| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to seek omens but he set his face toward the wilderness. | 1Since Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned toward the wilderness. |
| 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. | 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him, |
| 3He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened; | 3and he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened, |
| 4The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered, | 4the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered: |
| 5How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel! | 5How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel. |
| 6"Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters. | 6They stretch out like river valleys, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the water. |
| 7"Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. | 7Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will be by abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. |
| 8"God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows. | 8God brought him out of Egypt; He is like the horns of a wild ox for them. He will feed on enemy nations and gnaw their bones; he will strike them with his arrows. |
| 9"He crouches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you." | 9He crouches, he lies down like a lion or a lioness--who dares to rouse him? Those who bless you will be blessed, and those who curse you will be cursed. |
| 10Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times! | 10Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, "I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times. |
| 11"Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor." | 11Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the LORD has denied you a reward." |
| 12Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, | 12Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I previously tell the messengers you sent me: |
| 13'Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the LORD, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the LORD speaks, that I will speak '? | 13If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the LORD's command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the LORD says. |
| 14"And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come." | 14Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future." |
| 15He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, | 15Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened; |
| 16The 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, yet having his eyes uncovered. | 16the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God and has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered: |
| 17"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. | 17I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites. |
| 18"Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly. | 18Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant. |
| 19"One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from the city." | 19One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city's survivors. |
| 20And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction." | 20Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem: Amalek was first among the nations, but his future is destruction. |
| 21And he looked at the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Your dwelling place is enduring, And your nest is set in the cliff. | 21Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem: Your dwelling place is enduring; your nest is set in the cliffs. |
| 22"Nevertheless Kain will be consumed; How long will Asshur keep you captive?" | 22Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive. |
| 23Then he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who can live except God has ordained it? | 23Once more he proclaimed his poem: Ah, who can live when God does this? |
| 24"But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber; So they also will come to destruction." | 24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will afflict Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to destruction. |
| 25Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way. | 25Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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