(KJV) Numbers 24¹

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⥃Balaam’s Third Oracle

[1] And when Balaam saw² that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times³, to seek for enchantments⁴, but he set his face toward the wilderness. [2] And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding⁵ [in his tents] according to their tribes; and the spirit⁶ of God came upon him. [3] And he took up⁷ his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said⁸: [4] He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw⁹ the vision of the Almighty, falling¹⁰ [into a trance], but having his eyes open: [5] How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy tabernacles, O Israel! [6] As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens¹¹ by the river’s side, as the trees¹² of lign aloes which the¹³ Lord hath planted, [and] as cedar¹⁴ trees beside the waters. [7] He shall pour¹⁵ the water out of his buckets, and his seed [shall be] in many waters¹⁶, and his king¹⁷ shall be higher than Agag¹⁸, and his kingdom¹⁹ shall be exalted. [8] God²⁰ brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat²¹ up the nations his enemies, and shall break²² their bones, and pierce²³ [them] through with his arrows. [9] He couched²⁴, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall²⁵ stir him up? Blessed²⁶ [is] he that blesseth thee, and cursed [is] he that curseth thee.

⥃Balak Dismisses Balaam

[10] And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote²⁷ his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called²⁸ thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times. [11] Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought²⁹ to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord³⁰ hath kept thee back from honour. [12] And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,³¹ [13] If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do [either] good or bad of mine own mind; [but] what the Lord saith, that will I speak? [14] And now, behold, I go unto my people: come [therefore], [and] I will advertise³² thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter³³ days.

⥃Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

[15] And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:³⁴ [16] He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:³⁵ [17] I shall see him³⁶, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star³⁷ out of Jacob, and a Sceptre³⁸ shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab³⁹⁴⁰, and destroy all the children⁴¹ of Sheth⁴². [18] And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.⁴³ [19] Out of Jacob⁴⁴ shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy⁴⁵ him that remaineth of the city.

⥃Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

[20] [¶]And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek [was] the first of the nations⁴⁶; but his latter end⁴⁷ [shall be] that he perish for ever⁴⁸. [21] And he looked on the Kenites⁴⁹, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. [22] Nevertheless the Kenite⁵⁰ shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. [23] And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God⁵¹ doeth this! [24] And ships [shall come] from the coast of Chittim⁵², and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber⁵³, and he also⁵⁴ shall perish for ever. [25] And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way. ⁵⁵

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