Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a
Chapter 24
and he uttered his song:
“Word of Balaam, son of Beor,
the seer, the one
who hears the words of God,
and beholds
the vision of the Almighty,
in ecstasy, with eyes unveiled.
How goodly are your tents,
Jacob, your encampments, Israel!
Like valleys stretching far,
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
His buckets are overflowing,
and his seeds are always watered.
His king becomes stronger than Agag,
and his kingdom grows.
Then Balaam pronounced his oracle:
“Word of Balaam, son of Beor, the seer,
the one who hears the words of God,
who knows the Most High,
and sees the vision of the Almighty,
in ecstasy, with eyes unveiled.
I see a figure, but not really.
I behold him, but not near.
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
he rises with a staff in his hand;
he shatters the forehead of Moab
and tears down all the sons of Seth.