| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. | 1And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness. |
| 2And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped 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 upon him, |
| 3Then he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened, | 3and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open, |
| 4The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open: | 4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: |
| 5“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! | 5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! |
| 6Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters. | 6They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters. |
| 7He shall pour water from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters. “His king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. | 7Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. |
| 8“God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones And pierce them with his arrows. | 8God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows. |
| 9‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’ “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.” | 9He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.” |
| 10Then Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times! | 10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times. |
| 11Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the LORD has kept you back from honor.” | 11Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.” |
| 12So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, | 12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me |
| 13‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD, to do good or bad of my own will. What the LORD says, that I must speak’? | 13that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says. |
| 14And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” | 14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” |
| 15So he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened; | 15Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open, |
| 16The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open: | 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 bows down with eyes wide open: |
| 17“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. | 17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. |
| 18“And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, While Israel does valiantly. | 18Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor. |
| 19Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, And destroy the remains of the city.” | 19A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.” |
| 20Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: “Amalek was first among the nations, But shall be last until he perishes.” | 20Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.” |
| 21Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said: “Firm is your dwelling place, And your nest is set in the rock; | 21Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff. |
| 22Nevertheless Kain shall be burned. How long until Asshur carries you away captive?” | 22Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.” |
| 23Then he took up his oracle and said: “Alas! Who shall live when God does this? | 23Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it? |
| 24But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus, And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, And so shall Amalek, until he perishes.” | 24Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.” |
| 25So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way. | 25Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way. |
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