Numbers 24

LEB(i) 1 And Balaam saw that it pleased* Yahweh to bless Israel, and he did not go as other times* to seek out* sorcery; instead, he set his face toward the desert. 2 Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon it.* 3 He uttered* his oracle and said,
"The declaration of Balaam son Beor, the declaration of the man whose eyes are closed, 4 the declaration of the hearer of God's words,* who sees the revelation of Shaddai,* falling down but whose eyes are uncovered. 5 How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! 6 They are spread out like valleys, like gardens on a river, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars at the waters. 7 He will pour water from his buckets, and his offspring will be like many waters; his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. 8 God, who brings him out from Egypt, is like the strength* of a wild ox for him. He will devour the nations who are his enemies; he will break their bones; he will pierce them with his arrows. 9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion, and like a lioness, who will rouse him? They who bless you will be blessed, and they who curse you will be cursed." 10 Then Balak became angry with* Balaam, and he clapped his hands and said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have surely blessed them these three times. 11 Flee* to your place now. I said I would richly honor you, but look, Yahweh has withheld honor from you." 12 Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 'If Balak gave to me the fullness of his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond the command of Yahweh* to do good or evil, from my heart; what Yahweh speaks, I will speak'?* 14 And now, look, I am about to go to my people; I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the following days."* 15 And he uttered* his oracle and said,
"The declaration of Balaam son of Beor, and the declaration of the man whose eye is closed, 16 the declaration of the hearer of God's words,* and the knower of the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of Shaddai,* who is falling, and his eyes are revealed. 17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star will go out from Jacob, and a scepter will rise from Israel; it will crush the foreheads of Moab and destroy all the children of Seth. 18 Edom will be a captive; Seir, its enemies, will be a captive, and Israel will be acting courageously.* 19 Someone* from Jacob will rule and will destroy a remnant* from the city." 20 And he looked at Amalek, uttered* his oracle, and said, "Amalek is first* of the nations, but his future will be forever ruin." 21 And he looked at the Kenites,* uttered* his oracle, and said,
"Steady is your dwelling place; in the rock is your nest. 22 Nevertheless, the Kenite will be burned; how long will Asshur keep* you captive?" 23 Again he uttered* his oracle and said,
"Woe, who will live when God establishes this?* 24 The ships will come from the hand of the Kittim, and they will afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber; also he will be forever ruin." 25 Then Balaam got up and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.