| King James Bible | New Living Translation |
| 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. | 1By 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, |
| 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. | 2where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him, |
| 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 this is the message he delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, |
| 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 message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: |
| 5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! | 5How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel! |
| 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 spread before me like palm groves, like gardens by the riverside. They are like tall trees planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters. |
| 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 their buckets; their offspring have all they need. Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 9Like 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.” |
| 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. | 10King 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. |
| 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 get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has kept you from your reward.” |
| 12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, | 12Balaam told Balak, “Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said, |
| 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? | 13‘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! |
| 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 returning to my own people. But first let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future.” Balaam’s Final Messages |
| 15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: | 15This is the message Balaam delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, |
| 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 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: |
| 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 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 skulls of the people of Sheth. |
| 18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. | 18Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph. |
| 19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. | 19A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir.” |
| 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 looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message: “Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!” |
| 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. | 21Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message: “Your home is secure; your nest is set in the rocks. |
| 22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. | 22But the Kenites will be destroyed when Assyria takes you captive.” |
| 23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! | 23Balaam concluded his messages by saying: “Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it? |
| 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 coasts of Cyprus ; they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber, but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.” |
| 25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way. | 25Then Balaam left and returned home, and Balak also went on his way. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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