Balaam's Third Oracle
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. 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.
3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
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:
5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Balak Dismisses Balaam
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. 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. 12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, 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? 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.
Balaam's Fourth Oracle
15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
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:
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.
18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
Balaam's Final Three Oracles
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.
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.
22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
24And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Balaam’s Third Oracle
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
3 He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
4 he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel!
6 As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which Yahweh has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
Balak Dismisses Balaam
10 Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee you to your place! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.” 12 Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying, 13 ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of Yahweh, to do either good or bad of my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’? 14 Now, behold, I go to my people: come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”
Balaam’s Fourth Oracle
15 He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
16 he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
17 I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”
Balaam’s Final Three Oracles
20 He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But his latter end shall come to destruction.”
21 He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.
22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”
23 He took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”
25 Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
Balaam’s Third Oracle
1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he lifted up an oracle, saying:
“This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty, a
who bows down with eyes wide open:
5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwellings, O Israel!
6 They spread out like palm groves, b
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes the LORD has planted,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water 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.
8 God brought him out of Egypt
with strength like a wild ox,
to devour hostile nations and crush their bones,
to pierce them with arrows.
9 He 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.”
Balak Dismisses Balaam
10 Then 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. 11 Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me 13 that 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 will speak whatever the LORD says. 14 Now 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.”
Balaam’s Fourth Oracle
15 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying,
“This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
16 the 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:
17 I 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 c of Moab
and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
18 Edom will become a possession,
as will Seir, his enemy;
but Israel will perform with valor.
19 A ruler will come from Jacob
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
Balaam’s Final Three Oracles
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying:
“Amalek was first among the nations,
but his end is destruction.”
21 Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying:
“Your dwelling place is secure,
and your nest is set in a cliff.
22 Yet Kain will be destroyed
when Asshur d takes you captive.”
23 Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying:
“Ah, who can live
unless God has ordained it?
24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; e
they will subdue Asshur and Eber,
but they too will perish forever.”
25 Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.
Footnotes:
4 a Hebrew Shaddai ; also in verse 16
6 b Or like valleys
17 c SP foreheads ; Hebrew corners (of the head) ; LXX princes
22 d Or Assyria ; also in verse 24
24 e Hebrew Kittim
Balaam's Third Oracle
1And Balaam seeth that it is 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 Balaam lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Israel tabernacling, by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is upon him,
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 --
4An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God -- Who a vision of the Almighty seeth, Falling -- and eyes uncovered:
5How good have been thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel;
6As valleys they have been stretched out, As gardens by a river; As aloes Jehovah hath planted, As cedars by waters;
7He maketh water flow from his buckets, And his seed is in many waters; And higher than Agag is his king, And exalted is his kingdom.
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 with his arrows he smiteth,
9He hath bent, he hath lain down as a lion, And as a lioness: who doth raise him up? He who is blessing thee is blessed, And he who is cursing thee is cursed.'
Balak Dismisses Balaam
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; 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.' 12And Balaam saith unto Balak, 'Did I not also unto thy messengers whom thou hast sent unto me, speak, saying, 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? 14and, now, lo, I am going to my people; come, I counsel thee concerning that which this people doth to thy people, in the latter end of the days.'
Balaam's Fourth Oracle
15And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut --
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 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.
18And Edom hath been a possession, And Seir hath been a possession, for its enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly;
19And one doth rule out of Jacob, And hath destroyed a remnant from Ar.'
Balaam's Final Three Oracles
20And he seeth Amalek, and taketh up his simile, and saith: 'A beginning of the Goyim is Amalek; And his latter end -- for ever he perisheth.'
21And he seeth the Kenite, and taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Enduring is thy dwelling, And setting in a rock thy nest,
22But the Kenite is for a burning; Till when doth Asshur keep thee captive?'
23And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Alas! who doth live when God doth this?
24And -- ships are from the side of Chittim, And they have humbled Asshur, And they have humbled Eber, And it also for ever is perishing.'
25And Balaam riseth, and goeth, and turneth back to his place, and Balak also hath gone on his way.
