5. Your tents are beautiful, people of Jacob!So are your homes, Israel!
6. Your tents spread out like valleys.They are like gardens beside a river.They are like spices planted by the Lord.They are like cedar trees growing by the water.
7. Israel’s water buckets will always be full.Their crops will have plenty of water.Their king will be greater than Agag.Their kingdom will be very great.
8. God brought them out of Egypt.They are as strong as a wild ox.They will defeat their enemies.They will break their enemies’ bones.They will shoot them with arrows.
9. Like a lion, they lie waiting to attack.No one would wake a sleeping lion.Anyone who blesses you will be blessed.And anyone who curses you will be cursed.”
10. Then Balak was angry with Balaam. Balak pounded his fist. He said to Balaam, “I called you here to curse my enemies. But you have blessed them three times.
11. Now go home! I said I would pay you well. But the Lord has made you lose your reward.”
12. Balaam said to Balak, “You sent messengers to me. I told them,
13. ‘Balak could give me his palace filled with silver and gold. But I still cannot go against the Lord’s commands. I could not do anything, good or bad, on my own. I must say what the Lord says.’
14. Now I am going back to my own people. But I will tell you what these people will do to your people in the future.”