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.
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.
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:
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:
5 How
goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
12 And
Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest
unto me, saying,
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?
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.
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:
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:
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.
18 And
Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies;
and Israel shall do valiantly.
19 Out
of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that
remaineth of the city.
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.
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.
22 Nevertheless
the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
23 And
he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
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.
25 And
Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his
way.
