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<!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 ESV</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><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="../">ESV</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">English Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/esv/nas/numbers/24.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div></a><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Balaam’s Third Oracle</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>When Balaam saw that it pleased the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>and he took up his discourse and said,</p><span class="block-indent"><p class="line-group"><span class="ln-group">“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,</span><br /><span class="indent">the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or closed, or perfect; also verse 15">a</a></sup></span></span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">the oracle of him who hears the words of God,</span><br /><span class="indent">who sees the vision of the Almighty,</span><br /><span class="indent">falling down with his eyes uncovered:</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,</span><br /><span class="indent">your encampments, O Israel!</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Like palm groves<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or valleys">b</a></sup></span> that stretch afar,</span><br /><span class="indent">like gardens beside a river,</span><br /><span class="ln-group">like aloes that the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> has planted,</span><br /><span class="indent">like cedar trees beside the waters.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Water shall flow from his buckets,</span><br /><span class="indent">and his seed shall be in many waters;</span><br /><span class="ln-group">his king shall be higher than Agag,</span><br /><span class="indent">and his kingdom shall be exalted.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">God brings him out of Egypt</span><br /><span class="indent">and is for him like the horns of the wild ox;</span><br /><span class="ln-group">he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries,</span><br /><span class="indent">and shall break their bones in pieces</span><br /><span class="indent">and pierce them through with his arrows.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">He crouched, he lay down like a lion</span><br /><span class="indent">and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?</span><br /><span class="ln-group">Blessed are those who bless you,</span><br /><span class="indent">and cursed are those who curse you.”</span></p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> has held you back from honor.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> speaks, that will I speak’? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”</p> <p class="heading">Balaam’s Final Oracle</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>And he took up his discourse and said,</p><span class="block-indent"><p class="line-group"><span class="ln-group">“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,</span><br /><span class="indent">the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">the oracle of him who hears the words of God,</span><br /><span class="indent">and knows the knowledge of the Most High,</span><br /><span class="ln-group">who sees the vision of the Almighty,</span><br /><span class="indent">falling down with his eyes uncovered:</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">I see him, but not now;</span><br /><span class="indent">I behold him, but not near:</span><br /><span class="ln-group">a star shall come out of Jacob,</span><br /><span class="indent">and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;</span><br /><span class="ln-group">it shall crush the forehead<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew corners [of the head]">c</a></sup></span> of Moab</span><br /><span class="indent">and break down all the sons of Sheth.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Edom shall be dispossessed;</span><br /><span class="indent">Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.</span><br /><span class="indent">Israel is doing valiantly.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion</span><br /><span class="indent">and destroy the survivors of cities!”</span></p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said,</p><span class="block-indent"><p class="line-group"><span class="ln-group">“Amalek was the first among the nations,</span><br /><span class="indent">but its end is utter destruction.”</span></p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said,</p><span class="block-indent"><p class="line-group"><span class="ln-group">“Enduring is your dwelling place,</span><br /><span class="indent">and your nest is set in the rock.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned</span><br /><span class="indent">when Asshur takes you away captive.”</span></p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>And he took up his discourse and said,</p><span class="block-indent"><p class="line-group"><span class="ln-group">“Alas, who shall live when God does this?</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span><span class="indent">But ships shall come from Kittim</span><br /><span class="ln-group">and shall afflict Asshur and Eber;</span><br /><span class="indent">and he too shall come to utter destruction.”</span></p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/24-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="footnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">3</span> Or <i>closed</i>, or <i>perfect</i>; also verse 15<br /><span class="footnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">6</span> Or <i>valleys</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">17</span> Hebrew <i>corners</i> [of the head]<br /></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">ESV Text Edition® (2016).<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="http://www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. 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