Balaam Continues To Utter Oracles
1 Now when Balaam saw that it was the Lord's pleasure to give his blessing to Israel, he did not, as at other times, make use of secret arts, but turning his face to the waste land,
1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
1 When Balaam saw that it (a)pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to (b)seek (A)omens but he set his face toward the (B)wilderness.
1 Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned(a) toward the wilderness.
1 When Balaam noticed that the LORD was pleased that Balaam was blessing Israel, he didn't behave as he had time after time before, that is, to practice divination. Instead, he turned with his face to the wilderness,
2 And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel there, with their tents in the order of their tribes: and the spirit of God came on him.
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel (c)camping tribe by tribe; and (C)the Spirit of God came upon him.
2 looked up, and saw Israel encamped in their respective tribal order. Just then, the spirit of God came upon him.
3 And moved by the spirit, he said, These are the words of Balaam, son of Beor, the words of the man whose eyes are open:
3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
3 He took up his (d)discourse and said,“(D)The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened;
3 and he proclaimed his poem:The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,(b)
3 Balaam uttered this prophetic statement: "A declaration by Beor's son Balaam, a declaration by the strong, blind man.
4 He says, whose ears are open to the words of God, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down, but having his eyes open:
4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
4 The oracle of him who (E)hears the (e)words of God,Who sees the (F)vision of (f)the Almighty,Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,
4 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,who sees a vision from the Almighty,(B)who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
4 A declaration from one who hears what God has to say, who saw the vision that the Almighty revealed, who keeps stumbling with open eyes.
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your houses, O Israel!
5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,Your dwellings, O Israel!
5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,your dwellings, Israel.
5 Jacob, your tents are so fine, as well as your dwelling places, O Israel!
6 They are stretched out like valleys, like gardens by the riverside, like flowering trees planted by the Lord, like cedar-trees by the waters.
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.
6 “Like (g)valleys that stretch out,Like gardens beside the river,Like (G)aloes planted by the Lord,Like (H)cedars beside the waters.
6 They stretch out like river valleys,(c)like gardens beside a stream,like aloes the Lord has planted,like cedars beside the water.
6 They're spread out like valleys, like gardens along river banks, like aloe planted by the LORD, or like cedars beside water.
7 Peoples will be in fear before his strength, his arm will be on great nations: his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom made great in honour.
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.
7 “Water will flow from his buckets,And his seed will be by many waters,And his king shall be higher than (I)Agag,(J)And his kingdom shall be exalted.
7 Water will flow from his buckets,and his seed will be by abundant water.His king will be greater than Agag,(d)(C)and his kingdom will be exalted.
7 He will pour water from his buckets, and his descendants will stream forth like abundant water. His king will be more exalted than Agag when he exalts his own kingdom.
8 It is God who has taken him out of Egypt; his horns are like those of the mountain ox; the nations warring against him will be his food, their bones will be broken, they will be wounded with his arrows.
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.
8 “(K)God brings him out of Egypt,He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.(L)He will devour the nations who are his adversaries,And will crush their bones in pieces,And shatter them with his (M)arrows.
8 God brought him out of Egypt;He is like(e) the horns of a wild ox for them.(D)He will feed on enemy nationsand gnaw their bones;he will strike them with his arrows.
8 God is bringing them out of Egypt with the strength of an ox. He'll devour enemy nations, break their bones, and impale them with arrows.
9 He took his sleep stretched out like a lion, and like a she-lion: by whom will his rest be broken? May a blessing be on everyone who gives you blessing, and a curse on everyone by whom you are cursed.
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.
9 “(N)He (h)couches, he lies down as a lion,And as a (i)lion, who (j)dares rouse him?(O)Blessed is everyone who blesses you,And cursed is everyone who curses you.”
9 He crouches, he lies down like a lionor a lioness—who dares to rouse him?(E)Those who bless you will be blessed,and those who curse you will be cursed.(F)
9 He crouches, laying low like a lion. Who would awaken him? Those who bless you are blessed, and those who curse you are cursed."
Balaam's Fourth Prophecy
10 Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.
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.
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his (k)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!
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.
10 Balak flew into a rage and he started hitting his fists together. "I called you to curse my enemies," he yelled at Balaam. "But look here! You've blessed them three times!
11 Go back quickly to the place you came from: it was my purpose to give you a place of honour, but now the Lord has kept you back from honour.
11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
11 Therefore, (l)flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor.”
11 Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly,(G) but look, the Lord has denied you a reward.”
11 Now get out of here! I had promised you that I would definitely honor you, but now the LORD has kept me from doing that!"
12 Then Balaam said to Balak, Did I not say to the men you sent to me,
12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I previously tell the messengers you sent me:
12 But Balaam replied to Balak, "I told your messengers,
13 Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say?
13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
13 ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the (m)command of the Lord, either good or bad, (Q)of my own (n)accord. (R)What the Lord speaks, that I will speak’?
