And when Balaam saw that it ^apleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their ^atribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

 3 And he took up his ^aparable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

 4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the ^avision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

 5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy ^atabernacles, O Israel!

 6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the ^atrees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

 7 ^aHe shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than ^bAgag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

 8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall ^abreak their bones, and ^bpierce them through with his arrows.

 9 He couched, he lay down as a ^alion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

 10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

 11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.

 12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own ^amind; but what the Lord saith, that will I ^bspeak?