Balaam's Third Oracle
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When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at 1other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.
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And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel 2camping tribe by tribe. And 3the Spirit of God came upon him,
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and he 4took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,a
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the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, 5falling down with his eyes uncovered:
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How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!
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Like palm grovesb that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, 6like aloes 7that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.
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Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be 8in many waters; his king shall be higher than 9Agag, and 10his kingdom shall be exalted.
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God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the 11horns of the wild ox; he shall 12eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall 13break their bones in pieces and 14pierce them through with his arrows.
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He crouched, he lay down like a lion and 15like a lioness; who will rouse him up? 16Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you."
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And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he 17struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, 18"I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.
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Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, 19'I will certainly honor you,' but the LORD has held you back from honor."
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And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me,
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20'If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad 21of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak'?
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And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, 22I will let you know what this people will do to your people 23in the latter days."
Balaam's Final Oracle
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24And he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
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the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of 25the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, 26falling down with his eyes uncovered:
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27I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: 28a star shall come out of Jacob, and 29a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall 30crush the foreheadc of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
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31Edom shall be dispossessed; 32Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly.
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And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!"
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Then he looked on Amalek and 33took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first among the nations, 34but its end is utter destruction."
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And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock.
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Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive."
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And he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?
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But ships shall come from 35Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and 36Eber; and he too 37shall come to utter destruction."
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Then Balaam rose and 38went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)