Numbers 24
A Star Shall Rise Out of Jacob
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The Third Oracle
24:1Balaam saw that it was good before the Lord to bless Israel, so he did not go as usual to seek omens. He turned his face toward the wilderness.
24:2Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped by tribes, and God's Spirit came within him.
24:3He took up his parable and said: Balaam son of Beor declares; the man who sees truly declares,
24:4one who hears God's oracles declares, who saw a vision of God in sleep, with his eyes uncovered:
24:5How beautiful are your houses, Jacob, your tents, Israel!
24:6Like shaded wooded valleys, like gardens beside rivers, like tents pitched by the Lord, like cedars beside waters.
24:7A man shall come forth from his offspring and rule over many nations. His kingdom shall rise higher than Gog, and his kingdom shall increase.
24:8God guided him out of Egypt; his glory is like a one-horned beast's. He shall devour the nations of his enemies, suck out their fat, and shoot down an enemy with his missiles.
24:9He lay down and rested like a lion, like a lion cub—who will rouse him? Those who bless you are blessed, and those who curse you are cursed.
Conflict Between Balak and Balaam
24:10Balak became angry with Balaam and clapped his hands. He said to Balaam: I summoned you to curse my enemy, and look, you have thoroughly blessed them this third time!
24:11Now flee to your own place! I said I would honor you, but now the Lord has deprived you of glory.
24:12Balaam said to Balak: Did I not tell the messengers you sent to me:
24:13Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the Lord's word to do evil or good on my own. Whatever God says, I must say.
24:14Now look, I am returning to my place. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people at the end of the days.
The Fourth Oracle
24:15He took up his parable and said: Balaam son of Beor declares; the man who sees truly declares,
24:16one who hears God's oracles, who knows knowledge from the Most High and has seen a vision of God in sleep, with his eyes uncovered:
24:17I will show him, but not now; I pronounce him blessed, but he does not draw near. A star shall rise from Jacob, and a man shall arise from Israel. He shall crush Moab's leaders and plunder all the sons of Seth.
24:18Edom shall become an inheritance, and Esau, his enemy, shall become an inheritance; Israel has acted with strength.
24:19One shall arise from Jacob and destroy whoever escapes from a city.
The Final Oracle
24:20He saw Amalek, took up his parable, and said: Amalek is the beginning of nations, and their offspring shall perish.
24:21He saw the Kenite, took up his parable, and said: Your dwelling is strong; even if you set your nest in a rock,
24:22even if a nest of craftiness should belong to Beor, Assyrians shall take you captive.
24:23He saw Og, took up his parable, and said: Alas, alas! Who will live when God brings these things about?
24:24One shall come forth from the hand of the Kitians, and they shall afflict Asshur and the Hebrews; they themselves shall perish together.
24:25Balaam rose and departed, returning to his place, and Balak went home.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.