Chapter 24

And when Balaam saw⁴ that it pleased ^{2895 1} the LORD to bless¹⁵ Israel, he went¹ not, as at other times, ⁶⁴⁷¹ to seek² for enchantments, but he set⁴ his face toward the wilderness.

And Balaam lifted up⁴ his eyes, and he saw⁴ Israel abiding⁶ [in his tents] according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

And he took up⁴ his parable, and said,⁴ Balaam the son of Beor hath said,⁷ and the man whose eyes are open⁷ hath said:⁷

He hath said,⁷ which heard⁶ the words of God, which saw⁴ the vision of the Almighty, falling⁶ [into a trance], but having his eyes open:⁷

How goodly¹ are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy tabernacles, O Israel!

As the valleys are they spread forth,⁸ as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted,¹ [and] as cedar trees beside the waters.

He shall pour⁴ the water out of his buckets, and his seed [shall be] in many waters, and his king shall be higher⁴ than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.¹⁰¹

God brought him forth⁵⁶ out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat⁴ up the nations his enemies, and shall break¹⁷ their bones, and pierce⁴ [them] through with his arrows.

He couched,¹ he lay down¹ as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up?⁵⁵ Blessed⁷ [is] he that blesseth¹⁸ thee, and cursed⁷ [is] he that curseth⁶ thee.

And Balak's anger was kindled⁴ against Balaam, and he smote⁴ his hands together: and Balak said⁴ unto Balaam, I called¹ thee to curse² mine enemies,⁶ and, behold, thou hast altogether¹⁵ blessed¹⁴ [them] these three times.

Therefore now flee³ thou to thy place: I thought¹ to promote thee unto great¹⁵ honour;¹⁷ but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back¹ from honour.

And Balaam said⁴ unto Balak, Spake¹⁴ I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest¹ unto me, saying,²

If Balak would give⁴ me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot ^{3201 4} go beyond² the commandment of the LORD, to do² [either] good or bad of mine own mind; [but] what the LORD saith,¹⁷ that will I speak?¹⁷

And now, behold, I go⁶ unto my people: come³ [therefore, and] I will advertise⁴ thee what this people shall do⁴ to thy people in the latter days.

And he took up⁴ his parable, and said,⁴ Balaam the son of Beor hath said,⁷ and the man whose eyes are open⁷ hath said:⁷

He hath said,⁷ which heard⁶ the words of God, and knew⁶ the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw⁴ the vision of the Almighty, falling⁶ [into a trance], but having his eyes open:⁷

I shall see⁴ him, but not now: I shall behold⁴ him, but not nigh: there shall come¹ a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise¹ out of Israel, and shall smite¹ the corners of Moab, and destroy⁴³ all the children of Sheth. ⁸³⁵¹

And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies;⁶ and Israel shall do⁶ valiantly.

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion,⁴ and shall destroy⁵² him that remaineth of the city.

And when he looked⁴ on Amalek, he took up⁴ his parable, and said,⁴ Amalek [was] the first of the nations; but his latter end [shall be] that he perish for ever.

And he looked⁴ on the Kenites, and took up⁴ his parable, and said,⁴ Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest³ thy nest in a rock.

Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted,¹⁵ until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.⁴

And he took up⁴ his parable, and said,⁴ Alas, who shall live⁴ when God doeth² this!

And ships [shall come] from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict¹⁴ Asshur, and shall afflict¹⁴ Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

And Balaam rose up,⁴ and went⁴ and returned⁴ to his place: and Balak also went¹ his way.