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, rather he turned his 4attention toward the 5wilderness. 2And Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel 6camping tribe by tribe; and 7the Spirit of God came upon him. 3Then he took up his discourse and said, “8The declaration of Balaam the son of Beor, And the declaration of the man whose eye is opened;4The declaration of him who 9hears the 10words of God, Who sees the 11vision of 12the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,5How pleasant are your tents, Jacob, Your dwelling places, Israel!6Like 13valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside a 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, And smash them with his 20arrows.921He 22crouches, he lies down like a lion, And like a lioness, who 23dares to rouse him? 24Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his 25hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times! 11So 26flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor.” 12And Balaam said to Balak, “27Did I not in fact tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, 13‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the 28command of the Lord, either good or bad, 29of my own 30accord. 31What the Lord speaks, I will 32speak’? 14So now, behold, 33I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you of what this people will do to your people in the 34days to come.”

15Then he took up his discourse and said, “35The declaration of Balaam the son of Beor, And the declaration of the man whose eye is opened,16The declaration 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 look at him, but not near; A star shall appear from Jacob, 39A scepter shall rise from Israel, 40And shall smash the 41forehead of Moab, And overcome all the sons of Sheth.1842And Edom shall be a possession, 43Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly.19One from Jacob shall rule, And will eliminate the survivors from the city.”

20And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, 44But his end shall be 45destruction.”

21And he looked at the 46Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, “Your dwelling place is enduring, And your nest is set in the cliff.22Nevertheless Kain will suffer devastation; How long will 47Asshur 48keep you captive?”

23Then he took up his discourse and said, “Oh, who can live unless God has ordained it?24But ships shall come from the coast of 49Kittim, And they shall oppress Asshur and oppress 50Eber; 51So they also will come to destruction.”

25Then Balaam arose, and he departed and returned to 52his place, and Balak also went on his way.