| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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 seek omens but he 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, | 3He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And 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, yet having his eyes uncovered, |
| 5"How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel! | 5How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel! |
| 6"Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters. | 6"Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars 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. | 7"Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And 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. | 8"God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them 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!" | 9"He crouches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses 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. | 10Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing 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." | 11"Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor." |
| 12Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, | 12Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, |
| 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'Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the LORD, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the LORD speaks, that I will 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." | 14"And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come." |
| 15Then he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, | 15He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And 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, yet having 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. | 17"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. |
| 18Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. | 18"Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly. |
| 19A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city." | 19"One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from the city." |
| 20Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: "Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction." | 20And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be 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 at the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Your dwelling place is enduring, And your nest is set in the cliff. |
| 22yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive." | 22"Nevertheless Kain will be consumed; How long will Asshur keep you captive?" |
| 23Then he spoke his message: "Alas! Who can live when God does this? | 23Then he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who can live except God has ordained it? |
| 24Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin." | 24"But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber; So they also will come to destruction." |
| 25Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way. | 25Then Balaam arose and departed and returned 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. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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