CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 24 NIV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/numbers/24.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/numbers/24-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NIV</a> > Numbers 24</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../numbers/23.htm" title="Numbers 23">◄</a> Numbers 24 <a href="../numbers/25.htm" title="Numbers 25">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/numbers/24.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the <span class="name">Lord</span> to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>and he spoke his message:</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,</p><p class="line2">the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,</p><p class="line2">who sees a vision from the Almighty, <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16">a</a></sup></span> </p><p class="line2">who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>“How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,</p><p class="line2">your dwelling places, Israel!</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>“Like valleys they spread out,</p><p class="line2">like gardens beside a river,</p><p class="line1">like aloes planted by the <span class="name">Lord</span>,</p><p class="line2">like cedars beside the waters.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Water will flow from their buckets;</p><p class="line2">their seed will have abundant water.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“Their king will be greater than Agag;</p><p class="line2">their kingdom will be exalted.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>“God brought them out of Egypt;</p><p class="line2">they have the strength of a wild ox.</p><p class="line1">They devour hostile nations</p><p class="line2">and break their bones in pieces;</p><p class="line2">with their arrows they pierce them.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Like a lion they crouch and lie down,</p><p class="line2">like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“May those who bless you be blessed</p><p class="line2">and those who curse you be cursed!”</p></div> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the <span class="name">Lord</span> has kept you from being rewarded.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>‘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 <span class="name">Lord</span>—and I must say only what the <span class="name">Lord</span> says’? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>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.”</p> <p class="sectionhead">Balaam’s Fourth Message</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Then he spoke his message:</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,</p><p class="line2">the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,</p><p class="line2">who has knowledge from the Most High,</p><p class="line1">who sees a vision from the Almighty,</p><p class="line2">who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>“I see him, but not now;</p><p class="line2">I behold him, but not near.</p><p class="line1">A star will come out of Jacob;</p><p class="line2">a scepter will rise out of Israel.</p><p class="line1">He will crush the foreheads of Moab,</p><p class="line2">the skulls <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.">b</a></sup></span> of <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or possibly Moab, batter">c</a></sup></span> all the people of Sheth. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or all the noisy boasters">d</a></sup></span> </p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Edom will be conquered;</p><p class="line2">Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,</p><p class="line2">but Israel will grow strong.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>A ruler will come out of Jacob</p><p class="line2">and destroy the survivors of the city.”</p></div> <p class="sectionhead">Balaam’s Fifth Message</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“Amalek was first among the nations,</p><p class="line2">but their end will be utter destruction.”</p></div> <p class="sectionhead">Balaam’s Sixth Message</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“Your dwelling place is secure,</p><p class="line2">your nest is set in a rock;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>yet you Kenites will be destroyed</p><p class="line2">when Ashur takes you captive.”</p></div> <p class="sectionhead">Balaam’s Seventh Message</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Then he spoke his message:</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“Alas! Who can live when God does this? <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.">e</a></sup></span> </p> <p class="line2"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;</p><p class="line1">they will subdue Ashur and Eber,</p><p class="line2">but they too will come to ruin.”</p></div> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">4</span> <span class="footnotebot">Hebrew <i>Shaddai</i>; also in verse 16</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">17</span> <span class="footnotebot">Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">17</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or possibly <i>Moab,<br />     batter</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">17</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>all the noisy boasters</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">e</span> <span class="fnverse">23</span> <span class="footnotebot">Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew <i>The people from the islands will gather from the north</i>.</span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="http://biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.</p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../numbers/23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../numbers/25.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 25"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 25" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/numbers/24-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenubib2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>