1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

1 Cumque vidisset Balaam quod placeret Domino ut benediceret Israëli, nequaquam abiit ut ante perrexerat, ut augurium quæreret: sed dirigens contra desertum vultum suum,

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

2 et elevans oculos, vidit Israël in tentoriis commorantem per tribus suas: et irruente in se spiritu Dei,

3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

3 assumpta parabola, ait: Dixit Balaam filius Beor:
dixit homo, cujus obturatus est oculus:

4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

4 dixit auditor sermonum Dei,
qui visionem Omnipotentis intuitus est,
qui cadit, et sic aperiuntur oculi ejus:

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

5 Quam pulchra tabernacula tua, Jacob,
et tentoria tua, Israël!

6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

6 ut valles nemorosæ,
ut horti juxta fluvios irrigui,
ut tabernacula quæ fixit Dominus,
quasi cedri prope aquas.

7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

7 Fluet aqua de situla ejus,
et semen illius erit in aquas multas.
Tolletur propter Agag, rex ejus,
et auferetur regnum illius.

8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

8 Deus eduxit illum de Ægypto,
cujus fortitudo similis est rhinocerotis.
Devorabunt gentes hostes illius,
ossaque eorum confringent, et perforabunt sagittis.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

9 Accubans dormivit ut leo,
et quasi leæna, quam suscitare nullus audebit.
Qui benedixerit tibi, erit et ipse benedictus:
qui maledixerit, in maledictione reputabitur.

10 ¶ And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

10 ¶ Iratusque Balac contra Balaam, complosis manibus ait: Ad maledicendum inimicis meis vocavi te, quibus e contrario tertio benedixisti:

11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.

11 revertere ad locum tuum. Decreveram quidem magnifice honorare te, sed Dominus privavit te honore disposito.

12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

12 Respondit Balaam ad Balac: Nonne nuntiis tuis, quos misisti ad me, dixi:

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?

13 Si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri, non potero præterire sermonem Domini Dei mei, ut vel boni quid vel mali proferam ex corde meo: sed quidquid Dominus dixerit, hoc loquar?

14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

14 verumtamen pergens ad populum meum, dabo consilium, quid populus tuus populo huic faciat extremo tempore.

15 ¶ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

15 Sumpta igitur parabola, rursum ait: Dixit Balaam filius Beor:
dixit homo, cujus obturatus est oculus:

16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

16 dixit auditor sermonum Dei,
qui novit doctrinam Altissimi,
et visiones Omnipotentis videt,
qui cadens apertos habet oculos:

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

17 Videbo eum, sed non modo:
intuebor illum, sed non prope.
Orietur stella ex Jacob,
et consurget virga de Israël:
et percutiet duces Moab,
vastabitque omnes filios Seth.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

18 Et erit Idumæa possessio ejus:
hæreditas Seir cedet inimicis suis:
Israël vero fortiter aget.

19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

19 De Jacob erit qui dominetur,
et perdat reliquias civitatis.

20 ¶ And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

20 ¶ Cumque vidisset Amalec, assumens parabolam, ait: Principium gentium Amalec,
cujus extrema perdentur.

21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

21 ¶ Vidit quoque Cinæum: et assumpta parabola, ait: Robustum quidem est habitaculum tuum:
sed si in petra posueris nidum tuum,

22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

22 et fueris electus de stirpe Cin,
quamdiu poteris permanere? Assur enim capiet te.

23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

23 ¶ Assumptaque parabola iterum locutus est: Heu! quis victurus est,
quando ista faciet Deus?

24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

24 Venient in trieribus de Italia:
superabunt Assyrios, vastabuntque Hebræos, et ad extremum etiam ipsi peribunt.

25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

25 ¶ Surrexitque Balaam, et reversus est in locum suum: Balac quoque via, qua venerat, rediit.