8. God brought them out of Egypt;He fights for them like a wild ox.They devour their enemies,Crush their bones, smash their arrows.
9. The nation is like a mighty lion;When it is sleeping, no one dares wake it.Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed,And whoever curses Israel will be cursed.”
10. Balak clenched his fists in anger and said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but three times now you have blessed them instead.
11. Now go off home! I promised to reward you, but the Lord has kept you from getting the reward.”
12. Balaam answered, “I told the messengers you sent to me that
13. even if you gave me all the silver and gold in your palace, I could not disobey the command of the Lord by doing anything of myself. I will say only what the Lord tells me to say.”
14. Balaam said to Balak, “Now I am going back to my own people, but before I go, I am warning you what the people of Israel will do to your people in the future.”
15. Then he uttered this prophecy:“The message of Balaam son of Beor,The words of the man who can see clearly,
16. Who can hear what God is sayingAnd receive the knowledge that comes from the Most High.With staring eyes I see in a tranceA vision from Almighty God.
17. I look into the future,And I see the nation of Israel.A king, like a bright star, will arise in that nation.Like a comet he will come from Israel.He will strike the leaders of MoabAnd beat down all the people of Seth.
18. He will conquer his enemies in EdomAnd make their land his property,While Israel continues victorious.
19. The nation of Israel will trample them downAnd wipe out the last survivors.”