1And Bileam saw that it was appointed before the Lord to bless Israel; and he went not as at those former times to inquire by divinations, but set his face towards the calf that the sons of Israel had made in the wilderness.
2And Bileam lifted up his eyes, and beheld Israel dwelling by his tribes; and the Spirit of prophecy rested upon him from before the Lord.
3And he took up his parable, and said: Bileam, the son of Beor, hath said, The man who saw the Beautiful hath said,
4he hath said who heard the Word from before God, Who saw the vision of the Almighty, prostrate when he saw:
5How goodly is thy land, O Jakob, And the house of thy habitation, O Israel!
6As rivers flowing onward; as the watered garden by Euphrates, As aromatics planted by the Lord; as cedars planted by the waters.
7The king anointed from his sons shall increase, And have dominion over many nations; His king shall be mightier than Agag, and his kingdom be exalted.
8God, who brought them from Mizraim, is mighty and high, and by Him Shall Israel use the wealth of the nations their foes, Enjoy the spoils of their kings, and inherit their lands.
9He reposed in his strength, as the lion and the lioness, And no kingdom may commove him. They who bless thee shall be blessed, And they who curse thee be accursed.
10And the anger of Balak was roused against Bileam, and he smote his hands together. And Balak said to Bileam, I called thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, blessing hast thou blessed them these three times!
11And now go to thy place. I said, Honouring I would honour thee; but, behold, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.
12But Bileam said to Balak, Did I not also tell the messengers whom thou sentest to me, saying,
13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I have no power to transgress the decree of the Word of the Lord, to do good or evil of my own will; whatsoever the Lord shall sat that will I speak?
14And now, behold, I go unto my people. Come, I will give thee counsel what thou shouldst do; and will show thee what this people will do unto thy people at the end of the days.
15And he took up his parable, and said: Bileam, the son of Beor, speaketh, The man who saw the Beautiful speaketh,
16He speaks who heard the Word from before God, And who knoweth knowledge from the Most High, Who saw the vision of the Almighty, prostrate when he saw.
17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh. When a king shall arise out of Jakob, And the Meshiha be anointed from Israel, He will slay the princes of Moab, and reign over all the children of men;
18And Edom shall be an inheritance, And Seir a possession of his adversaries; But Israel shall prosper in riches.
19One will descend from the house of Jakob, Who will destroy him that escapeth from the city of the peoples.
20And he looked on the Amalkaah, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the beginning of the wars of Israel, But in his end he shall perish forever.
21And he beheld the Shalmaah, and took up his parable, and said: Strong is the house of thy dwelling, And in a strong fortress thou hast set thy abode;
22But yet Shalmaah shall be destroyed, For Athuria will make thee captive.
23And he took up his parable, and said: Woe to the wicked who may live when God doeth this!
24And ships will come from the Kittaee, And afflict Athur, and subdue beyond the Phrat; But they also shall perish forever.
25And Bileam arose, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went upon his way.