Chapter 24

The Prophecy from Peor

1 When Balaam saw that it 1pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to 2seek aomens but he set his face toward the bwilderness.

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel 1camping tribe by tribe; and athe Spirit of God came upon him.

3 He took up his 1discourse and said,

“aThe oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened;

4 The oracle of him who ahears the 1words of God,

Who sees the bvision of 2the Almighty,

Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,

5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,

Your dwellings, O Israel!

6 “Like 1valleys that stretch out,

Like gardens beside the river,

Like aaloes planted by the Lord,

Like bcedars 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 aAgag,

bAnd his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 “aGod brings him out of Egypt,

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

bHe will devour the nations who are his adversaries,

And will crush their bones in pieces,

And shatter them with his carrows.

9 “aHe 1couches, he lies down as a lion,

And as a 2lion, who 3dares rouse him?

bBlessed is everyone who blesses you,

And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his 1hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!

11 “Therefore, 1flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor.”

12 Balaam said to Balak, “aDid I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying,

13 ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the 1command of the Lord, either good or bad, aof my own 2accord. bWhat the Lord speaks, that I will speak’?

14 “And now, behold, aI am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the 1days to come.”

15 He took up his discourse and said,

“aThe oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

16 The oracle of him who hears the 1words of God,

And knows the knowledge of the 2Most High,

Who sees the vision of 3the Almighty,

Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered.

17 “I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near;

A star shall come forth from Jacob,

aA scepter shall rise from Israel,

bAnd shall crush through the 1forehead of Moab,

And 2tear down all the sons of 3Sheth.

18 “aEdom shall be a possession,

bSeir, its enemies, also will be a possession,

While Israel performs valiantly.

19 “One from Jacob shall have dominion,

And will destroy the remnant from the city.”

20 And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said,

“Amalek was the first of the nations,

aBut his end shall be 1destruction.”

21 And he looked at the aKenite, and took up his discourse and said,

“Your dwelling place is enduring,

And your nest is set in the cliff.

22 “Nevertheless Kain will be consumed;

How long will aAsshur 1keep you captive?”

23 Then he took up his discourse and said,

“Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?

24 “But ships shall come from the coast of aKittim,

And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict bEber;

cSo they also will come to destruction.”

25 Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to ahis place, and Balak also went his way.