Spirit of God Comes upon Balaam
And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Yahweh to bless Israel, so he did not go as at other times to encounter aomens, but he set his face toward the bwilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and athe Spirit of God came upon him. 3 Then he took up his discourse and said,
“aThe oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered;
4 The oracle of him who ahears the words of God,
Who beholds the bvision of the Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes opened,
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!
6 Like valleys that stretch out,
Like gardens beside the river,
Like aaloes planted by Yahweh,
Like bcedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from his buckets,
And his seed will be by many waters,
And his king shall be lifted up higher than aAgag,
bAnd his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 aGod brings him out of Egypt,
He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.
bHe will devour the nations who are his adversaries,
And will gnaw their bones in pieces,
And shatter them with his carrows.
9 aHe crouches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a lion, who dares rouse him?
bBlessed is everyone who blesses you,
And cursed is everyone who curses you.”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have blessed them repeatedly these three times! 11 So now, flee to your place. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, Yahweh has held you back from honor.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “aDid I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, 13 ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything to trespass the command of Yahweh, either good or bad, aof my own accord. bWhat Yahweh speaks, that I will speak’? 14 So now, behold, aI am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the last days.”
Oracle of Balaam
15 Then he took up his discourse and said,
“aThe oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered,
16 The oracle of him who hears the words of God,
And knows the knowledge of the Most High,
Who beholds the vision of the Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes opened.
17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
aA scepter shall rise from Israel,
bAnd shall crush through the forehead of Moab,
And tear down all the sons of Sheth.
18 aAnd Edom shall be a possession,
bSeir, its enemies, also will be a possession,
While Israel performs valiantly.
19 And one from Jacob shall have dominion,
And will make the survivor perish from the city.”
20 Then he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said,
“Amalek was the first of the nations,
aBut his end shall be destruction.”
21 Then he looked at the aKenite and took up his discourse and said,
“Your habitation is enduring,
And your nest is set in the cliff.
22 Nevertheless Kain will be consumed;
How long will aAsshur keep you captive?”
23 Then he took up his discourse and said,
“Woe, who can live except when God has ordained it?
24 But ships shall come from the coast of aKittim,
And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict bEber;
cSo they also will come to destruction.”
25 Then Balaam arose and went and returned to ahis place, and Balak also went his way.