Numbers 24 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Balaam saw that the Lord wanted to bless Israel. So Balaam did not try to change that by using any kind of magic. But Balaam turned and looked toward the desert.

² Balaam looked out across the desert and saw all the people of Israel. They were camped with the family groups in their different areas. Then the Spirit of God came to Balaam.

³ And Balaam said these words:

⁴ I heard this message from God. I saw what God All-Powerful [299] showed me. I humbly tell what I clearly see.

⁵ “People of Jacob, your tents are beautiful! People of Israel, your homes are beautiful!

⁶ You are like gardens planted by the streams. You are like gardens growing by the rivers. You are like sweet-smelling bushes planted by the Lord. You are like beautiful trees growing by the water.

⁷ You will always have enough water, enough water for your seeds to grow. Your king will be greater than king Agag. Your kingdom will be very great.

⁸ “God brought those people out of Egypt. They are as strong as a wild ox. They will defeat all their enemies. They will break their bones and shatter their arrows.

⁹ “Israel is like a lion, curled up and lying down. Yes, they are like a young lion, and no one wants to wake him! Any person who blesses you will be blessed. And any person who speaks against you will have great troubles.”

¹⁰ Balak became very angry at Balaam. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to come and speak against my enemies. But you have blessed them. You have blessed them three times.

¹¹ Now leave and go home! I told you that I would give you a very good payment. But the Lord has caused you to lose your reward.”

¹² Balaam said to Balak, “You sent men to me. Those men asked me to come. But I told them,

¹³ ‘Balak can give me his most beautiful house filled with silver and gold. But I can still say only the things that the Lord commands me to say. I cannot do anything myself, good or bad. I must say what the Lord commands.’ Surely you remember that I told your men these things.

¹⁴ Now I am going back to my own people. But I will give you this warning. I will tell you what these people of Israel will do to you and your people in the future.”

¹⁵ Then Balaam said these things:

¹⁶ I heard this message from God. I learned what God Most-High taught me. I saw what God All-Powerful [300] showed me. I humbly tell what I clearly see.

¹⁷ “I see the Lord coming, but not now. I see him coming, but not soon. A star will come from the family of Jacob. [301] A new ruler will come from the people of Israel. That ruler will crush the heads of the Moabite people. That ruler will crush the heads of all the sons of Sheth. [302]

¹⁸ Israel will grow strong! He will get the land of Edom. He will get the land of Seir, [303] his enemy.

¹⁹ “A new ruler will come from the family of Jacob. [304] That ruler will destroy the people left alive in that city.”

²⁰ Then Balaam saw the Amalekite people and said these words:

²¹ Then Balaam saw the Kenite people and he said these words:

²² But you Kenite [306] people will be destroyed, just like the Lord destroyed Cain. [307] Assyria will make you prisoners.”

²³ Then Balaam said these words:

²⁴ Ships will come from Cyprus. [308] They will defeat Assyria and Eber. [309] But those ships will also be destroyed.”

²⁵ Then Balaam got up and went back home. And Balak went his own way.