12-15 Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I tell you up front when you sent your emissaries, ‘Even if Balak gave me his palace stuffed with silver and gold, I couldn’t do anything on my own, whether good or bad, that went against God’s command’? I’m leaving for home and my people, but I warn you of what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” Then he spoke his oracle-message:

15-19 Decree of Balaam son of Beor,
    decree of the man with 20/20 vision,
Decree of the man who hears godly speech,
    who knows what’s going on with the High God,
Who sees what The Strong God reveals,
    who bows in worship and sees what’s real.
I see him, but not right now,
    I perceive him, but not right here;
A star rises from Jacob
    a scepter from Israel,
Crushing the heads of Moab,
    the skulls of all the noisy windbags;
I see Edom sold off at auction,
    enemy Seir marked down at the flea market,
    while Israel walks off with the trophies.
A ruler is coming from Jacob
    who’ll destroy what’s left in the city.

* * *

20 Then Balaam spotted Amalek and delivered an oracle-message. He said,

Amalek, you’re in first place among nations right now,
    but you’re going to come in last, ruined.

* * *

21-22 He saw the Kenites and delivered his oracle-message to them:

Your home is in a nice secure place,
    like a nest high on the face of a cliff.
Still, you Kenites will look stupid
    when Asshur takes you prisoner.

* * *

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19 A ruler will come out of Jacob(A)
    and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Balaam’s Fifth Message

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek(B) and spoke his message:

“Amalek was first among the nations,
    but their end will be utter destruction.”(C)

Balaam’s Sixth Message

21 Then he saw the Kenites(D) and spoke his message:

“Your dwelling place is secure,(E)
    your nest is set in a rock;

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

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.

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.

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