New Living Translation

New King James Version

By now Balaam realized that the LORD was determined to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as before. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness,

1

Balaam Foretells the Happiness of Israel

Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use [a]sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2

where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,

2

And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

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and this is the message he delivered:
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,
the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,

3

Then he took up his oracle and said:
“The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,
The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,

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the message of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with eyes wide open:

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The utterance of him who hears the words of God,
Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

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How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob;
how lovely are your homes, O Israel!

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“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob!
Your dwellings, O Israel!

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They spread before me like palm groves,a
like gardens by the riverside.
They are like tall trees planted by the LORD,
like cedars beside the waters.

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Like valleys that stretch out,
Like gardens by the riverside,
Like aloes planted by the Lord,
Like cedars beside the waters.

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Water will flow from their buckets;
their offspring have all they need.
Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be exalted.

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He 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.

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God brought them out of Egypt;
for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
He devours all the nations that oppose him,
breaking their bones in pieces,
shooting them with arrows.

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“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.

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Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down;
like a lioness, who dares to arouse her?
Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel,
and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

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‘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.”

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King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, “I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times.

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Then 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!

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Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has kept you from your reward.”

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Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the Lord has kept you back from honor.”

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Balaam told Balak, “Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said,

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So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,

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‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the LORD.’ I told you that I could say only what the LORD says!

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‘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’?

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Now I am returning to my own people. But first let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future.”

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And 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.”

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Balaam’s Final Messages

This is the message Balaam delivered:
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,
the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,

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Balaam’s Fourth Prophecy

So 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;

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the message of one who hears the words of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with eyes wide open:

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The 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:

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I see him, but not here and now.
I perceive him, but far in the distant future.
A star will rise from Jacob;
a scepter will emerge from Israel.
It will crush the heads of Moab’s people,
cracking the skullsb of the people of Sheth.

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“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 [b]batter the brow of Moab,
And destroy all the sons of [c]tumult.

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Edom will be taken over,
and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered,
while Israel marches on in triumph.

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“And Edom shall be a possession;
Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession,
While Israel does [d]valiantly.

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A ruler will rise in Jacob
who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”

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Out of Jacob One [e]shall have dominion,
And destroy the remains of the city.”

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Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message:
“Amalek was the greatest of nations,
but its destiny is destruction!”

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Then 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.”

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Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message:
“Your home is secure;
your nest is set in the rocks.

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Then 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;

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But the Kenites will be destroyed
when Assyriac takes you captive.”

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Nevertheless Kain shall be burned.
How long until Asshur carries you away captive?”

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Balaam concluded his messages by saying:
“Alas, who can survive
unless God has willed it?

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Then he took up his oracle and said:
“Alas! Who shall live when God does this?

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Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprusd;
they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber,
but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.”

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But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus,[f]
And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber,
And so shall [g]Amalek, until he perishes.”

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Then Balaam left and returned home, and Balak also went on his way.

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So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

Numbers 24

Numbers 24