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.
11. Flee to your place now. I said I would richly honor you, but look, Yahweh has withheld honor from you.”
12. Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
13. ‘If Balak gave to me the fullness of his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond the command of Yahweh to do good or evil, from my heart; what Yahweh speaks, I will speak’?
14. And now, look, I am about to go to my people; I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the following days.”
15. And he uttered his oracle and said, “The declaration of Balaam son of Beor, and the declaration of the man whose eye is closed,