Douay Rheims Original ↷

Numbers

24:1

Numbers 24 📜 📕 ↷

Balaam's Third Oracle

1 AND when Balaam had seen that it pleased our Lord that he should bless Israel, he went not as before he had gone, to seek soothsaying: but directing his countenance against the desert,📜💬📚

2 and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in their tents by their tribes: and the spirit of God coming vehemently upon him,📜💬📚

3 taking up his parable he said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man hath said whose eye is stopped:📜💬📚

4 The hearer of the words of God hath said, he that hath beholden the vision of the Omnipotent, he that falleth, and so his eyes are opened:📜💬📚

5 How beautiful are thy tabernacles, o Jacob, and thy tents, o Israel!📜💬📚

6 As woody valleys, as watered gardens beside the rivers, as tabernacles which the Lord hath pitched, as cedars by the waters' side.📜💬📚

7 Water shall flow out of his bucket, and his seed shall be into many waters. For Agag shall his king be taken away, and his kingdom shall be taken away.📜💬📚

8 God hath brought him out of AEgypt, whose strength is like to the Rhinoceros. They shall devour nations his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.📜💬📚

9 Lying, he hath slept as a lion, and as a lioness, whom none shall be bold to raise up. He that blesseth thee, himself also shall be blessed: he that curseth thee, shall be reputed accurst.📜💬📚

Balak Dismisses Balaam

10 And Balac being angry against Balaam, clapping his hands together said: To curse mine enemies I called thee, whom thou contrary wise hast blessed the third time:📜💬📚

11 return to thy place. I was determined verily to honour thee magnifically, but the Lord hath deprived thee of the honour appointed.📜💬📚

12 Balaam made answer to Balac: did I not say to thy messengers, whom thou didst send to me:📜💬📚

13 If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can not pass the word of the Lord my God, to utter of my own mind either any good, or evil: but whatsoever the Lord shall say, that will I speak?📜💬📚

14 But yet going to my people, I will give thee counsel, what thy people shall do to this people in the last time.📜💬📚

Balaam's Fourth Oracle

15 Therefore taking up his parable, again he said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man whose eye is stopped, hath said:📜💬📚

16 the hearer of the words of God hath said, who knoweth the doctrine of the Highest, and seeth the visions of the Omnipotent, who falling hath his eyes opened:📜💬📚

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob, and a rod shall arise from Israel: and shall strike the Dukes of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth.📜💬📚

18 And Idumea shall be his possession: the inheritance of Seir shall come to their enemies: but Israel shall do manfully.📜💬📚

19 Of Jacob shall he be that shall rule, and shall destroy the remains of the city.📜💬📚

Balaam's Final Three Oracles

20 And when he had seen Amalec, taking up his parable, he said: Amalec the beginning of Gentiles, whose latter ends shall be destroyed.📜💬📚

21 He saw also the Cinite: and taking up his parable, he said: Thy habitation indeed is strong: but if thou build thy nest in a rock,📜💬📚

22 and thou be chosen of the stock of Cin, how long shalt thou be able to continue? For Assur shall take thee.📜💬📚

23 And taking up his parable again he spake: Alas, who shall live, when God shall do these things?📜💬📚

24 They shall come in galleys from Italy, they shall overcome the Assyrians, and shall waste the Hebrews, and at the last themselves also shall perish.📜💬📚