Numbers 24

¹And when Balaam had seen that it pleased our Lord that he should bless Israel, he went not as before he had gone, to seek soothsaying: but directing his countenance against the desert,

²and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in their tents by their tribes: and the spirit of God coming vehemently upon him,

³taking up his parable he said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man hath said whose eye is stopped:

⁴The hearer of the words of God hath said, he that hath beholden the vision of the Omnipotent, he that falleth, and so his eyes are opened:

⁵How beautiful are thy tabernacles, o Jacob, and thy tents, o Israel!

⁶As woody valleys, as watered gardens beside the rivers, as tabernacles which the Lord hath pitched, as cedars by the waters' side.

⁷Water shall flow out of his bucket, and his seed shall be into many waters. For Agag shall his king be taken away, and his kingdom shall be taken away.

⁸God hath brought him out of Ægypt, whose strength is like to the Rhinoceros. They shall devour nations his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.

⁹Lying he hath slept as a lion, and as a lioness, whom none shall be bold to raise up. He that blesseth thee, himself also shall be blessed: he that curseth thee, shall be reputed accurst.

¹⁰And Balac being angry against Balaam, clapping his hands together said: To curse mine enemies I called thee, whom thou contrary wise hast blessed the third time:

¹¹return to thy place. I was determined verily to honour thee magnifically, but the Lord hath deprived thee of the honour appointed.

¹²Balaam made answer to Balac: did I not say to thy messengers, whom thou didst send to me:

¹³If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot pass the word of the Lord my God, to utter of my own mind either any good, or evil: but whatsoever the Lord shall say, that will I speak?

¹⁴But yet going to my people, I will give thee counsel, what thy people shall do to this people in the last time.

¹⁵Therefore taking up his parable, again he said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man whose eye is stopped, hath said:

¹⁶the hearer of the words of God hath said, who knoweth the doctrine of the Highest, and seeth the visions of the Omnipotent, who falling hath his eyes opened:

¹⁷I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him but not near. A star Shall Rise out of Jacob, and a rod shall arise from Israel: and shall strike the Dukes of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth.

¹⁸And Idumea shall be his possession: the inheritance of Seir shall come to their enemies: but Israel shall do manfully.

¹⁹Of Jacob shall he be that shall rule, and shall destroy the remains of the city.

²⁰And when he had seen Amalec, taking up his parable, he said: Amalec the beginning of Gentiles, whose latter ends shall be destroyed.

²¹He saw also the Cineite: and taking up his parable, he said: Thy habitation indeed is strong: but if thou build thy nest in a rock,

²²and thou be chosen of the stock of Cin, how long shalt thou be able to continue? For Assur shall take thee.

²³And taking up his parable again he spake: Alas, who shall live, when God shall do these things?

²⁴They shall come in galleys from Italy, they shall overcome the Assyrians, and shall waste the Hebrews, and at the last themselves also shall perish.

²⁵And Balaam rose, and returned into his place: Balac also returned the way that he came.