Numbers 24
24
1Balaam saw that the Lord wanted to bless Israel, so he did not try to use any magic but looked toward the desert. 2When Balaam saw the Israelites camped in their tribes, the Spirit of God took control of him, 3and he gave this message:
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,
the message of a man who sees clearly;
4this is the message of a man who hears the words of God.
I see a vision from the Almighty,
and my eyes are open as I fall before him.
5Your tents are beautiful, people of Jacob!
So are your homes, Israel!
6Your tents spread out like valleys,
like gardens beside a river.
They are like spices planted by the Lord,
like cedar trees growing by the water.
7Israel’s water buckets will always be full,
and their crops will have plenty of water.
Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be very great.
8God brought them out of Egypt;
they are as strong as a wild ox.
They will defeat their enemies
and break their enemies’ bones;
they will shoot them with arrows.
9Like a lion, they lie waiting to attack;
like a lioness, no one would be brave enough to wake them.
Anyone who blesses you will be blessed,
and anyone who curses you will be cursed.”
10Then Balak was angry with Balaam, and he pounded his fist. He said to Balaam, “I called you here to curse my enemies, but you have continued to bless them three times. 11Now go home! I said I would pay you well, but the Lord has made you lose your reward.”
12Balaam said to Balak, “When you sent messengers to me, I told them, 13‘Balak could give me his palace filled with silver and gold, but I still cannot go against the Lord’s commands. I could not do anything, good or bad, on my own, but I must say what the Lord says.’ 14Now I am going back to my own people, but I will tell you what these people will do to your people in the future.”
Balaam’s Final Message
15Then Balaam gave this message:
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,
the message of a man who sees clearly;
16this is the message of a man who hears the words of God.
I know well the Most High God.
I see a vision from the Almighty,
and my eyes are open as I fall before him.
17I see someone who will come someday,
someone who will come, but not soon.
A star will come from Jacob;
a ruler will rise from Israel.
He will crush the heads of the Moabites
and smash the skulls of the sons of Sheth.
18Edom will be conquered;
his enemy Edom will be conquered,
but Israel will grow wealthy.
19A ruler will come from the descendants of Jacob
and will destroy those left in the city.”
20Then Balaam saw Amalek and gave this message:
“Amalek was the most important nation,
but Amalek will be destroyed at last.”
21Then Balaam saw the Kenites and gave this message:
“Your home is safe,
like a nest on a cliff.
22But you Kenites will be burned up;
Assyria will keep you captive.”
23Then Balaam gave this message:
“No one can live when God does this.
24Ships will sail from the shores of Cyprus
and defeat Assyria and Eber,
but they will also be destroyed.”
25Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak also went on his way.
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Numbers 24: NCV
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.