13 If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord’s command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says.(H)
13 "Even if Balak gives me his palace full of silver and gold, I won't double-cross the command of the LORD and do anything whether good or evil on my own initiative, because I'm going to say whatever the LORD says.'
Balaam's Final Prophecies
14 So now I will go back to my people: but first let me make clear to you what this people will do to your people in days to come.
14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
14 And now, behold, (S)I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the (o)days to come.”
14 Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”
14 Meanwhile, since I have to return to my people, come and listen while I tell you what this people will be doing to your people in the last days."
Balaam's Fourth Oracle
15 Then he went on with his story and said, These are the words of Balaam, the son of Beor, the words of him whose eyes are open:
15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
15 He took up his discourse and said,“(T)The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
15 Then he proclaimed his poem:The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;(f)
15 Then Balaam uttered this prophetic statement: "The declaration by Beor's son Balaam, a declaration by the strong, blind man.
16 He says, whose ear is open to the words of God, who has knowledge of the Most High, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down and having his eyes open:
16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
16 The oracle of him who hears the (p)words of God,And knows the knowledge of the (q)Most High,Who sees the vision of (r)the Almighty,Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered.
16 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of Godand has knowledge from the Most High,who sees a vision from the Almighty,who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:(I)
16 A declaration from one who hears what God has to say, who knows what the Most High knows, who saw the vision that the Almighty revealed, who keeps stumbling with open eyes.
17 I see him, but not now: looking on him, but not near: a star will come out of Jacob, and a rod of authority out of Israel, sending destruction to the farthest limits of Moab and on the head of all the sons of Sheth.
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
17 “I see him, but not now;I behold him, but not near;A star shall come forth from Jacob,(U)A scepter shall rise from Israel,(V)And shall crush through the (s)forehead of Moab,And (t)tear down all the sons of (u)Sheth.
17 I see him,(g) but not now;I perceive him,(h) but not near.A star will come from Jacob,and a scepter will arise from Israel.(J)He will smash the forehead(i) of Moaband strike down(j) all the Shethites.(k)
17 I can see him, but not right now. I observe him, but from a distance. A star streams forth from Jacob; a scepter arises from Israel. He will crush Moab's forehead, along with all of Seth's descendants.
18 Edom will be his heritage, and he will put an end to the last of the people of Seir.
18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
18 “(W)Edom shall be a possession,(X)Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession,While Israel performs valiantly.
18 Edom will become a possession;Seir(K) will become a possession of its enemies,but Israel will be triumphant.
18 Edom will be a conquered nation and Seir will be Israel's defeated foe, while Israel performs valiantly.
19 And Israel will go on in strength, and Jacob will have rule over his haters.
19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
19 “One from Jacob shall have dominion,And will destroy the remnant from the city.”
19 One who comes from Jacob will rule;he will destroy the city’s survivors.
19 He will rule over Jacob, annihilating those who survive in the city."
Balaam's Final Prophecies
20 Then, turning his eyes to Amalek, he went on with his story and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his part will be destruction for ever.
20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
20 And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said,“Amalek was the first of the nations,(Y)But his end shall be (v)destruction.”
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:Amalek was first among the nations,(L)but his future is destruction.
20 Next, Balaam looked directly at Amalek and then uttered this prophetic statement: "Even though Amalek is an international leader, his future is permanent destruction."
Balaam's Sixth Message
21 And looking on the Kenites he went on with his story and said, Strong is your living-place, and your secret place is safe in the rock.
21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
21 And he looked at the (Z)Kenite, and took up his discourse and said,“Your dwelling place is enduring,And your nest is set in the cliff.
21 Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem:Your dwelling place is enduring;your nest is set in the cliffs.
21 Balaam also uttered this prophetic statement about the Kenites: "Your dwelling places are stable, because your nest is carved in solid rock.
22 But still the Kenites will be wasted, till Asshur takes you away prisoner.
22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
22 Kain will be destroyedwhen Asshur takes you captive.
22 Nevertheless, Kain will be incinerated. How long will it take until Asshur takes you hostage?"
Balaam's Seventh Message
23 Then he went on with his story and said, But who may keep his life when God does this?
23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
23 Then he took up his discourse and said,“Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?
23 Once more he proclaimed his poem:Ah, who can live when God does this?
23 Finally, he uttered this prophetic statement: "Ah, who can live, unless God makes it happen?
24 But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur and troubling Eber, and like the others their fate will be destruction.
24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
24 “But ships shall come from the coast of (AB)Kittim,And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict (AC)Eber;(AD)So they also will come to destruction.”
24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim;(M)they will afflict Asshur and Eber,(N)but they too will come to destruction.
24 Ships under control of Kittim will devastate Asshur and Eber, until they are permanently destroyed."
25 Then Balaam got up and went back to his place: and Balak went away.
25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
25 Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.
25 Then Balaam got up, returned to his country, and Balak went on his way.