Numbers 24

Revised Geneva Translation

24 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, then he did not go, as certain times before, to set divinations. But set his face toward the wilderness.

² And Balaam lifted up his eyes and looked upon Israel, which dwelt according to their tribe s. And the Spirit of God came upon him.

³ And he uttered his parable, and said, “Balaam, the son of Beor, has said, and the man whose eyes were shut up has said,

⁴ He who heard the words of God and who saw the vision of the Almighty and who fell and had his eyes opened, has said,

⁵ “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, and your habitations, O Israel!

⁶ “As the valleys are they stretched forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the aloe trees which the LORD has planted, as the cedars beside the waters.

⁷ “The water drops out of His bucket, and His seed in many waters. And His King shall be higher than Agag. And His Kingdom shall be exalted.

⁸ “God brought him out of Egypt, his strength as a unicorn. He shall eat the nations, his enemies, and bruise their bones and shoot them through with his arrows.

⁹ “He crouches, lies down, as a young Lion, and as a Lion. Who shall stir him up? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.”

¹⁰ Then Balak was very angry with Balaam and clapped his hands. So Balak said to Balaam, “I sent for you to curse my enemies. And behold, you have blessed them now three times.

¹¹ “Therefore, now, flee to your place! I thought surely to promote you to honor. But lo, the LORD has kept you back from honor.”

¹² Then Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,

¹³ ‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not surpass the Commandment of the LORD, to do good or bad of my own mind’? What the LORD shall Command, that same will I speak.

¹⁴ “And now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people shall do to your folk in the latter days.”

¹⁵ And he uttered his parable, and said, “Balaam, the son of Beor, has said, and the man whose eyes were shut up has said,

¹⁶ “He who has heard the words of God, and has the knowledge of the most High, and saw the vision of the Almighty, and has fallen and had his eyes opened, has said,

¹⁷ “I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not near. There shall come a Star of Jacob. And a Scepter shall rise from Israel and shall strike the coasts of Moab and destroy all the sons of Sheth.

¹⁸ “And Edom shall be possessed and Seir shall be a possession to their enemies. But Israel shall do valiantly.

¹⁹ “He also who shall have dominion shall be of Jacob and shall destroy the remnant of the city.”

²⁰ And when he looked at Amalek, he uttered his parable, and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations. But his latter end shall come to destruction.”

²¹ And he looked on the Kenites, and uttered his parable, and said, “Strong is your dwelling place. And put your nest in the Rock.

²² “Nevertheless, the Kenite shall be spoiled until Asshur carry you away captive.”

²³ Again, he uttered his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?

²⁴ “The ships also shall come from the coasts of Kittim and subdue Asshur and shall subdue Eber. And he also shall come to destruction.”

²⁵ Then Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place. And Balak also went his way.