| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 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. | 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. |
| 2And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. | 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And 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 took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, |
| 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 oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: |
| 5“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! | 5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! |
| 6Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, 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. |
| 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 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 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 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. |
| 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 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 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! | 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 therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the LORD has kept you back from honor.” | 11Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the LORD has held you back from honor.” |
| 12So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, | 12And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to 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’? | 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’? |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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; | 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 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 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 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 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. |
| 18“And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, While Israel does valiantly. | 18Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. |
| 19Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, And destroy the remains of the city.” | 19And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!” |
| 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 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 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; | 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. |
| 22Nevertheless Kain shall be burned. How long until Asshur carries you away captive?” | 22Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.” |
| 23Then he took up his oracle and said: “Alas! Who shall live when God does this? | 23And he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this? |
| 24But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus, And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, And so shall Amalek, until he perishes.” | 24But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction.” |
| 25So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way. | 25Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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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