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Numbers 24

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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¹ Since Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned [1] toward the wilderness.

² When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God ⓛ came on him,

³ and he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,

⁴ the 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:

⁵ How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel.

⁶ They stretch out like river valleys, [2] 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 abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, ⓝ and his kingdom will be exalted.

⁸ God brought him out of Egypt; he is like [3] 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 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. ⓒ

¹⁰ Then 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 Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, ⓓ but look, the LORD has denied you a reward.”

¹² Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I previously tell the messengers you sent me:

¹³ If 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 Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”

¹⁵ Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;

¹⁶ the 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 perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. ⓖ He will smash the forehead [4] of Moab and strike down [5] all the Shethites. [6]

¹⁸ Edom will become a possession; Seir ⓗ will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant.

¹⁹ One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city’s survivors.

²⁰ Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem: Amalek was first among the nations, ⓘ but his future is destruction.

²¹ Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem: Your dwelling place is enduring; your nest is set in the cliffs.

²² Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.

²³ Once more he proclaimed his poem: Ah, who can live when God does this?

²⁴ Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; ⓙ they will carry out raids against Asshur and Eber, ⓚ but they too will come to destruction.

²⁵ Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.

#	CSB
1	Since Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned [1] toward the wilderness.
2	When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God ⓛ came on him,
3	and he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,
4	the 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:
5	How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel.
6	They stretch out like river valleys, [2] 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 abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, ⓝ and his kingdom will be exalted.
8	God brought him out of Egypt; he is like [3] 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 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. ⓒ
10	Then 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	Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, ⓓ but look, the LORD has denied you a reward.”
12	Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I previously tell the messengers you sent me:
13	If 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	Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”
15	Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;
16	the 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 perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. ⓖ He will smash the forehead [4] of Moab and strike down [5] all the Shethites. [6]
18	Edom will become a possession; Seir ⓗ will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant.
19	One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city’s survivors.
20	Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem: Amalek was first among the nations, ⓘ but his future is destruction.
21	Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem: Your dwelling place is enduring; your nest is set in the cliffs.
22	Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.
23	Once more he proclaimed his poem: Ah, who can live when God does this?
24	Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; ⓙ they will carry out raids against Asshur and Eber, ⓚ but they too will come to destruction.
25	Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.

Footnotes & Cross-References

Footnotes

^{Numbers 24:4 [51]} Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16

^{Numbers 24:17 [52]} Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.

^{Numbers 24:17 [53]} Or possibly Moab, / batter

^{Numbers 24:17 [54]} Or all the noisy boasters

^{Numbers 24:23 [55]} Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.

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