11 Heb “he”; the referent (Balaam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12 Heb “took up.”
13 The passage calls for a past tense translation; since the verb form is a prefixed conjugation, this tense should be classified as a preterite without the vav (ו). Such forms do occur, especially in the ancient poetic passages.
14 The opening lines seem to be a formula for the seer to identify himself and the occasion for the oracle. The tension is laid out early; Balaam knows that God has intended to bless Israel, but he has been paid to curse them.
15 The figure is erotesis, a rhetorical question. He is actually saying he cannot curse them because God has not cursed them.
16 The imperfect tense should here be classified as a potential imperfect.
17 Heb “him,” but here it refers to the Israelites (Israel).
18 Balaam reports his observation of the nation of Israel spread out below him in the valley. Based on that vision, and the Lord’s word, he announces the uniqueness of Israel—they are not just like one of the other nations. He was correct, of course; they were the only people linked with the living God by covenant.
19 The verb could also be taken as a reflexive—Israel does not consider itself as among the nations, meaning, they consider themselves to be unique.
20 The question is again rhetorical; it means no one can count them—they are innumerable.
21 The perfect tense can also be classified as a potential nuance. It does not occur very often, but does occur several times.
22 The reference in the oracle is back to Gen 13:16, which would not be clear to Balaam. But God had described their growth like the dust of the earth. Here it is part of the description of the vast numbers.
23 Heb “and as a number, the fourth part of Israel.” The noun in the is not in the construct state, and so it should be taken as an adverbial accusative, forming a parallel with the verb “count.” The second object of the verse then follows, “the fourth part of Israel.” and the have “and who has numbered” (וּמִסְפָּר, umispar), making this colon more parallel to the preceding one. The editor of prefers this reading.
24 The use of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) for the subject of the verb stresses the personal nature—me.
25 Here the seer’s words link with the promise of Gen 12:3, that whoever blesses Israel will be blessed. Since the blessing belongs to them, the upright (and not Balak), Balaam would like his lot to be with them.
26 Heb “my latter end.”
27 Heb “his.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And Balaam took up his discourse and said,

“From Aram Balak has brought me,

the king of Moab from the eastern mountains:

‘Come, curse Jacob for me,

and come, denounce Israel!’

How can I curse whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?

For from the top of the crags I see him,

from the hills I behold him;

behold, a people dwelling alone,

and not counting itself among the nations!

Who can count the dust of Jacob

or number the fourth part of Israel?

Let me die the death of the upright,

and let my end be like his!”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then Balaam spoke his message:

“Balak brought me from Aram,

the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.

‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me;

come, denounce Israel.’

How can I curse

those whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce

those whom the Lord has not denounced?

From the rocky peaks I see them,

from the heights I view them.

I see a people who live apart

and do not consider themselves one of the nations.

Who can count the dust of Jacob

or number even a fourth of Israel?

Let me die the death of the righteous,

and may my final end be like theirs!”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Balaam proclaimed his poem:

Balak brought me from Aram;

the king of Moab, from the eastern mountains:

“Come, put a curse on Jacob for me;

come, denounce Israel!”

How can I curse someone God has not cursed?

How can I denounce someone the Lord has not denounced?

I see them from the top of rocky cliffs,

and I watch them from the hills.

There is a people living alone;

it does not consider itself among the nations.

Who has counted the dust of Jacob

or numbered even one-fourth of Israel?

Let me die the death of the upright;

let the end of my life be like theirs.

NLTNew Living Translation

This was the message Balaam delivered:

“Balak summoned me to come from Aram;

the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills.

‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me!

Come and announce Israel’s doom.’

But how can I curse those

whom God has not cursed?

How can I condemn those

whom the Lord has not condemned?

I see them from the cliff tops;

I watch them from the hills.

I see a people who live by themselves,

set apart from other nations.

Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust?

Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people?

Let me die like the righteous;

let my life end like theirs.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And he lifted up his oracle and said,

“From Aram Balak lead me,

from the mountains of the east the king of Moab,

‘Go for me, curse Jacob,

and go, denounce Israel.’

How can I curse whom God has not cursed,

and how can I denounce whom Yahweh has not denounced?

Because from the top of the rocks I see him,

from hilltops I watch him.

Behold, a people who dwell alone,

they do not consider themselves among the nations.

Who can count the dust of Jacob,

or as a number the fourth part of Israel?

Let my life die the death of an upright person,

and let my end be like his!”

KJV 1900King James Version

And he took up his parable, and said,

Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram,

Out of the mountains of the east, saying,

Come, curse me Jacob,

And come, defy Israel.

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?

Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?

For from the top of the rocks I see him,

And from the hills I behold him:

Lo, the people shall dwell alone,

And shall not be reckoned among the nations.

Who can count the dust of Jacob,

And the number of the fourth part of Israel?

Let me die the death of the righteous,

And let my last end be like his!

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