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The Prophecy from Peor

¹ When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as he had done each time before superstitiously to seek ^(C1)omens and signs in the natural world, but he set his face toward the ^(C2)wilderness (desert).² And Balaam raised his eyes and he saw Israel living in their tents tribe by tribe; and ^(C1)the Spirit of God came on him.³ He took up his third discourse (oracle) and said:

"^(C1)The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened at last, to see clearly the purpose and will of God,

⁴ The oracle of one who ^(C1)hears the words of God,
Who sees the ^(C2)vision of the Almighty,
Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered,

⁵ How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
And your tabernacles, O Israel!

⁶ "Like valleys that stretch out,
Like gardens beside the river,
Like ^(C1)aloes planted by the LORD,
Like ^(C2)cedars beside the waters. ^(VR1)

⁷ "Water that is, great blessings will flow from his buckets,
And his offspring will live by many waters,
And his king will be higher than ^(F1)(C1)Agag,
^(C2)And his kingdom shall be exalted.

⁸ "^(C1)God brought Israel out of Egypt;
Israel has ^(F1)strength like the wild ox;
^(C2)He will devour Gentile nations, his adversaries (enemies),
And will crush their bones in pieces,
And shatter them with his ^(C3)arrows.

⁹ "^(C1)He bowed down to rest, he lies down as a lion;
And as a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
^(C2)Blessed of God is he who blesses you,
And cursed of God is he who curses you." ^(VR1)

¹⁰ Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have done nothing but bless them these three times.¹¹ "Therefore now flee to your place! I had intended to honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor."¹² Balaam said to Balak, "^(C1)Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me,¹³ 'Even if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD, to do either good or bad ^(C1)of my own accord. ^(C2)What the LORD speaks, that I will speak?'¹⁴ "And now, look, ^(C1)I am going to my people; come, I will advise you as to what this people Israel will do to your people Moab in the days to come."

¹⁵ He took up his fourth discourse (oracle) and said:

"^(C1)The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
The oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

¹⁶ The oracle of him who hears the words of God
And knows the knowledge of the ^(F1)Most High,
Who sees the vision of the ^(F2)Almighty,
Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered:

¹⁷ I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near.
A star shall come forth from the descendants of Jacob,
A ^(C1)scepter shall rise out of the descendants of Israel
^(C2)And shall crush the forehead of Moab
And destroy all the sons of Sheth. ^(VR1)

¹⁸ "^(C1)Edom shall be taken as a possession,
Mount ^(C2)Seir, Israel's enemies, also will be a possession,
While Israel performs valiantly.

¹⁹ "One from the descendants of Jacob shall have dominion
And will destroy the remnant from the city."

²⁰ Balaam looked at Amalek and took up his fifth discourse (oracle) and said:

"Amalek was the first of the neighboring nations to oppose the Israelites after they left Egypt,
^(C1)But his end shall be ^(F1)destruction."

²¹ And Balaam looked at the ^(C1)Kenites and took up his sixth discourse (oracle) and said:

"Strong is your dwelling place,
And you set your nest in the cliff.

²² "Nevertheless the Kenites will be consumed.
How long will ^(C1)Asshur (Assyria) keep you (Israel) captive?"

²³ Then he took up his seventh discourse (oracle) and said:

"Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?

²⁴ "But ships shall come from the coast of ^(F1)(C1)Kittim,
And shall afflict Asshur (Assyria) and ^(F2)(C2)Eber;
So ^(C3)they (the victors) also will come to destruction."

²⁵ Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to ^(C1)his place, and Balak also went on his way.