• 1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.
  • 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him
  • 3 and he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
  • 4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
  • 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.
  • 11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
  • 12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,
  • 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’?
  • 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

  • Balaam’s Fourth Message

  • 15 Then he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
  • 16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
  • 17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
  • 18 Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.
  • 19 A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

  • Balaam’s Fifth Message

  • 20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: “Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction.”

  • Balaam’s Sixth Message

  • 21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: “Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;
  • 22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive.”

  • Balaam’s Seventh Message

  • 23 Then he spoke his message: “Alas! Who can live when God does this?
  • 24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin.”
  • 25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.