New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 By now Balaam realized that the LORD was determined to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as before. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness,
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By now Balaam realized that God wanted to bless Israel. So he didn't work in any sorcery as he had done earlier. He turned and looked out over the wilderness.
2 where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,
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As Balaam looked, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came on him,
3 and this is the message he delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,
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and he spoke his oracle-message: Decree of Balaam son of Beor, yes, decree of a man with 20/20 vision;
4 the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
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Decree of a man who hears God speak, who sees what The Strong God shows him, Who falls on his face in worship, who sees what's really going on.
5 How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel!
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What beautiful tents, Jacob, oh, your homes, Israel!
6 They spread before me like palm groves, like gardens by the riverside. They are like tall trees planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.
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Like valleys stretching out in the distance, like gardens planted by rivers, Like sweet herbs planted by the gardener God, like red cedars by pools and springs,
7 Water will flow from their buckets; their offspring have all they need. Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.
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Their buckets will brim with water, their seed will spread life everywhere. Their king will tower over Agag and his ilk, their kingdom surpassingly majestic.
8 God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. He devours all the nations that oppose him, breaking their bones in pieces, shooting them with arrows.
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God brought them out of Egypt, rampaging like a wild ox, Gulping enemies like morsels of meat, crushing their bones, snapping their arrows.
9 Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to arouse her? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you.”
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Israel crouches like a lion and naps, king-of-the-beasts - who dares disturb him? Whoever blesses you is blessed, whoever curses you is cursed.
10 King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, “I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times.
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Balak lost his temper with Balaam. He shook his fist. He said to Balaam: "I got you in here to curse my enemies and what have you done? Blessed them! Blessed them three times!
11 Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has kept you from your reward.”
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Get out of here! Go home! I told you I would pay you well, but you're getting nothing. You can blame God."
12 Balaam told Balak, “Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said,
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Balaam said to Balak, "Didn't I tell you up front when you sent your emissaries,
13 ‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the LORD .’ I told you that I could say only what the LORD says!
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'Even if Balak gave me his palace stuffed with silver and gold, I couldn't do anything on my own, whether good or bad, that went against God's command'?
14 Now I am returning to my own people. But first let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future.”
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I'm leaving for home and my people, but I warn you of what this people will do to your people in the days to come."
15 This is the message Balaam delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,
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Then he spoke his oracle-message: Decree of Balaam son of Beor, decree of the man with 20/20 vision,
16 the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
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Decree of the man who hears godly speech, who knows what's going on with the High God, Who sees what The Strong God reveals, who bows in worship and sees what's real.
17 I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.
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I see him, but not right now, I perceive him, but not right here; A star rises from Jacob a scepter from Israel, Crushing the heads of Moab, the skulls of all the noisy windbags;
18 Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph.
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I see Edom sold off at auction, enemy Seir marked down at the flea market, while Israel walks off with the trophies.
19 A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”
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A ruler is coming from Jacob who'll destroy what's left in the city.
20 Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message: “Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!”
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Then Balaam spotted Amalek and delivered an oracle-message. He said, Amalek, you're in first place among nations right now, but you're going to come in last, ruined.
21 Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message: “Your home is secure; your nest is set in the rocks.
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He saw the Kenites and delivered his oracle-message to them: Your home is in a nice secure place, like a nest high on the face of a cliff.
22 But the Kenites will be destroyed when Assyria takes you captive.”
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Still, you Kenites will look stupid when Asshur takes you prisoner.
23 Balaam concluded his messages by saying: “Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it?
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Balaam spoke his final oracle-message: Doom! Who stands a chance when God starts in?
24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus ; they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber, but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.”
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Sea-Peoples, raiders from across the sea, will harass Asshur and Eber, But they'll also come to nothing, just like all the rest.
25 Then Balaam left and returned home, and Balak also went on his way.
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Balaam got up and went home. Balak also went on his way.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.