

²²Yet Kain will be destroyed

when Asshur^a takes you captive.”

²³Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Ah, who can live

unless God has ordained it?

²⁴Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus;^a

they will subdue Asshur and Eber,

but they too will perish forever.”

²⁵Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.