| English Standard Version | King James Bible |
| 1When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face 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. |
| 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon 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 took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is 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 him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down 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 lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! | 5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! |
| 6Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. | 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 shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall 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 brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through 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 crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.” | 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. |
| 10And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, 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. |
| 11Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the LORD has held you back from honor.” | 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. |
| 12And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, | 12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, |
| 13‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak’? | 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? |
| 14And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” | 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. |
| 15And he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is 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 him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down 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 behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. | 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 shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. | 18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. |
| 19And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!” | 19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. |
| 20Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter 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. |
| 21And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, “Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock. | 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. |
| 22Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.” | 22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. |
| 23And he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this? | 23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! |
| 24But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter 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. |
| 25Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way. | 25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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