1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to seeking omens as he had done before, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

And 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.

2 Balaam looked up and saw Israel camped according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him.

And 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.

3 He began his oracle, saying: 'The oracle of Balaam, son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened.'

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

4 'The oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees visions of the Almighty, who falls down, with eyes uncovered.'

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

5 How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!

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

6 Like valleys they stretch out, like gardens along a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.

As 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.

7 Water will flow from his buckets; his seed will be by abundant waters. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.

He 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.

8 God brought him out of Egypt; he has the strength of a wild ox. He will devour hostile nations and crush their bones; with his arrows, he will pierce them.

God 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.

9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? Those who bless you will be blessed; those who curse you will be cursed.

He 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.

10 Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. He said to Balaam, 'I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them three times!'

And 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.

11 Now leave and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded.'

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

12 Balaam answered Balak, 'Did I not tell your messengers that you sent to me,'

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

13 'Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the LORD, to do anything good or bad of my own will. What the LORD says, that I will speak.'

If 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?

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

And 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.

15 Then Balaam began his oracle, saying: 'The oracle of Balaam, son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,'

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

16 'The oracle of one who hears the words of God and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees visions of the Almighty, who falls down, with eyes uncovered.'

He 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:

17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab and destroy all the sons of Sheth.

I 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.

18 Edom will become a possession; Seir, his enemy, will also be a possession. But Israel will grow strong.

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

19 A ruler will come out of Jacob and will destroy the survivors of the city.

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

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his oracle: 'Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction.'

And 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.

21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his oracle: 'Your dwelling is secure, your nest is set in the rock.'

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

22 Yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.

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

23 Then he spoke his oracle: 'Alas! Who can survive when God does this?'

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

24 Ships will come from the shores of Kittim; they will afflict Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to destruction.

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

25 Then Balaam got up and returned to his home, and Balak also went on his way.

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