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3-9 and he spoke this prophecy concerning them:

“Balaam the son of Beor says—

The man whose eyes are open says—

‘I have listened to the word of God,

I have seen what God Almighty showed me;

I fell, and my eyes were opened:

Oh, the joys awaiting Israel,

Joys in the homes of Jacob.

I see them spread before me as green valleys,

And fruitful gardens by the riverside;

As aloes planted by the Lord himself;

As cedar trees beside the waters.

They shall be blessed with an abundance of water,

And they shall live in many places.

Their king will be greater than Agag;

Their kingdom is exalted.

God has brought them from Egypt.

Israel has the strength of a wild ox,

And shall eat up the nations that oppose him;

He shall break their bones in pieces,

And shall shoot them with many arrows.

Israel sleeps as a lion or a lioness—

Who dares arouse him?

Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel,

And curses shall fall upon everyone who curses you.’”

10 King Balak was livid with rage by now. Striking his hands together in anger and disgust he shouted, “I called you to curse my enemies and instead you have blessed them three times.

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“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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