Numbers 24:1–9

Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turnedF toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of Godc came on him, 3 and he proclaimed his poem:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,

4 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,d

who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:

5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,

your dwellings, Israel.

6 They stretch out like river valleys,A

like gardens beside a stream,

like aloes the Lord has planted,

like cedars beside the water.

7 Water will flow from his buckets,

and his seed will be by abundant water.

His king will be greater than Agag,e

and his kingdom will be exalted.

8 God brought him out of Egypt;

he is likeB the horns of a wild ox for them.f

He will feed on enemy nations

and gnaw their bones;

he will strike them with his arrows.

9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion

or a lioness—who dares to rouse him?g

Those who bless you will be blessed,

and those who curse you will be cursed.h