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when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did go out to look for omens as in the past, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he uttered his oracle:
“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,
4 the oracle of one who hears the words of God,
who sees the visions of the Almighty,
who falls down in a trance, yet with eyes wide open:
5 “How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwelling places, O Israel!
6 “Like valleys they stretch out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from his buckets,
and his seed will be by abundant waters.
“His king will be greater than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 “God brought him out of Egypt;
He is like the horns of a wild ox for them.
He devours the nations of his foes,
and breaks their bones in pieces;
with his arrows he pierces them through.
9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion,
and like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
“Those who bless you will be blessed,
and those who curse you will be cursed!”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together, and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to put a curse my enemies, but instead you have blessed them these three times! 11 Now leave at once, go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but the Lord has denied you any reward.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13 ‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the Lord to do anything small or great of my own will—and, I must only say whatever the Lord says’? 14 Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
15 Then he uttered his oracle:
“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of a man whose eyes are opened;
16 the oracle of one who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls down prostrate, yet with eyes wide open:
17 “I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near.
A Star will come from Jacob,
and a Sceptre will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
18 Edom will become a possession;
Seir, his enemy, will become a possession,
but Israel will be triumphant.
19 A ruler will come from Jacob,
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and uttered his oracle:
“Amalek was first among the nations,
but his end will be destruction.”
21 Then he saw the Kenites and uttered his oracle:
“Your dwelling place is enduring,
your nest is set in the rock;
22 yet Kain will be destroyed
when Asshur takes you captive.”
23 Again he uttered his oracle:
“Alas! Who can live when God does this?
24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim;
they will afflict Asshur and Eber,
but they too will come to ruin.”
25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.