Numbers 24 :: New International Version (NIV)

Num 24:1

Num 24:1Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.

Num 24:2

Num 24:2When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him

Num 24:3

Num 24:3and he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,

Num 24:4

Num 24:4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty,[fn] who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

Num 24:5

Num 24:5“How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel!

Num 24:6

Num 24:6“Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.

Num 24:7

Num 24:7Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. “Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.

Num 24:8

Num 24:8“God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.

Num 24:9

Num 24:9Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them? “May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!”

Num 24:10

Num 24:10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.

Num 24:11

Num 24:11Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded.”

Num 24:12

Num 24:12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,

Num 24:13

Num 24:13‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD—and I must say only what the LORD says’?

Num 24:14

Num 24:14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

Balaam’s Fourth Message

Num 24:15

Num 24:15Then he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,

Num 24:16

Num 24:16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

Num 24:17

Num 24:17“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls[fn] of[fn] all the people of Sheth.[fn]

Num 24:18

Num 24:18Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.

Num 24:19

Num 24:19A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Balaam’s Fifth Message

Num 24:20

Num 24:20Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: “Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction.”

Balaam’s Sixth Message

Num 24:21

Num 24:21Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: “Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;

Num 24:22

Num 24:22yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive.”

Balaam’s Seventh Message

Num 24:23

Num 24:23Then he spoke his message: “Alas! Who can live when God does this?[fn]

Num 24:24

Num 24:24Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin.”

Num 24:25

Num 24:25Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.

See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NIV Footnotes

(24:4)

Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16

(24:17)

Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.

(24:17)

Or possibly Moab, / batter

(24:17)

Or all the noisy boasters

(24:23)

Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.

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