Balaam's First Oracle

1And Balaam saith unto Balak, ‘Build for me in this [place] seven altars, and make ready for me in this [place] seven bullocks and seven rams.’ 2And Balak doth as Balaam hath spoken, and Balak — Balaam also — offereth a bullock and a ram on the altar, 3and Balaam saith to Balak, ‘Station thyself by thy burnt-offering and I go on, it may be Jehovah doth come to meet me, and the thing which He sheweth me — I have declared to thee;’ and he goeth [to] a high place.

4And God cometh unto Balaam, and he saith unto Him, ‘The seven altars I have arranged, and I offer a bullock and a ram on the altar;’ 5and Jehovah putteth a word in the mouth of Balaam, and saith, ‘Turn back unto Balak, and thus thou dost speak.’ 6And he turneth back unto him, and lo, he is standing by his burnt-offering, he and all the princes of Moab.

7And he taketh up his simile, and saith: ‘From Aram he doth lead me — Balak king of Moab; From mountains of the east: Come — curse for me Jacob, And come — be indignant [with] Israel.

8What — do I pierce? — God hath not pierced! And what — am I indignant? — Jehovah hath not been indignant!

9For from the top of rocks I see it, And from heights I behold it; Lo a people! alone it doth tabernacle, And among nations doth not reckon itself.

10Who hath counted the dust of Jacob, And the number of the fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of upright ones, And let my last end be like his!’

11And Balak saith unto Balaam, ‘What hast thou done to me? to pierce mine enemies I have taken thee — and lo, thou hast certainly blessed;’ 12and he answereth and saith, ‘That which Jehovah doth put in my mouth — it do I not take heed to speak?’

Balaam's Second Oracle

13And Balak saith unto him, ‘Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, whence thou dost see it, only its extremity thou dost see, and all of it thou dost not see, and pierce it for me thence;’ 14and he taketh him [to] the field of Zophim, unto the top of Pisgah, and buildeth seven altars, and offereth a bullock and a ram on the altar. 15And he saith unto Balak, ‘Station thyself here by thy burnt-offering, and I — I meet [Him] there;’ 16and Jehovah cometh unto Balaam, and setteth a word in his mouth, and saith, ‘Turn back unto Balak, and thus thou dost speak.’ 17And he cometh unto him, and lo, he is standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him, and Balak saith to him: ‘What hath Jehovah spoken?’

18And he taketh up his simile, and saith: ‘Rise, Balak, and hear; Give ear unto me, son of Zippor!

19God [is] not a man — and lieth, And a son of man — and repenteth! Hath He said — and doth He not do [it]? And spoken — and doth He not confirm it?

20Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I [can]not reverse it.

21He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, Nor hath He seen perverseness in Israel; Jehovah his God [is] with him, And a shout of a king [is] in him.

22God is bringing them out from Egypt, As the swiftness of a Reem is to him;

23For no enchantment [is] against Jacob, Nor divination against Israel, At the time it is said of Jacob and Israel, What hath God wrought!

24Lo, the people as a lioness riseth, And as a lion he lifteth himself up, He lieth not down till he eateth prey, And blood of pierced ones doth drink.’

25And Balak saith unto Balaam, ‘Neither pierce it at all, nor bless it at all;’ 26and Balaam answereth and saith unto Balak, ‘Have I not spoken unto thee, saying, All that Jehovah speaketh — it I do?’

27And Balak saith unto Balaam, ‘Come, I pray thee, I take thee unto another place; it may be it is right in the eyes of God — to pierce it for me from thence.’ 28And Balak taketh Balaam to the top of Peor, which is looking on the front of the wilderness, 29and Balaam saith unto Balak, ‘Build for me in this [place] seven altars, and make ready for me in this [place] seven bullocks and seven rams;’ 30and Balak doth as Balaam said, and he offereth a bullock and a ram on an altar.