Numbers 24:1 - 24:14

Spirit of God Comes upon Balaam

And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Yahweh to bless Israel, so he did not go as at other times to encounter omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 Then he took up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered;

The oracle of him who hears the words of God,

Who beholds the vision of the Almighty,

Falling down, yet having his eyes opened,

How fair are your tents, O Jacob,

Your dwellings, O Israel!

Like valleys that stretch out,

Like gardens beside the river,

Like aloes planted by Yahweh,

Like cedars beside the waters.

Water will flow from his buckets,

And his seed will be by many waters,

And his king shall be lifted up higher than Agag,

And his kingdom shall be exalted.

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 gnaw their bones in pieces,

And shatter them with his arrows.

He crouches, 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 blessed them repeatedly these three times! 11 So now, flee to your place. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, Yahweh has held you back from honor.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did 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 to trespass the command of Yahweh, either good or bad, of my own accord. What Yahweh speaks, that I will speak’? 14 So now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the last days.”

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