¹And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of the Lord to bless Israel, and he did not go as at other times to engage in enchantments, but he directed his face towards the desert. ²And Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes, and the spirit of God came upon him. ³And he delivered his discourse and said,

“Balaam the son of Beor speaks,

And the man who has an open eye declares,

⁴And he who heard the sayings of God,

Who saw a vision from the Almighty,

Who fell down and became of unveiled eyes,

Pronounces,

⁵‘How fair are your tents, Jacob!

Your dwellings, Israel!

⁶They are spread out like brooks,

Like gardens at the river,

Like aloes which the Lord planted,

Like cedars at water.

⁷He will distil water from his buckets,

And his seed will be among much water.

And his king will be exalted above Agag,

And his kingdom will be set high up.

⁸The God who brought him out of Egypt,

Who has strength like that of a buffalo,

Will consume the nations which are his adversaries.

He will gnaw their bones,

And with his arrows he will pierce them.

⁹He crouches and lies down

Like a young lion,

And like a great lion,

Who would arouse him?

Those who bless you are blessed,

But those who curse you are cursed.’ ”

¹⁰At this Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together, and Balak said to Balaam, “I called for you to curse my enemies, and what you have done is you have thoroughly blessed them these three times. ¹¹So now, get away to your place. I said I would honour you greatly, and look, the Lord has held honour back from you.” ¹²Then Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not expressly speak to your messengers that you sent to me and say, ¹³‘Even if Balak gives me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of the Lord – by doing good or bad from my heart – but that which the Lord says, I will say.’ ¹⁴And now, here I am, I am going to my people. Come, and I will inform you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” ¹⁵And he delivered his discourse and said,

“Balaam the son of Beor speaks,

And the man who has an open eye declares,

¹⁶And he who heard the sayings of God,

And who is party to the knowledge of the Most High,

Who saw a vision of the Almighty,

Who fell down and became of unveiled eyes,

Pronounces,

¹⁷‘I will see him, but not now;

I will look upon him, but not shortly.

A star from Jacob will set foot here,

And a sceptre will arise from Israel

Which will dash the quarters of Moab

And overturn all the sons of Seth.

¹⁸And Edom will become an inheritance,

And an inheritance for its enemies

Is what Seir will become

When Israel acts valiantly.

¹⁹And he who is from Jacob will have dominion

And will destroy anyone who escapes from the city.’ ”

²⁰And when he saw Amalek, he delivered his discourse and said,

“Amalek is the foremost of the nations,

But his final state is to perish.”

²¹And when he saw the Kenite, he delivered his discourse and said,

“Your habitation is firm,

And you have situated your nest on the rock.

²²Yet the Kenite is destined to be burnt up

Until Assyria takes you captive.”

²³And he delivered his discourse and said,

“Woe to him who is living

When God brings it about.

²⁴And ships will come from the Chittim,

And they will afflict Assyria,

And they will afflict Eber,

But he who does this is also destined to perish.”

²⁵Then Balaam got up and departed, and he returned to his place, and Balak too went his way.