1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased God to bless Israel, he did not go according to his custom to meet the omens, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and sees Israel encamped by their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam son of Beor says, the man who sees truly says, 4 he says who hears the oracle of the Mighty One, who saw a vision of God in sleep; his eyes were opened: 5 How goodly are thy habitations, Jacob, and thy tents, Israel! 6 as shady groves, and as gardens by a river, and as tents which God pitched, and as cedars by the waters. 7 There shall come a man out of his seed, and he shall rule over many nations; and the kingdom of Gog shall be exalted, and his kingdom shall be increased. 8 God led him out of Egypt; he has as it were the glory of a unicorn: he shall consume the nations of his enemies, and he shall [a]drain their marrow, and with his darts he shall shoot through the enemy. 9 He lay down, he rested as a lion, and as a young lion; who shall stir him up? they that bless thee are blessed, and they that curse thee are cursed.

10 And Balac was angry with Balaam, and clapped his hands together; and Balac said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemy, and behold thou hast decidedly blessed him this third time. 11 Now therefore flee to thy place: I said, I will honour thee, but now the Lord has deprived thee of glory. 12 And Balaam said to Balac, Did I not speak to thy messengers also whom thou sentest to me, saying, 13 If Balac should give me his house full of silver and gold, I shall not be able to [b]transgress the word of the Lord to make it good or bad by myself; whatsoever things God shall say, them will I speak. 14 And now, behold, I return to my place; come, I will advise thee of what this people shall do to thy people in the last days.

15 And he took up his parable and said,