Balaam’s Third Oracle

1And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of YHWH to bless Israel, and he did not go as time by time to seek to use sorcery, and he set his face toward the wilderness. 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3And he lifted up his oracle and said:

“An utterance of Balaam son of Beor,

and a declaration of the man whose eyes are opened.

4An utterance of him who hears the words of God,

who sees a vision of Shaddai,†

and who falls down with eyes wide open.

5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,

Your dwellings, O Israel!

6Like valleys† that stretch out,

like gardens by the river,

like aloes planted by YHWH,

like cedars beside the waters.

7He shall pour water from his buckets,

and his seed is abundant in waters.

And his king shall be higher than Agag,

and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8God brings him out of Egypt;

strength like a wild ox is unto him.

He shall consume his enemies the nations, and their bones he shall break,

and pierce them with his arrows.

9He crouches, he lies down like a lion,

and as a lioness, who shall rouse him?

He who blesses you is blessed

and he who curses you is cursed.”

Balak Dismisses Balaam

10And the anger of Balak was kindled against Balaam, and he struck together his hands. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have surely blessed them these three times. 11And now flee for yourself to your place! I said I would richly reward you, and in fact YHWH has kept you back from honor.”

12And Balaam said to Balak, “Was it not even to your messengers whom you sent to me that I spoke, saying 13that if Balak were to give to me the fullness of his house in silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of YHWH to do good or bad of my own will? That which YHWH says, that I must speak. 14And indeed I am going to my people; come, I will counsel you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

15And he lifted up his oracle and said,

“An utterance of Balaam son of Beor

and a declaration of the man with opened eyes,

16a declaration of him who hears the words of God

and has the knowledge of the Most High;

the vision of Shaddai he sees,

falling down and eyes wide open.

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,

and batter the brow† of Moab

and destroy all the sons of tumult.

18And Edom shall be a possession,

and Seir shall be a possession for his enemies,

and Israel will act valiantly.

19And one shall have dominion out of Jacob

and destroy the remains of the city.”

Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

20And he saw Amalek, and he lifted up his oracle and said,

“Amalek was first among the nations,

and his end is utter destruction.”

21And he looked on the Kenite, and he lifted up his oracle and said,

“Enduring is your dwelling place,

and your nest is set in the rock.

22For nevertheless the Kenite shall be for burning,

until when Asshur† will take you captive.”

23And he lifted up his oracle and said,

“Alas, who shall live

when God does this?

24And ships shall come from the hand of Kittim,†

and they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber,

and he is for utter destruction.”

25And Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.