1Balaam, 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. 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him, 3and he recited his poem: The oracle of Balaam, son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is true, 4The 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: 5How pleasant are your tents, Jacob; your encampments, Israel! 6Like palm trees spread out, like gardens beside a river, Like aloes the Lord planted, like cedars beside water; 7Water will drip from their buckets, their seed will have plentiful water; Their king will rise higher than Agag* and their dominion will be exalted. 8They 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.a 9Crouching, 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!b 10In 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!c 11Now flee to your home. I promised to reward you richly, but the Lord has withheld the reward from you!” 12Balaam replied to Balak, “Did I not even tell the messengers whom you sent to 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.d The Fourth Oracle. 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.” 15Then he recited his poem: The oracle of Balaam, son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is true, 16The 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. 17I 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,e and the skull of all the Sethites, 18Edom will be dispossessed, and no survivor is left in Seir. Israel will act boldly, 19and Jacob will rule his foes. 20Upon seeing Amalek, Balaam recited his poem: 21Upon seeing the Kenites,* he recited his poem: Though your dwelling is safe, and your nest is set on a cliff; 22Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur* takes you captive. 23Upon seeing* [the Ishmaelites?] he recited his poem: Alas, who shall survive of Ishmael, 24to deliver them from the hands of the Kittim? When they have conquered Asshur and conquered Eber, They too shall perish forever. 25Then Balaam set out on his journey home; and Balak also went his way. Book IntroductionFootnotesScripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Home |
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