Hearken friend, to the tale of my life;
My name is Balaam, son of Be’or.
Word of my talents has traveled far
From the river city of Pethor.

I have been summoned by King Balak,
To curse the children of Israel.
Descendants of the line of Isaac;
I am of the house of Ishmael.

The king of Moab fears these nomads,
They outnumber the stars in the sky.
And I have told his emissaries;
Than risk God’s wrath, I would rather die.

Beset by the ironies of life,
Encumbered by the Almighty’s will,
I set out on the road to Moab,
My destiny, ready to fulfill.

But in my haste, I’ve angered the Lord,
And an ass has seen what I could not.
Blinded by my rage, I struck her thrice,
Putting all of my strength into each swat.

“What have I done to make you strike me?”
The ass spoke in the language of man.
“Was I not faithful throughout my years;
From the time my life with you began?”

Indeed she was, I could not deny,
She was more faithful than any friend.
At that moment, my eyes were opened;
And I realized that I had sinned.

The Angel of the Lord blocked my path;
‘Twas a sight only the ass could see.
I said I’d go back if the Lord wished,
But He said, “I’ve other plans for thee.”

“You’ll speak only that which I instruct,
For this people were chosen by me.
You will bestow on them my blessing,
For all of their enemies to see.

I met Balak at Bamoth-ba'al,
And spoke the words which God bade me speak.
I blessed the children of Israel,
Though that was not what Balak did seek.

He took me to the field of Zophim;
The heights of Pisgah we ascended.
But I blessed Jacob a second time;
Not quite what Balak had intended.

Yet that was not enough for Balak;
This most obstinate son of Zippor.
So I blessed Israel a third time,
Atop the lofty peaks of Pe'or.

And thus, the king’s anger was kindled,
He then ordered me out of his sight.
I left him with the Lord’s prophesy,
Of Moab’s fate in the coming fight.

I returned to my home in Pethor,
Knowing God’s warning had been ignored.
You cannot harm that, which has been blessed,
For it is protected by the Lord.

We cannot escape our destinies,
What has been written shall come to pass.
Listen when God’s message is spoken,
Though it come from the mouth of an ass.

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