Numbers 24:5–10

5 “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,

your dwelling places, Israel!

6 “Like valleys they spread out,

like gardens beside a river,

like aloes planted by the Lord,

like cedars beside the waters.

7 Water will flow from their buckets;

their seed will have abundant water.

“Their king will be greater than Agag;

their kingdom will be exalted.

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;

with their arrows they pierce them.

9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,

like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?

“May those who bless you be blessed

and those who curse you be cursed!”

10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.

5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,

your encampments, O Israel!

6 Like palm groves that stretch afar,

like gardens beside a river,

like aloes that the Lord has planted,

like cedar trees beside the waters.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets,

and his seed shall be in many waters;

his king shall be higher than Agag,

and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God brings him out of Egypt

and is for him like the horns of the wild ox;

he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries,

and shall break their bones in pieces

and pierce them through with his arrows.

9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion

and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?

Blessed are those who bless you,

and cursed are those who curse you.”

10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,

And thy tabernacles, O Israel!

6 As the valleys are they spread forth,

As gardens by the river’s side,

As the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted,

And as cedar trees beside the waters.

7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets,

And his seed shall be in many waters,

And his king shall be higher than Agag,

And his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God brought him forth out of Egypt;

He hath as it were the strength of an unicorn:

He shall eat up the nations his enemies,

And shall break their bones,

And pierce them through with his arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion,

And as a great lion: who shall stir him up?

Blessed is he that blesseth thee,

And cursed is he that curseth thee.

10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

5 How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob;

how lovely are your homes, O Israel!

6 They spread before me like palm groves,

like gardens by the riverside.

They are like tall trees planted by the Lord,

like cedars beside the waters.

7 Water will flow from their buckets;

their offspring have all they need.

Their king will be greater than Agag;

their kingdom will be exalted.

8 God brought them out of Egypt;

for them he is as strong as a wild ox.

He devours all the nations that oppose him,

breaking their bones in pieces,

shooting them with arrows.

9 Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down;

like a lioness, who dares to arouse her?

Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel,

and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

10 King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, “I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times.

5 Your tents are beautiful, people of Jacob!

So are your homes, Israel!

6 Your tents spread out like valleys,

like gardens beside a river.

They are like spices planted by the Lord,

like cedar trees growing by the water.

7 Israel’s water buckets will always be full,

and their crops will have plenty of water.

Their king will be greater than Agag;

their kingdom will be very great.

8 God brought them out of Egypt;

they are as strong as a wild ox.

They will defeat their enemies

and break their enemies’ bones;

they will shoot them with arrows.

9 Like a lion, they lie waiting to attack;

like a lioness, no one would be brave enough to wake them.

Anyone who blesses you will be blessed,

and anyone who curses you will be cursed.”

10 Then Balak was angry with Balaam, and he pounded his fist. He said to Balaam, “I called you here to curse my enemies, but you have continued to bless them three times.

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,

Thy tabernacles, O Israel!

6 As valleys are they spread forth,

As gardens by the river-side,

As lign-aloes which Jehovah hath planted,

As cedar-trees beside the waters.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets,

And his seed shall be in many waters,

And his king shall be higher than Agag,

And his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God bringeth him forth out of Egypt;

He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox:

He shall eat up the nations his adversaries,

And shall break their bones in pieces,

And smite them through with his arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion,

And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?

Blessed be every one that blesseth thee,

And cursed be every one that curseth thee.

10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

5 How goodly are thy tents, Jacob, and thy tabernacles, Israel! 6 Like valleys are they spread forth, like gardens by the river side, Like aloe-trees which Jehovah hath planted, like cedars beside the waters. 7 Water shall flow out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in great waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8 •God brought him out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a buffalo. He shall consume the nations his enemies, and break their bones, and with his arrows shall smite them in pieces. 9 He stooped, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness: who will stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

10 Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times!

5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, 

and the places where you live, Israel. 

6 Your tents spread out like rivers, 

like gardens by a river, 

like aloes planted by the Lord, 

like cedars by the water. 

7 Water will flow from their buckets, 

and their crops will have plenty of water. 

Their king will be greater than Agag, 

and their kingdom will be considered the best. 

8 The God who brought them out of Egypt 

has the strength of a wild bull. 

He will devour nations that are his enemies, 

crush their bones, 

and pierce them with arrows. 

9 His people lie down ⸤and⸥ rest like a lion. 

They are like a lioness. Who dares to disturb them? 

Those who bless you will be blessed! 

Those who curse you will be cursed!” 

10 Balak became angry with Balaam. He clapped his hands and said, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, and now you have blessed them three times.

5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,

your dwellings, Israel.

6 They stretch out like river valleys,

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,

and his kingdom will be exalted.

8 God brought him out of Egypt;

He is like the horns of a wild ox for them.

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?

Those who bless you will be blessed,

and those who curse you will be cursed.

10 Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, “I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times.

5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,

your encampments, O Israel!

6 Like palm groves that stretch far away,

like gardens beside a river,

like aloes that the Lord has planted,

like cedar trees beside the waters.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets,

and his seed shall have abundant water;

his king shall be higher than Agag,

and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God, who brings him out of Egypt,

is like the horns of a wild ox for him;

he shall devour the nations that are his foes

and break their bones.

He shall strike with his arrows.

9 He crouched; he lay down like a lion

and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?

Blessed is everyone who blesses you,

and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

10 Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead you have blessed them these three times.

5 How good are your tents, O Jacob,

your dwellings, O Israel!

6 They are spread out like valleys,

like gardens on a river,

like aloes planted by Yahweh,

like cedars at the waters.

7 He will pour water from his buckets,

and his offspring will be like many waters;

his king will be higher than Agag,

and his kingdom will be exalted.

8 God, who brings him out from Egypt,

is like the strength of a wild ox for him.

He will devour the nations who are his enemies;

he will break their bones;

he will pierce them with his arrows.

9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion,

and like a lioness, who will rouse him?

They who bless you will be blessed,

and they who curse you will be cursed.”

10 Then Balak became angry with Balaam, and he clapped his hands and said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have surely blessed them these three times.

5 “People of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful.

Israel, the places where you live are very beautiful.

6 “They spread out like valleys.

They are like gardens beside a river.

They are like aloes the Lord has planted.

They are like cedar trees beside a stream.

7 Their water buckets will run over.

Their seeds will have plenty of water.

“Their king will be greater than King Agag.

Their kingdom will be honored.

8 “God brought them out of Egypt.

They are as strong as a wild ox.

They eat up nations that are at war with them.

They break their bones in pieces.

They wound them with their arrows.

9 Like a male lion they lie down and sleep.

They are like a female lion.

Who dares to wake them up?

May those who bless you be blessed!

May those who call down a curse on you be cursed!”

10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He slapped his hands together. He said to Balaam, “I sent for you to put a curse on my enemies. But you have given them a blessing three times.

5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,

Your dwellings, O Israel!

6 “Like valleys that stretch out,

Like gardens beside the river,

Like aloes planted by the Lord,

Like cedars beside the waters.

7 “Water will flow from his buckets,

And his seed will be by many waters,

And his king shall be higher than Agag,

And his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 “God brings him out of Egypt,

He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.

He will devour the nations who are his adversaries,

And will crush their bones in pieces,

And shatter them with his arrows.

9 “He couches, he lies down as a lion,

And as a lion, who dares rouse him?

Blessed is everyone who blesses you,

And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!