Numbers 24

vayyar bilam ki tov be'ene Adonai levarekh et-yisra'el velo-halakh kefa'am-befa'am liqrat nekhashim vayyashet el-hammidbar panayw

Now Balaam, seeing that it pleased GOD to bless Israel, did not, as on previous occasions, go in search of omens, but turned his face toward the wilderness.

vayyissa vilam et-enayw vayyar et-yisra'el shokhen lishvatayw vattehi alayw ruakh elohim

As Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him.

vayyissa meshalo vayyomar ne'um bilam beno ve'or une'um haggever shetum ha'ayin

Taking up his theme, he said: Word of Balaam son of Beor, Word of the man whose eye is true,

ne'um shomea imre-el asher makhazeh shadday yekhezeh nofel ugeluy enayim

Word of one who hears God’s speech, Who beholds visions from the Almighty, Prostrate, but with eyes unveiled:

mah-ttovu ohalekha ya'aqov mishkenotekha yisra'el

How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!

kinkhalim nittayu kegannot ale nahar ka'ahalim nata Adonai ka'arazim ale-mayim

Like palm-groves that stretch out, Like gardens beside a river, Like aloes planted by GOD, Like cedars beside the water;

yizzal-mayim middaleyav vezaro bemayim rabbim veyarom me'agag malko vetinnasse malkhuto

Their boughs drip with moisture, Their roots have abundant water. Their ruler shall rise above Agag, Their sovereignty shall be exalted.

el motsi'o mimmitsrayim keto'afot re'em lo yokhal goyim tsarayw ve'atsmotehem yegarem vekhitsayw yimkhats

God who freed them from Egypt Is for them like the horns of the wild ox. They shall devour enemy nations, Crush their bones, And smash their arrows.

kara shakhav ka'ari ukhelavi mi yeqimennu mevarekhekha varukh ve'orerekha arur

They crouch, they lie down like a lion, Like a lioness; who dares rouse them? Blessed are they who bless you, Accursed they who curse you!

vayyikhar-af balaq el-bilam vayyispoq et-kappayw vayyomer balaq el-bilam laqov oyevay qeratikha vehinneh berakhta varekh zeh shalosh pe'amim

Enraged at Balaam, Balak struck his hands together. “I called you,” Balak said to Balaam, “to damn my enemies, and instead you have blessed them these three times!

ve'attah berakh-lekha el-meqomekha amarti kabbed akhabbedkha vehinneh mena'akha Adonai mikkavod

Back with you at once to your own place! I was going to reward you richly, but GOD has denied you the reward.”

vayyomer bilam el-balaq halo gam el-malakhekha asher-shalakhta elay dibbarti lemor

Balaam replied to Balak, “But I even told the messengers you sent to me,

im-yitten-li valaq melo veto kesef vezahav lo ukhal la'avor et-pi Adonai la'asot tovah o ra'ah millibbi asher-yedabber Adonai oto adabber

‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord do anything good or bad contrary to GOD’s command. What GOD says, that I must say.’

ve'attah hinni holekh le'ammi lekhah i'atsekha asher ya'aseh ha'am hazzeh le'ammekha be'akharit hayyamim

And now, as I go back to my people, let me inform you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

vayyissa meshalo vayyomar ne'um bilam beno ve'or une'um haggever shetum ha'ayin

He took up his theme, and said: Word of Balaam son of Beor, Word of the man whose eye is true,

ne'um shomea imre-el veyodea da'at elyon makhazeh shadday yekhezeh nofel ugeluy enayim

Word of one who hears God’s speech, Who obtains knowledge from the Most High, And beholds visions from the Almighty, Prostrate, but with eyes unveiled:

erennu velo attah ashurennu velo qarov darakh kokhav miyya'aqov veqam shevet miyyisra'el umakhats pa'ate mo'av veqarqar kol-bene-shet

What I see for them is not yet, What I behold will not be soon: A star rises from Jacob, A scepter comes forth from Israel; It smashes the brow of Moab, The foundation of all children of Seth.

vehayah edom yereshah vehayah yereshah se'ir oyevayw veyisra'el oseh khayil

Edom becomes a possession, Yea, Seir a possession of its enemies; But Israel is triumphant.

veyerd miyya'aqov vehe'evid sarid me'ir

A victor issues from Jacob To wipe out what is left of Ir.

vayyar et-amaleq vayyissa meshalo vayyomar reshit goyim amaleq ve'akharito ade oved

He saw Amalek and, taking up his theme, he said: A leading nation is Amalek; But its fate is to perish forever.

vayyar et-haqqeni vayyissa meshalo vayyomar etan moshavekha vesim bassela qinnekha

He saw the Kenites and, taking up his theme, he said: Though your abode be secure, And your nest be set among cliffs,

ki im-yihyeh leva'er qayin ad-mah ashur tishbekka

Yet shall Kain be consumed, When Asshur takes you captive.

vayyissa meshalo vayyomar oy mi yikhyeh missumo el

He took up his theme and said: Alas, who can survive except God has willed it!

vetsim miyyad kittim ve'innu ashur ve'innu-ever vegam-hu ade oved

Ships come from the quarter of Kittim; They subject Asshur, subject Eber. They, too, shall perish forever.

vayyaqom bilam vayyelekh vayyashov limqomo vegam-balaq halakh ledarko

Then Balaam set out on his journey back home; and Balak also went his way.