1
And Balaam sees that [it is] good in the eyes of YHWH to bless Israel, and he has not gone as time by time to seek enchantments, and he sets his face toward the wilderness;
2
and Balaam lifts up his eyes, and sees Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is on him,
3
and he takes up his allegory and says: “An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor, || And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut,
4
An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God, || Who sees a vision of the Almighty, || Falling—and eyes uncovered:
5
How good have been your tents, O Jacob, || Your dwelling places, O Israel;
6
They have been stretched out as valleys, || As gardens by a river; As aloes YHWH has planted, || As cedars by waters;
7
He makes water flow from his buckets, || And his seed [is] in many waters; And his King [is] higher than Gog [[ or Agag]], || And his kingdom is exalted.
8
God is bringing him out of Egypt, || As the swiftness of a wild ox for him, || He eats up nations—his adversaries, || And he breaks their bones, || And he strikes [with] his arrows.
9
He has bent, he has lain down as a lion, || And as a lioness, who raises him up? He who is blessing you [is] blessed, || And he who is cursing you [is] cursed.”
Balak Dismisses Balaam
10
And the anger of Balak burns against Balaam, and he strikes his hands; and Balak says to Balaam, “I called you to pierce my enemies, and behold, you have certainly blessed these three times;
11
and now, flee for yourself to your place; I have said, I greatly honor you, and behold, YHWH has kept you back from honor.”
12
And Balaam says to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you have sent to me, saying,
13
If Balak gives to me the fullness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of YHWH, to do good or evil of my own heart; that which YHWH speaks—it I speak?
14
And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, I counsel you [concerning] that which this people does to your people in the latter end of the days.”
Balaam’s Fourth Oracle
15
And he takes up his allegory and says: “An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor, || And an affirmation of the man whose eyes [are] shut;
16
An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God, || And knowing knowledge of the Most High; He sees a vision of the Almighty, || Falling—and eyes uncovered:
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I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A star has proceeded from Jacob, || And a scepter has risen from Israel, || And has struck corners of Moab, || And has destroyed all sons of Seth.
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And Edom has been a possession, || And Seir has been a possession [for] his enemies, || And Israel is doing valiantly;
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And [One] rules out of Jacob, || And has destroyed a remnant from the city.”
Balaam’s Final Three Oracles
20
And he sees Amalek, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Amalek [is] first [among] nations, || But his latter end—destruction forever.”
21
And he sees the Kenite, and takes up his allegory, and says: “Your dwelling [is] enduring, || And your nest is being set in a rock,
22
But the Kenite is for a burning; Until when does Asshur keep you captive?”
23
And he takes up his allegory and says: “Woe! Who lives when God does this?
24
But ships [come] from the side of Chittim, || And they have humbled Asshur, || And they have humbled Eber, || But it is also perishing forever.”
25
And Balaam rises, and goes, and turns back to his place, and Balak has also gone on his way.
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