| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, 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 raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped 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, |
| 3Then he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened, | 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, |
| 4The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide 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: |
| 5“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! | 5How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel! |
| 6Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars 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 water from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters. “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. |
| 8“God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones And pierce them 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. |
| 9‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’ “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.” | 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.” |
| 10Then Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully 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. |
| 11Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the LORD has kept you back from honor.” | 11Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has kept you from your reward.” |
| 12So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, | 12Balaam told Balak, “Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said, |
| 13‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD, to do good or bad of my own will. What the LORD says, that I must 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, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your 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 |
| 15So he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened; | 15This is the message Balaam delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, |
| 16The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide 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: |
| 17“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. | 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. |
| 18“And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, While Israel does valiantly. | 18Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph. |
| 19Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, And destroy the remains of the city.” | 19A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir.” |
| 20Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: “Amalek was first among the nations, But shall be last until he perishes.” | 20Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message: “Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!” |
| 21Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said: “Firm is your dwelling place, And your nest is set in the rock; | 21Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message: “Your home is secure; your nest is set in the rocks. |
| 22Nevertheless Kain shall be burned. How long until Asshur carries you away captive?” | 22But the Kenites will be destroyed when Assyria takes you captive.” |
| 23Then he took up his oracle and said: “Alas! Who shall live when God does this? | 23Balaam concluded his messages by saying: “Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it? |
| 24But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus, And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, And so shall Amalek, until he perishes.” | 24Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus ; they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber, but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.” |
| 25So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way. | 25Then Balaam left and returned home, and Balak also went on his way. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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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