Numbers 24:2–9

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