rsv Numbers:24:1-25 SEEK
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When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel ,
he did not go ,
as at other times ,
to look for omens ,
but set his face toward the wilderness .
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And Balaam lifted up his eyes ,
and saw Israel encamping tribe by tribe .
And the Spirit of God came upon him ,
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and he took up his discourse ,
and said , "
The oracle of Balaam the son of Be '
or ,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened ,
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the oracle of him who hears the words of God ,
who sees the vision of the Almighty ,
falling down ,
but having his eyes uncovered :
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how fair are your tents ,
O Jacob ,
your encampments ,
O Israel !
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Like valleys that stretch afar ,
like gardens beside a river ,
like aloes that the LORD has planted ,
like cedar trees beside the waters .
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Water shall flow from his buckets ,
and his seed shall be in many waters ,
his king shall be higher than Agag ,
and his kingdom shall be exalted .
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God brings him out of Egypt ;
he has as it were the horns of the wild ox ,
he shall eat up the nations his adversaries ,
and shall break their bones in pieces ,
and pierce them through with his arrows .
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He couched ,
he lay down like a lion ,
and like a lioness ;
who will rouse him up ?
Blessed be every one who blesses you ,
and cursed be every one who curses you ."
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And Balak '
s anger was kindled against Balaam ,
and he struck his hands together ;
and Balak said to Balaam , "
I called you to curse my enemies ,
and behold ,
you have blessed them these three times .
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Therefore now flee to your place ;
I said , `
I will certainly honor you ,'
but the LORD has held you back from honor ."
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And Balaam said to Balak , "
Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me ,
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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 speaks ,
that will I speak '?
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And now ,
behold ,
I am going to my people ;
come ,
I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days ."
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And he took up his discourse ,
and said , "
The oracle of Balaam the son of Be '
or ,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened ,
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the oracle of him who hears the words of God ,
and knows the knowledge of the Most High ,
who sees the vision of the Almighty ,
falling down ,
but having his eyes uncovered :
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I see him ,
but not now ;
I behold him ,
but not nigh :
a star shall come forth out of Jacob ,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel ;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab ,
and break down all the sons of Sheth .
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Edom shall be dispossessed ,
Se '
ir also ,
his enemies ,
shall be dispossessed ,
while Israel does valiantly .
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By Jacob shall dominion be exercised ,
and the survivors of cities be destroyed !"
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Then he looked on Am '
alek ,
and took up his discourse ,
and said , "
Am '
alek was the first of the nations ,
but in the end he shall come to destruction ."
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And he looked on the Ken '
ite ,
and took up his discourse ,
and said , "
Enduring is your dwelling place ,
and your nest is set in the rock ;
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nevertheless Kain shall be wasted .
How long shall Asshur take you away captive ?"
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And he took up his discourse ,
and said , "
Alas ,
who shall live when God does this ?
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But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber ;
and he also shall come to destruction ."
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Then Balaam rose ,
and went back to his place ;
and Balak also went his way .