King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
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Now Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, so he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
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Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. Then the spirit of God came upon him,
3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
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and he uttered his oracle, saying: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is clear,
4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
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the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, but with eyes uncovered:
5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
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how fair are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!
6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
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Like palm groves that stretch far away, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.
7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
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Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall have abundant water, his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
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God who brings him out of Egypt, is like the horns of a wild ox for him; he shall devour the nations that are his foes and break their bones. He shall strike with his arrows.
9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
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He crouched, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is everyone who curses you."
10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
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Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead you have blessed them these three times.
11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
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Now be off with you! Go home! I said, "I will reward you richly,' but the Lord has denied you any reward."
12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
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And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me,
13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
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"If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will; what the Lord says, that is what I will say'?
14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
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So now, I am going to my people; let me advise you what this people will do to your people in days to come."
15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
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So he uttered his oracle, saying: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is clear,
16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
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the oracle of one who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, but with his eyes uncovered:
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
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I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near— a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the borderlands of Moab, and the territory of all the Shethites.
18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
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Edom will become a possession, Seir a possession of its enemies, while Israel does valiantly.
19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
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One out of Jacob shall rule, and destroy the survivors of Ir."
20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
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Then he looked on Amalek, and uttered his oracle, saying: "First among the nations was Amalek, but its end is to perish forever."
21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
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Then he looked on the Kenite, and uttered his oracle, saying: "Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock;
22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
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yet Kain is destined for burning. How long shall Asshur take you away captive?"
23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
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Again he uttered his oracle, saying: "Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
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But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he also shall perish forever."
25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
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Then Balaam got up and went back to his place, and Balak also went his way.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.