1   And when Balaam had seene that it pleased our Lord that he should blesse Israel, he went not as before he had gone, to seeke Southsaying: but directing his countenance against the desert,

2   and lifting vp his eies, he saw Israel abiding in their tentes by their tribes: and the spirit of

Balac and Balaam. God coming ^note vehemently vpon him,

3   taking vp his parable he said: Balaam the sonne of Beor hath said: The man hath said: whose eye is stopped:

4   The hearer of the wordes of God hath said, he that hath beholden the vision of the Omnipotent, he that falleth, and so his eies are opened:

5   How beautiful are thy tabernacles ô Iacob, and thy tentes ô Israel!

6   As wooddie valleis, as watered gardens beside the riuers, as tabernacles which the Lord hath pitched, as cedres by the waters side.

7   Water shal flow out of his bucket, and his seede shal be into manie waters. For Agag shal his king be taken away, and his kingdom shal be taken away.

8   God hath brought him out of Ægypt, whose str&ebar;gth is like to the rhinocerote. They shal deuoure nations his enimies, and breake their bones, and pearce them with arrowes.

9   Lying he hath slept as a lion, and as a lionesse, whom none shal be bold to rayse vp. He that blesseth thee, him self also shal be blessed: he that curseth thee, shal be reputed accurst.

10   And Balac being angrie against Balaam, clapping his handes together said: To curse mine enemies I called thee, whom thou contrarie wise hast blessed the third time:

11   returne to thy place. I was determined verily to honour thee magnifically, but the Lord hath depriued 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 geue me his house ful of siluer and gold, I can not passe the word of the Lord my God, to vtter of my owne minde either any good, or euil: but whatsoeuer the Lord shal say, that wil I speake?

14   But yet going to my people, I wil geue thee counsel, what thy people shal doe to this people in the last time.

15   Therfore taking vp his parable, againe he said: Balaam the sonne of Beor hath said: The man whose eye is stopped, hath said:

16   the hearer of the wordes of God hath said, who knoweth the doctrine of the Highest, and seeth the visions of the Omnipotent, who falling hath his eies opened.

17   I shal see him, but not now: I shal behold him but not neere. ^note A starre shal rise out of Iacob, and a rodde shal arise from Israel: and shal strike the dukes of Moab, and shal waist al the children of Seth.

18   And Idumea shal be his possession: the inheritance of Seir shal come to their enemies: but Israel shal doe manfully.

19   Of Iacob shal he be that shal rule, and shal

Fornication and Idolatrie. destroy the remaines of the citie.

20   And when he had seene Amalec, taking vp his parable, he said: Amalec the beginning of Gentiles, whose latter endes shal be destroyed.

21   He saw also the Cineite: and taking vp his parable, he said: Thy habitation in deede is strong: but if thou build thy nest in a rocke,

22   and thou be chosen of the stocke of Cin, how long shalt thou be able to continew? For Assur shal take thee.

23   And taking vp his parable againe he spake: Alas, who shal liue, when God shal doe these thinges?

24   They shal come in galleies from Italie, they shal ouercome the Assyrians, and shal waist the Hebrewes, and at the last them selues also shal perish.

25   And Balaam rose, and returned into ^notehis place: Balac also returned the way that he came.

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