14 Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”

BALAAM’S FOURTH ORACLE

15 Then he proclaimed his poem:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;

16 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God

and has knowledge from the Most High,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:k

17 I see him, but not now;

I perceive him, but not near.

A star will come from Jacob,

and a scepter will arise from Israel.l

He will smash the foreheadE of Moab

and strike down* all the Shethites.G

18 Edom will become a possession;

Seirm will become a possession of its enemies,

but Israel will be triumphant.

19 One who comes from Jacob will rule;

he will destroy the city’s survivors.

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:

Amalek was first among the nations,n

but his future is destruction.

21 Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem:

Your dwelling place is enduring;

your nest is set in the cliffs.

22 Kain will be destroyed

when Asshur takes you captive.

23 Once more he proclaimed his poem:

Ah, who can live when God does this?

24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim;a

they will carry out raids against Asshur and Eber,b

but they too will come to destruction.