Numbers 24

¹And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not seek omens as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

²When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,

³and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

⁴the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

⁵How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!

⁶They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.

⁷Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.

⁸God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

⁹He crouches, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”

¹⁰Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

¹¹Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”