Numbers 24

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

1Balaam saw that the LORD wanted to bless Israel. So this time he did not go looking for magic signs. He turned and looked out toward the dry, empty land.

2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

2Balaam looked up and saw Israel camped below. Each family group had its own place. Then the Spirit of God came on him.

3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

3He began to speak the message God gave him. He said, "This is what Balaam son of Beor says. This is what the man with open eyes says."

Note"He took up his parable" does not mean a story with a lesson. Here it means he spoke out loud a message that came from God.

4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

4"He heard the words of God. He saw a picture that God Most Powerful showed him. He bowed low, and his eyes were wide open."

5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

5"Jacob, your tents look so good. Israel, your homes are lovely." Jacob and Israel are both names for these people.

6As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

6"They spread out like green valleys. They are like gardens beside a stream. They are like sweet-smelling aloe trees the LORD planted. They are like tall cedar trees by the water."

7He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

7"Water will pour out of his buckets. His children will have plenty of water. His king will be greater than King Agag. His kingdom will be lifted high."

8God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

8"God brought them out of Egypt. They are strong like a wild ox. They will win against the nations who fight them. They will break their bones and shoot them with arrows."

NoteThe KJV says "unicorn." The old word means a wild ox, a huge, strong animal. It does not mean a horse with a horn.

9He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

9"He crouches down. He lies down like a lion. He is like a mother lion. Who would dare wake him up? Anyone who blesses you will be blessed. Anyone who curses you will be cursed."

10And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

10Balak got very angry at Balaam. He clapped his hands together hard. He said, "I called you here to curse my enemies. Instead you have blessed them three times!"

11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

11"Go home, right now! I planned to make you rich and important. But the LORD has kept that reward away from you."

12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

12Balaam said to Balak, "I already said this to the men you sent to me."

13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

13"I said that even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I still could not do as I please. I cannot go past what the LORD tells me, for good or for bad. I will say only what the LORD says."

14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

14"Now I am going back to my own people. But first, let me tell you something. I will tell you what these people will do to your people in days to come."

Note"I will advertise thee" does not mean an ad. In 1611 it meant "I will tell you" or "I will warn you."

15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

15Then he spoke the message God gave him. He said, "This is what Balaam son of Beor says. This is what the man with open eyes says."

16He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

16"He heard the words of God. He knows what God Most High has taught him. He saw a picture that God Most Powerful showed him. He bowed low, and his eyes were wide open."

17I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

17"I see him, but not now. I see him, but he is not close yet. A star will come out of Jacob. A king will rise up out of Israel. He will crush the heads of Moab. He will strike down all the people of Sheth."

18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

18"The land of Edom will be taken over. The land of Seir will be taken too. Israel will be strong and brave."

19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

19"A ruler will come from Jacob's family. He will destroy whoever is left in the city."

20And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

20Then Balaam looked at the people of Amalek. He spoke this message: "Amalek was the first of the nations. But in the end Amalek will be gone forever."

21And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

21Then he looked at the Kenite people. He spoke this message: "Your home is safe and strong. You built your nest up in the rocks."

22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

22"Even so, the Kenites will be ruined. Asshur will come and take you away as prisoners."

23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

23Then he spoke this message: "Oh, who will still be alive when God does this?"

24And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

24"Ships will come from the shore of Chittim. They will hurt Asshur. They will hurt Eber too. But those ships and their people will also be gone forever."

NoteChittim is the island we now call Cyprus. Asshur is the land later called Assyria.

25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

25Then Balaam got up and went back home. Balak went on his way too.