Numbers 24 Parallel Bible Translations

Numbers 24 ▼
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1 Balaam, however, perceiving that the LORD was pleased to bless Israel, did not go aside as before to seek omens, but turned his gaze toward the wilderness. 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. Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, 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, And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him
3 and he recited his poem: The oracle of Balaam, son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is true, and he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, and he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
4 The oracle of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, in rapture and with eyes unveiled: the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 How pleasant are your tents, Jacob; your encampments, Israel! How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel!
6 Like palm trees spread out, like gardens beside a river, Like aloes the LORD planted, like cedars beside water; Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. “Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will drip from their buckets, their seed will have plentiful water; Their king will rise higher than Agag and their dominion will be exalted. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. “Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.
8 They have the like of a wild ox’s horns: God who brought them out of Egypt. They will devour hostile nations, break their bones, and crush their loins. God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows. “God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.
9 Crouching, they lie like a lion, or like a lioness; who will arouse them? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you! He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.” Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them? “May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!”
10 In a blaze of anger at Balaam, Balak clapped his hands and said to him, “It was to lay a curse on my foes that I summoned you here; yet three times now you have actually blessed them! And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.
11 Now flee to your home. I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has withheld the reward from you!” Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the LORD has held you back from honor.” Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded.”
12 Balaam replied to Balak, “Did I not even tell the messengers whom you sent to me, And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,
13 ‘Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord do anything, good or evil, contrary to the command of the LORD’? Whatever the LORD says I must say. ‘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 of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak’? Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD—and I must say only what the LORD says’?
14 “But now that I am about to go to my own people, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
15 Then he recited his poem: The oracle of Balaam, son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is true, And he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, Then he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 The oracle of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, in rapture and with eyes unveiled. the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
17 I see him, though not now; I observe him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel, That will crush the brows of Moab, and the skull of all the Sethites, I 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; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
18 Edom will be dispossessed, and no survivor is left in Seir. Israel will act boldly, Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.
19 and Jacob will rule his foes. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!” A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
20 Upon seeing Amalek, Balaam recited his poem: First of the nations is Amalek, but their end is to perish forever. Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.” Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: “Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction.”
21 Upon seeing the Kenites, he recited his poem: Though your dwelling is safe, and your nest is set on a cliff; 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. Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: “Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;
22 Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive. Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.” yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive.”
23 Upon seeing [the Ishmaelites?] he recited his poem: Alas, who shall survive of Ishmael, And he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this? Then he spoke his message: “Alas! Who can live when God does this?
24 to deliver them from the hands of the Kittim? When they have conquered Asshur and conquered Eber, They too shall perish forever. But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction.” Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin.”
25 Then Balaam set out on his journey home; and Balak also went his way. Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way. Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.
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