24:1¹ When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel,² he did not go as at the other times³ to seek for omens,⁴ but he set his face⁵ toward the wilderness. 24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe;⁶ and the Spirit of God came upon him. 24:3 Then he took up this oracle, and said,

“The oracle⁷ of Balaam the son of Beor,
and the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;⁸
24:4 The oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
although falling prostrate⁹ with eyes open:¹⁰
24:5 ‘How¹¹ beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
and your habitations, O Israel!
24:6 They are like¹² valleys¹³ stretched forth,
like gardens by the river’s side,
like aloes¹⁴ that the LORD has planted
and like cedar trees beside the waters.
24:7 He will pour the water out of his buckets,
and their descendants will be like flowing water;¹⁵
their king will be greater than Agag,¹⁶
and their kingdom will be exalted.
24:8 God brought them out of Egypt,
They have as it were the strength of a young bull;
they will devour hostile people,¹⁷
and will break their bones,
and pierce them through with arrows.
24:9 They crouch and lie down like a lioness;
and as a great lion, who can stir him?
Blessed is he that bless you,
and cursed is he that curses you.’”

24:10 Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together.¹⁸ And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless¹⁹ them these three times. 24:11 So now, flee to your place. I said that I would greatly honor you; but now, the LORD has stood in the way of your honor.”

24:12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers which you sent to me, saying, 24:13 ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond²⁰ the commandment of the LORD to do either good or evil of my own will; but what the LORD tells me I must speak.’ 24:14 And now, I am about to go²¹ to my people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future.”²²

24:15 And he took up his oracle, and said:

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
and the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;
24:16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and who knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who he sees a vision from the Almighty,
although falling prostrate with eyes open:
24:17 ‘I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not close at hand;²³
A star²⁴ will march forth²⁵ out of Jacob,
and a scepter²⁶ will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the skulls²⁷ of Moab,
and the heads²⁸ of all the sons of Sheth.²⁹
24:18 And Edom will be a possession,
Seir,³⁰ his enemies, will also be a possession;
but Israel will do valiantly.
24:19 A ruler will be established from Jacob,
and will destroy the remains of the city.’”

24:20 Then he looked on Amalek, and took up his oracle, and said,

“Amalek was the first³¹ of the nations,
but his end will be that he will perish.”

24:21 Then he looked on the Kenites, and took up his oracle, and said,

“Your dwelling place seems strong,
and your nest³² is set in a rock;
24:22 Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed,³³
How long will Asshur take you away captive?”

24:23 And he took up his oracle, and said,

“Oh, who will live when God does this!³⁴
24:24 And ships will come from the coast of Kittim,³⁵
And will afflict Asshur, and will afflict Eber,
and he³⁶ will also perish forever.”

24:25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.