| New International Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. | 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. |
| 2When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him | 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, |
| 3and he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, | 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, |
| 4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: | 4the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: |
| 5"How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel! | 5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! |
| 6"Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters. | 6Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. |
| 7Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. "Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted. | 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. |
| 8"God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them. | 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. |
| 9Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse them? "May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!" | 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.” |
| 10Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. | 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. |
| 11Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded." | 11Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the LORD has held you back from honor.” |
| 12Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, | 12And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, |
| 13Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD--and I must say only what the LORD says'? | 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’? |
| 14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come." | 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.” |
| 15Then he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, | 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, |
| 16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: | 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: |
| 17"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. | 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. |
| 18Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. | 18Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. |
| 19A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city." | 19And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!” |
| 20Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: "Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction." | 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.” |
| 21Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: "Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock; | 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. |
| 22yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive." | 22Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.” |
| 23Then he spoke his message: "Alas! Who can live when God does this? | 23And he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this? |
| 24Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin." | 24But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction.” |
| 25Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way. | 25Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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. |
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