Num 24 | ESV | STEP | When 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 .

‏ Numbers 24

Balaam’s Third Oracle

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at ^aother times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel ^bcamping tribe by tribe. And ^cthe Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he ^dtook up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, ^{▼▼Or closed, or perfect; also verse 15}
4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
^ffalling down with his eyes uncovered:
5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
6 Like palm groves ^{▼▼Or valleys} that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
^hlike aloes ⁱthat the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be ^jin many waters;
his king shall be higher than ^kAgag,
and ^lhis kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the ^mhorns of the wild ox;
he shall ⁿeat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall ^obreak their bones in pieces
and ^ppierce them through with his arrows.
9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and ^qlike a lioness; who will rouse him up?
^rBlessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you.”

10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he ^sstruck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, ^t“I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ^u‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the Lord has held you back from honor.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13 ^v‘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 ^wof my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak’? 14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, ^xI will let you know what this people will do to your people ^yin the latter days.”

Balaam’s Final Oracle

15 ^zAnd he took up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of ^aathe Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
^abfalling down with his eyes uncovered:
17 ^acI see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
^ada star shall come out of Jacob,
and ^aea scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall ^afcrush the forehead ^{▼▼Hebrew corners [of the head]} of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 ^ahEdom shall be dispossessed;
^aiSeir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
Israel is doing valiantly.
19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
and destroy the survivors of cities!”

20 Then he looked on Amalek and ^ajtook up his discourse and said,

“Amalek was the first among the nations,
^akbut its end is utter destruction.”

21 And 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.
22 Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned
when Asshur takes you away captive.”

23 And he took up his discourse and said,

“Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 But ships shall come from ^alKittim
and shall afflict Asshur and ^amEber;
and he too ^anshall come to utter destruction.”

25 Then Balaam rose and ^aowent back to his place. And Balak also went his way.