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With the strength of a wild ox,
    God led you out of Egypt.
You will defeat your enemies,
shooting them with arrows[a]
    and crushing their bones.
(A) Like a lion you lie down,
    resting after an attack.
Who would dare disturb you?

“Anyone who blesses you
    will be blessed;
anyone who curses you
    will be cursed.”

10 When Balak heard this, he was so furious that he pounded his fist against his hand and said, “I called you here to place a curse on my enemies, and you've blessed them three times.

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Footnotes

  1. 24.8 shooting them with arrows: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

“God brought them out of Egypt;
    they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
    and break their bones in pieces;(A)
    with their arrows they pierce them.(B)
Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
    like a lioness(C)—who dares to rouse them?

“May those who bless you be blessed(D)
    and those who curse you be cursed!”(E)

10 Then Balak’s anger burned(F) against Balaam. He struck his hands together(G) and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,(H) but you have blessed them(I) these three times.(J)

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