Numbers 24:2–10

2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on himi 3 and he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,

the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,j

4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,k

who sees a vision from the Almighty,a l

who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

5 “How beautiful are your tents,m Jacob,

your dwelling places, Israel!

6 “Like valleys they spread out,

like gardens beside a river,n

like aloeso planted by the Lord,

like cedars beside the waters.p

7 Water will flow from their buckets;

their seed will have abundant water.

“Their king will be greater than Agag;q

their kingdom will be exalted.r

8 “God brought them out of Egypt;

they have the strength of a wild ox.

They devour hostile nations

and break their bones in pieces;s

with their arrows they pierce them.t

9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,

like a lionessu—who dares to rouse them?

“May those who bless you be blessedv

and those who curse you be cursed!”w

10 Then Balak’s anger burnedx against Balaam. He struck his hands togethery and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,z but you have blessed thema these three times.b