241When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to look for omens as he had done at the other times, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2When Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes, the Spirit of God was upon him.
The Third Message: Israel Will Rule the Nations
3He took up his oracle and said:
The declaration of Balaam son of Beor,
the declaration of the man whose eye is open,
4the declaration of the one who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
who is falling down, but his eyes are wide open:
5How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
and your dwelling places, O Israel!
6Like rows of palm trees[] they stretch out, like gardens by the riverside,
like aloes which the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
7Water will flow from his buckets.
His seed[] will have abundant waters. His king will be higher than Agag.
His kingdom will be lifted up.
8God brings him out of Egypt.
God is like the horns of a wild ox for him.
He will eat up the nations who are his adversaries.
He will gnaw on their bones.
He will pierce them through with his arrows.
9He crouches like a lion.
He lies down like a lioness.
Who will rouse him?
The one who blesses you is blessed.
The one who curses you is cursed.
10Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he slapped his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but look, all you have done is bless them these three times. 11Now get out of here. Go to your own place! I said I would really reward you, but look, the Lord has denied you a reward.”
12Balaam said to Balak, “Didn't I tell the messengers you sent to me, ‘I will say what the Lord says. 13Even if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go against the command of the Lord by doing anything good or bad of my own will’?[] 14Yes, I am going back to my people, but pay attention now—I will tell you what this people will do to your people in days to come.” Balaam's Fourth Message:
The Ruler of the Nations Will Come
15Balaam took up his oracle and said:
The declaration of Balaam son of Beor,
the declaration of the man whose eye is open,
16the declaration of the one who hears the words of God,
who receives knowledge from the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
who is falling down, but his eyes are wide open:
17I see him, but not now.
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob.
A scepter will rise up out of Israel.
It will smash the foreheads of Moab
and the skulls[] of all the people of Sheth. 18Edom will lose its territory to others.
Seir, Israel's enemy, also will become a possession,
but Israel will display its power.
19One who comes from Jacob will rule,
and he will destroy the survivors of the city.
Balaam's Final Messages for the Nations
20He looked at Amalek, took up his oracle, and said:
First among the nations was Amalek,
but his end will come to destruction.
21He looked at the Kenites, took up his oracle, and said:
Permanent is your dwelling place.
Set in stone is your nest.
22However, you Kenites will be destroyed,
when Ashshur takes you captive.
23He took up his oracle and said:
Ah, who will live when God does this?
24But ships will come from the coast of Kittim.
They will oppress Ashshur.
They will oppress Eber.
But they also will come to destruction.[] 25Balaam got up and left to return to his place. Balak also went on his way.
