| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him, |
| 3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: | 3and he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened, |
| 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: | 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: |
| 5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! | 5How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel. |
| 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. | 6They stretch out like river valleys, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the water. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 11Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the LORD has denied you a reward." |
| 12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, | 12Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I previously tell the messengers you sent me: |
| 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? | 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. |
| 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. | 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." |
| 15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: | 15Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened; |
| 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: | 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: |
| 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. | 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. |
| 18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. | 18Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant. |
| 19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. | 19One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city's survivors. |
| 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. | 20Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem: Amalek was first among the nations, but his future is destruction. |
| 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. | 21Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem: Your dwelling place is enduring; your nest is set in the cliffs. |
| 22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. | 22Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive. |
| 23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! | 23Once more he proclaimed his poem: Ah, who can live when God does this? |
| 24And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. | 24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will afflict Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to destruction. |
| 25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way. | 25Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way. |
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