| Christian Standard Bible | King James Bible |
| 1Since Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned toward the wilderness. | 1And 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. |
| 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him, | 2And 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. |
| 3and he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened, | 3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: |
| 4the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered: | 4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: |
| 5How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel. | 5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! |
| 6They stretch out like river valleys, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the water. | 6As 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. |
| 7Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will be by abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. | 7He 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. |
| 8God brought him out of Egypt; he is like the horns of a wild ox for them. He will feed on enemy nations and gnaw their bones; he will strike them with his arrows. | 8God 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. |
| 9He crouches, he lies down like a lion or a lioness--who dares to rouse him? Those who bless you will be blessed, and those who curse you will be cursed. | 9He 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. |
| 10Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, "I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times. | 10And 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. |
| 11Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the LORD has denied you a reward." | 11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour. |
| 12Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I previously tell the messengers you sent me: | 12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, |
| 13If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the LORD's command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the LORD says. | 13If 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? |
| 14Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future." | 14And 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. |
| 15Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened; | 15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: |
| 16the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God and has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered: | 16He 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: |
| 17I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites. | 17I 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. |
| 18Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant. | 18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. |
| 19One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city's survivors. | 19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. |
| 20Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem: Amalek was first among the nations, but his future is destruction. | 20And 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. |
| 21Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem: Your dwelling place is enduring; your nest is set in the cliffs. | 21And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. |
| 22Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive. | 22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. |
| 23Once more he proclaimed his poem: Ah, who can live when God does this? | 23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! |
| 24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will carry out raids against Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to destruction. | 24And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. |
| 25Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way. | 25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way. |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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