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v1
And Balaam saw that it pleased ^[Literally “it was good in the eyes of Yahweh”] Yahweh to bless Israel, and he did not go as other times ^[Literally “as time on time”] to seek out ^[Literally “to meet”] sorcery; instead, he set his face toward the desert.
v2
Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon it. ^[That is, Israel]
v3
He uttered ^[Literally “lifted up”] his oracle and said, “The declaration of Balaam son Beor, the declaration of the man whose eyes are closed,
v4
the declaration of the hearer of God’s words, ^[Or “God’s sayings”] who sees the revelation of Shaddai, ^[Often translated “the Almighty”] falling down but whose eyes are uncovered.
v5
How good are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwellings, O Israel!
v6
They are spread out like valleys,
like gardens on a river, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars at the waters.
v7
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.
v8
God, who brings him out from Egypt,
is like the strength ^[Or “the horns”] 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.
v9
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.”
v10
Then Balak became angry with ^[Literally “the nose of Balak became hot against”] 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.
v11
Flee ^[Literally “Flee for yourself”] to your place now. I said I would richly honor you, but look, Yahweh has withheld honor from you.”
v12
Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
v13
‘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 ^[Literally “the mouth of Yahweh”] to do good or evil, from my heart; what Yahweh speaks, I will speak’? ^[Hebrew “I will speak it”]
v14
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.” ^[Literally “in the last of the days”]
v15
And he uttered ^[Literally “lifted up”] his oracle and said, “The declaration of Balaam son of Beor, and the declaration of the man whose eye is closed,
v16
the declaration of the hearer of God’s words, ^[Or “God’s sayings”] and the knower of the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of Shaddai, ^[Often translated “the Almighty”] who is falling, and his eyes are revealed.
v17
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.
v18
Edom will be a captive; Seir, its enemies, will be a captive, and Israel will be acting courageously. ^[Literally “with physical strength”]
v19
Someone ^[Hebrew "He"] from Jacob will rule
and will destroy a remnant ^[Or “survivor”] from the city.”
v20
And he looked _at_ Amalek, _uttered_ ^[Literally "lifted up"] his oracle, and said,
“Amalek is first ^[Or “among”] of the nations, but his future will be forever ruin.”
v21
And he looked at the Kenites, ^[Hebrew “Kenite”] uttered ^[Literally “lifted up”] his oracle, and said, “Steady is your dwelling place; in the rock is your nest.
v22
Nevertheless, the Kenite will be burned; how long will Asshur keep ^[Hebrew “take”] you captive?“
v23
Again he uttered ^[Literally “lifted up”] his oracle and said, “Woe, who will live when God establishes this? ^[Hebrew “it”]
v24
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.”
v25
Then Balaam got up and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.