Numbers Chapter 24 (NIV)
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Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at other times, but turned his face toward the desert.
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When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him
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and he uttered his oracle:“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,
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the oracle of one who hears the words of God,who sees a vision from the Almighty,who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
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“How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,your dwelling places, O Israel!
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“Like valleys they spread out,like gardens beside a river,like aloes planted by the Lord,like cedars beside the waters.
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Water will flow from their buckets;their seed will have abundant water.“Their king will be greater than Agag;their kingdom will be exalted.
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“God brought them out of Egypt;they have the strength of a wild ox.They devour hostile nationsand break their bones in pieces;with their arrows they pierce them.
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Like a lion they crouch and lie down,like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?“May those who bless you be blessedand those who curse you be cursed!”
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Then 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.
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Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
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Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,
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‘Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, 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’?
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Now 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.”
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Balaam’s Fourth OracleThen he uttered his oracle:“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,
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the oracle 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:
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“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 of all the sons of Sheth.
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Edom will be conquered;Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,but Israel will grow strong.
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A ruler will come out of Jacoband destroy the survivors of the city.”
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Balaam’s Final OraclesThen Balaam saw Amalek and uttered his oracle:“Amalek was first among the nations,but he will come to ruin at last.”
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Then he saw the Kenites and uttered his oracle:“Your dwelling place is secure,your nest is set in a rock;
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yet you Kenites will be destroyedwhen Asshur takes you captive.”
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Then he uttered his oracle:“Ah, who can live when God does this?
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Ships will come from the shores of Kittim;they will subdue Asshur and Eber,but they too will come to ruin.”
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Then Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went his own way.
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