nsb - Numbers:23-24

nsb@Numbers:23:1 @ He said to Balak: »Build seven altars here for me. Then bring me seven bulls and seven rams.«

nsb@Numbers:23:2 @ Balak did as he was told. He and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

nsb@Numbers:23:3 @ Then Balaam said to Balak: »Stand here by your burnt offering. I will go to see whether or not Jehovah will meet me. I will tell you what he reveals to me.« So he went alone to the top of a hill.

nsb@Numbers:23:4 @ God met him and Balaam said to God: »I have built the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each.«

nsb@Numbers:23:5 @ Jehovah told Balaam: »Go back to Balak and give him my message.«

nsb@Numbers:23:6 @ He went back to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with all the princes of Moab.

nsb@Numbers:23:7 @ Balaam delivered this message: »Balak brought me from Aram. The king of Moab summoned me from the eastern mountains. Come and curse Jacob for me,« he said. Come and condemn Israel.

nsb@Numbers:23:8 @ »How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom Jehovah has not condemned?

nsb@Numbers:23:9 @ »I see them from the top of rocky cliffs. I look at them from the hills. I see a nation that lives by itself! These are people who do not consider themselves to be like other nations.

nsb@Numbers:23:10 @ »The descendants of Jacob are like specks of dust. Who can count them or number even one-fourth of the people of Israel? Let me die the death of innocent people. Let my end be like theirs.«

nsb@Numbers:23:11 @ Balak responded to Balaam: »What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you have done is bless them!«

nsb@Numbers:23:12 @ Balaam answered: »I must say what Jehovah tells me to say.«

nsb@Numbers:23:13 @ Balak said: »Please come with me to another place, where you can see the Israelites. You will see only some of them, not all of them. Curse them for me from there.«

nsb@Numbers:23:14 @ So he took him to the Field of Zophim on top of Mount Pisgah. He built seven altars there. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

nsb@Numbers:23:15 @ Then Balaam said to Balak: »Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet with God over there.«

nsb@Numbers:23:16 @ Jehovah met Balaam and told him what to say. He sent him back to Balak to give him his message.

nsb@Numbers:23:17 @ So he returned and found Balak still standing by his burnt offering. He was with the leaders of Moab. Balak asked what Jehovah said.

nsb@Numbers:23:18 @ Balaam uttered this prophecy: »Come, Balak son of Zippor, and listen to what I have to say.

nsb@Numbers:23:19 @ »God is a not man that he should lie. He is not a son of man who changes his mind. Does he ever promise and not fulfill? Does he ever speak and not act?

nsb@Numbers:23:20 @ »I have been instructed to bless. And when God blesses, I cannot call it back.

nsb@Numbers:23:21 @ »He has not observed wickedness in Jacob. Nor has he seen trouble in Israel! Jehovah his God is with him and the shout of a king is among them.

nsb@Numbers:23:22 @ »God brings them out of Egypt. He is for them like the horns of the wild bull.

nsb@Numbers:23:23 @ »For there is omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel. At the proper time it will be said to Jacob and Israel: What God has done!

nsb@Numbers:23:24 @ »Behold, the nation of Israel! It is like a mighty lion: It will rise and not lie down again until it has torn and devoured its pray. It will drink the blood of those it has killed.«

nsb@Numbers:23:25 @ Balak said to Balaam: »You refuse to curse the people of Israel, but at least do not bless them!«

nsb@Numbers:23:26 @ Balaam answered: »Did I not tell you that I must do everything Jehovah tells me?«

nsb@Numbers:23:27 @ Balak replied: »Come with me. I will take you to another place. Perhaps God will be willing to let you curse them for me from there.«

nsb@Numbers:23:28 @ So he took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor overlooking the desert.

nsb@Numbers:23:29 @ Balaam said to him: »Build seven altars for me here and bring me seven bulls and seven rams.«

nsb@Numbers:23:30 @ Balak did as he was told. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

nsb@Numbers:24:1 @ Balaam knew that Jehovah wanted him to bless the people of Israel. So he did not go to look for omens, as he had done before. He turned toward the desert.

nsb@Numbers:24:2 @ There he saw the people of Israel camped tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God took control of him.

nsb@Numbers:24:3 @ He uttered this prophecy: The message of Balaam son of Beor. These are the words of the man who can see clearly.

nsb@Numbers:24:4 @ The oracle of him who hears the words of God and who sees the vision of the Almighty. Falling down, yet having his eyes open.

nsb@Numbers:24:5 @ How good are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!

nsb@Numbers:24:6 @ »They are like valleys that stretch out, like gardens beside the river, like aloes planted by Jehovah, like cedars beside the waters.

nsb@Numbers:24:7 @ »Water will flow from his buckets and his seed will be by many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. And his kingdom shall be exalted.

nsb@Numbers:24:8 @ »God brings him out of Egypt. He is for him like the horns of the wild bull. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries. He will crush their bones in pieces and shatter them with his arrows.

nsb@Numbers:24:9 @ »He bows down and he lies down like a lion. Like a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you! Cursed is everyone who curses you!«

nsb@Numbers:24:10 @ Balaks anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and Balak said to Balaam: I called you to curse my enemies! But you have persisted in blessing them three times!

nsb@Numbers:24:11 @ Therefore, run away to your place now. I said: »I will honor you greatly, but Jehovah has held you back from honor.«

nsb@Numbers:24:12 @ Balaam replied to Balak: »Did I not tell the messengers whom you sent to me:

nsb@Numbers:24:13 @ »Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of Jehovah either good or bad, of my own accord. What Jehovah speaks, that I will speak!

nsb@Numbers:24:14 @ »Now I am going to my people. Come along and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.«

nsb@Numbers:24:15 @ He began his discourse by saying: »The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor. The oracle of the man, whose eye is opened,

nsb@Numbers:24:16 @ »The oracle of him who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and sees the vision of the Almighty. Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered.

nsb@Numbers:24:17 @ »I see him, but not now! I behold him, but not near! A star shall come forth from Jacob. A scepter shall rise from Israel and shall crush through the forehead of Moab. It will tear down all the sons of Sheth.

nsb@Numbers:24:18 @ »Edom shall be a possession. Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession. This while Israel performs valiantly.

nsb@Numbers:24:19 @ »One from Jacob will have dominion and will destroy the remnant from the city.«

nsb@Numbers:24:20 @ He looked at Amalek and continued his discourse. He said: Amalek was the first of the nations but he will end in destruction.

nsb@Numbers:24:21 @ And he looked at the Kenite and continued his discourse. He said: »Your dwelling place is enduring and your nest is set in the cliff.

nsb@Numbers:24:22 @ »Nevertheless Kain will be consumed! How long will Asshur keep you captive?«

nsb@Numbers:24:23 @ He again offered his discourse and said: »Alas, who can live except God ordain it?

nsb@Numbers:24:24 @ »Ships will come from the coast of Kittim. They will afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber. They will also come to destruction.«

nsb@Numbers:24:25 @ Balaam got up and went back home. Balak also went his way.

nsb@Numbers:25:1 @ While Israel remained at Shittim, the people indulged in sexual immorality with the Moabite women.