12Balaam told Balak, “Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said, 13‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord.’ I told you that I could say only what the Lord says! 14Now I am returning to my own people. But first let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future.”
Balaam’s Final Messages
15This is the message Balaam delivered:
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,
the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,
16the message of one who hears the words of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with eyes wide open:
17I see him, but not here and now.
I perceive him, but far in the distant future.
A star will rise from Jacob;
a scepter will emerge from Israel.
It will crush the foreheads of Moab’s people,
cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.
18Edom will be taken over,
and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered,
while Israel marches on in triumph.
19A ruler will rise in Jacob
who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”
20Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message:
“Amalek was the greatest of nations,
but its destiny is destruction!”
21Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message:
“Your home is secure;
your nest is set in the rocks.
22But the Kenites will be destroyed
when Assyria takes you captive.”
23Balaam concluded his messages by saying:
“Alas, who can survive
unless God has willed it?
24Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus;
they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber,
but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.”
25Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.
