- And when Balaam saw that it pleased God to bless Israel, he did not go according to his custom to meet the omens, but turned his face toward the wilderness.
Num 24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and sees Israel encamped by their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Num 24:3 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam son of Beor says, the man who sees truly says,
Num 24:4 he says who hears the oracle of the Mighty One, who saw a vision of God in sleep; his eyes were opened:
Num 24:5 How goodly are thy habitations, Jacob, and thy tents, Israel!
Num 24:6 as shady groves, and as gardens by a river, and as tents which God pitched, and as cedars by the waters.
Num 24:7 There shall come a man out of his seed, and he shall rule over many nations; and the kingdom of God shall be exalted, and his kingdom shall be increased.
Num 24:8 God led him out of Egypt; he has as it were the glory of a unicorn: he shall consume the nations of his enemies, and he shall drain their marrow, and with his darts he shall shoot through the enemy.
Num 24:9 He lay down, he rested as a lion, and as a young lion; who shall stir him up? they that bless thee are blessed, and they that curse thee are cursed.
Num 24:10 And Balac was angry with Balaam, and clapped his hands together; and Balac said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemy, and behold thou hast decidedly blessed him this third time.
Num 24:11 Now therefore flee to thy place: I said, I will honour thee, but now the Lord has deprived thee of glory.
Num 24:12 And Balaam said to Balac, Did I not speak to thy messengers also whom thou sentest to me, saying,
Num 24:13 If Balac should give me his house full of silver and gold, I shall not be able to a transgress the word of the Lord to make it good or bad by myself; whatsoever things God shall say, them will I speak.
Num 24:14 And now, behold, I return to my place; I will advise thee of what this people shall do in the last days.
Num 24:15 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, the man who sees truly says,
Num 24:16 hearing the oracles of God, receiving knowledge from the Most High, and having seen a vision of God in sleep; his eyes were opened.
Num 24:17 I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near; a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush, the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth.
Num 24:18 And Edom shall be an inheritance, and Esau his enemy shall be an inheritance of Israel, and Israel wrought valiantly.
Num 24:19 And one shall arise out of Jacob, and destroy out of the city him that escapes.
Num 24:20 And having seen Amalec, he took up his parable and said, Amalec is the first of the nations; yet his seed shall perish.
Num 24:21 And having seen the Kenite, he took up his parable and said, Thy dwelling-place is strong; yet though thou shouldest put thy nest in a rock,
Num 24:22 and though Beor should have a skilfully contrived hiding-place, the Assyrians shall carry thee away captive.
Num 24:23 And he looked upon Og, and took up his parable and said, Oh, oh, who shall live, when God shall do these things?
Num 24:24 And one shall come forth from the hands of the Citians, and shall afflict Assur, and shall, afflict the Hebrews, and they shall perish together.
Num 24:25 And Balaam rose up and departed and returned to his place, and Balac went to his own home.
[English translation of the Septuagint by Sir Lancelot Charles Lee
Brenton (1807-1862) originally published by Samuel Bagster & Sons,
Ltd., London, 1851]