on with Israel:
Now shall it be said of Jacob and of Israel,
'What hath God wrought!'
Behold, the people riseth up as a lioness,
And as a lion doth he lift himself up:
He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey,
And drink the blood of the slain."

And Balak said unto Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them
at all." But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, "Told not I thee,
saying, 'All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do'?"

And Balak said unto Balaam, "Come now, I will take thee unto another
place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them
from thence."

And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh down upon the
desert.

And Balaam said unto Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare
me here seven bullocks and seven rams."

{265}

And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bullock and a ram
on every altar.

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he set
his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he
saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the spirit of God
came upon him. And he said,--

"Balaam the son of Beor saith,
And the man whose eye was closed saith:
He saith, who heareth the words of God,
Who seeth the vision of the Almighty,
Falling down, and having his eyes open:
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,
Thy tabernacles, O Israel!
As valleys are they spread forth,
As gardens by the river side,
As aloes which the Lord hath planted,
As cedar trees beside the waters.
Water shall flow from his buckets,
And his family shall be in many waters,
And his king shall be higher than Agag,
And his kingdom shall be exalted.
God bringeth him forth out of Egypt;
He hath as it were the strength of the wild ox:
He shall eat up the nations his adversaries,
And shall break their bones in pieces,
And smite them through with his arrows.
He couched, he lay down as a lion,
And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?
Blessed be everyone that blesseth thee,
And cursed be everyone that curseth thee."

{266}

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