Numbers 24

The Prophecy from Peor

1When Balaam saw that it 1pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to 2seek 3omens but he set his face toward the 4wilderness. 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel 5camping tribe by tribe; and 6the Spirit of God came upon him. 3He took up his 7discourse and said, “8The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened;4The oracle of him who 9hears the 10words of God, Who sees the 11vision of 12the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,5How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!6Like 13valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like 14aloes planted by the Lord, Like 15cedars beside the waters.7Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be higher than 16Agag, 17And his kingdom shall be exalted.818God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. 19He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his 20arrows.921He 22couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a 23lion, who 24dares rouse him? 25Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his 26hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times! 11Therefore, 27flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor.” 12Balaam said to Balak, “28Did 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 29command of the Lord, either good or bad, 30of my own 31accord. 32What the Lord speaks, that I will speak’? 14And now, behold, 33I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the 34days to come.”

15He took up his discourse and said, “35The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,16The oracle of him who hears the 36words of God, And knows the knowledge of the 37Most High, Who sees the vision of 38the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered.17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, 39A scepter shall rise from Israel, 40And shall crush through the 41forehead of Moab, And 42tear down all the sons of 43Sheth.1844Edom shall be a possession, 45Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly.19One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from the city.”

20And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, 46But his end shall be 47destruction.”

21And he looked at the 48Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, “Your dwelling place is enduring, And your nest is set in the cliff.22Nevertheless Kain will be consumed; How long will 49Asshur 50keep you captive?”

23Then he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?24But ships shall come from the coast of 51Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict 52Eber; 53So they also will come to destruction.”

25Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to 54his place, and Balak also went his way.