1And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of YHWH to bless Israel, and he did not go, as time after time, to meet enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes; and the spirit (ruach) of God came upon him.
3And he took up his parable, and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, and the utterance of the man whose eye is opened;
4the utterance of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, yet with eyes uncovered:
5How good are your tents, O Jacob, your tabernacles (mishkan), O Israel!
6Like valleys they are stretched out, like gardens by a river, like aloes YHWH has planted, like cedars beside waters.
7Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed in many waters; and his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.
8God who brings him out from Egypt is for him like the lofty horns of the wild ox; he will eat up the nations, his adversaries, and he will gnaw their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
9He crouches, he lies down like a lion, and like a lioness; who will rouse him? Those who bless you are blessed, and those who curse you are cursed.
10And the anger of Balak was kindled against Balaam, and he clapped his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have utterly blessed them these three times.
11And now, flee for yourself to your place; I said I would greatly honor you, but behold, YHWH has kept you back from honor."
12And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying:
13'If Balak would give me the fullness of his house of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the mouth of YHWH, to do good or evil from my own heart; what YHWH speaks, that I will speak'?
14And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days."
15And he took up his parable, and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, and the utterance of the man whose eye is opened;
16the utterance of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High (Elyon), who sees the vision of Shaddai, falling down, yet with eyes uncovered:
17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: there steps forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter rises out of Israel, and it shall smite the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir shall be a possession, his enemies; while Israel does valiantly.
19And one out of Jacob shall have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.
20And he looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: "Amalek was the first of the nations, but his end shall be to destruction."
21And he looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said: "Firm is your dwelling place, and set in the rock is your nest;
22nevertheless Kain shall be for burning; how long until Asshur takes you captive?"
23And he took up his parable, and said: "Alas, who shall live when God appoints it?
24And ships from the hand of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber; and he also shall be to destruction."
25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went on his way.