1. And Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, and he did not go as other times to seek out sorcery; instead, he set his face toward the desert.
2. Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon it.
3. He uttered his oracle and said, “The declaration of Balaam son Beor, the declaration of the man whose eyes are closed,
4. the declaration of the hearer of God’s words, who sees the revelation of Shaddai, falling down but whose eyes are uncovered.
5. How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!
6. They are spread out like valleys, like gardens on a river, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars at the waters.
7. He will pour water from his buckets, and his offspring will be like many waters; his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.
8. God, who brings him out from Egypt, is like the strength of a wild ox for him. He will devour the nations who are his enemies; he will break their bones; he will pierce them with his arrows.
9. He crouches, he lies down like a lion, and like a lioness, who will rouse him? They who bless you will be blessed, and they who curse you will be cursed.”
10. Then Balak became angry with Balaam, and he clapped his hands and said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have surely blessed them these three times.