Numbers 24
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Balaam's Third Oracle

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1Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned 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.1When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to seek omens but he set his face toward the wilderness.1And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.1Since Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned toward the wilderness.
2When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. 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.2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents 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 on him,
3and he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,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,3He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened;3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:3and he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,
4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:4the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:4The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:4the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
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5"How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel!5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!5How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!5How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel.
6"Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, 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.6"Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters.6As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.6They stretch out like river valleys, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the water.
7Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. "Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will 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.7"Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.7He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.7Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will be by abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.
8"God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.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.8"God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.8God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.8God brought him out of Egypt; He is like the horns of a wild ox for them. He will feed on enemy nations and gnaw their bones; he will strike them with his arrows.
9Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse them? "May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!"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.”9"He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you."9He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.9He crouches, he lies down like a lion or a lioness--who dares to rouse him? Those who bless you will be blessed, and those who curse you will be cursed.

Balak Dismisses Balaam

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10Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have 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.10Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!10And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.10Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, "I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times.
11Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded."11Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the LORD has held you back from honor.”11"Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor."11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.11Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the LORD has denied you a reward."
12Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,12And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me,12Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying,12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,12Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I previously tell the messengers you sent me:
13Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD--and I must say only what the LORD says'?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’?13'Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the LORD, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the LORD speaks, that I will speak '?13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?13If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the LORD's command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the LORD says.
14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come."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.”14"And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come."14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.14Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future."

Balaam's Fourth Oracle

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15Then he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,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,15He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:15Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;
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 falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: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: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, yet having his eyes uncovered.16He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:16the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God and has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
17"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.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.17"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.17I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.17I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites.
18Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.18Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly.18"Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly.18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.18Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant.
19A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city."19And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!”19"One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from the city."19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.19One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city's survivors.

Balaam's Final Three Oracles

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20Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: "Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction."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.”20And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction."20And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.20Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem: Amalek was first among the nations, but his future is destruction.
21Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: "Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a 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.21And he looked at the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Your dwelling place is enduring, And your nest is set in the cliff.21And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.21Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem: Your dwelling place is enduring; your nest is set in the cliffs.
22yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive."22Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.”22"Nevertheless Kain will be consumed; How long will Asshur keep you captive?"22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.22Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.
23Then he spoke his message: "Alas! Who can live when God does this?23And he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?23Then he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!23Once more he proclaimed his poem: Ah, who can live when God does this?
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24Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin."24But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction.”24"But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber; So they also will come to destruction."24And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will afflict Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to destruction.
25Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.25Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.25Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.25Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.



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