Numbers 24:23

New Life Version

Then Balaam said, "Who can live when God does this?

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
He took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this?

King James Version
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

Lexham English Bible
Again he uttered his oracle and said, "Woe, who will live when God establishes this?

English Standard Version
And he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

New Century Version
Then Balaam gave this message: "No one can live when God does this.

New English Translation
Then he uttered this oracle: "O, who will survive when God does this!

Amplified Bible
Then he took up his [seventh] discourse (oracle) and said: "Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?

New American Standard Bible
Then he took up his discourse and said, "Oh, who can live unless God has ordained it?

Geneva Bible (1587)
Againe he vttered his parable, and sayd, Alas, who shall liue when God doeth this?

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he took up his discourse and said,"Woe, who can live except when God has ordained it?

Contemporary English Version
"No one can survive if God plans destruction.

Complete Jewish Bible
Finally, he made this pronouncement: "Oh no! Who can live when God does this?

Darby Translation
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas! Who shall live when God doeth this?

Easy-to-Read Version
Then Balaam said this: "No one can live when God does this.

George Lamsa Translation
And he took up his parable and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this!

Good News Translation
Balaam uttered this prophecy: "Who are these people gathering in the north?

Christian Standard Bible®
Once more he proclaimed his poem:

Literal Translation
And he took up his parable and said, Alas! Who shall live when God puts out?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he toke vp his parable agayne, & sayde: Alas, who shal lyue, wha God doth this?

American Standard Version
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?

Bible in Basic English
Then he went on with his story and said, But who may keep his life when God does this?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he toke vp his parable, and sayd: Alas, who shall lyue when God doth this?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he took up his parable, and said: Alas, who shall live after God hath appointed him?

King James Version (1611)
And he tooke vp his parable, and said, Alas! who shall liue when God doeth this?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he looked upon Og, and took up his parable and said, Oh, oh, who shall live, when God shall do these things?

English Revised Version
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?

Berean Standard Bible
Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: "Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne a parable was takun, he spak eft, Alas! who schal lyue, whanne the Lord schal make thes thingis?

Young's Literal Translation
And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `Alas! who doth live when God doth this?

Update Bible Version
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who will come in bands out of the north?

Webster's Bible Translation
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

World English Bible
He took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this?

New King James Version
Then he took up his oracle and said: "Alas! Who shall live when God does this?

New Living Translation
Balaam concluded his messages by saying: "Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it?

New Revised Standard
Again he uttered his oracle, saying: "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he took up his parable, and said, - Alas who shall survive its fulfillment by GOD;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And taking up his parable, again he said: Alas, who shall live when God shall do these things?

Revised Standard Version
And he took up his discourse, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

THE MESSAGE
Balaam spoke his final oracle-message: Doom! Who stands a chance when God starts in? Sea-Peoples, raiders from across the sea, will harass Asshur and Eber, But they'll also come to nothing, just like all the rest.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?

Contextual Overview

¹⁵ Then he began speaking and said, "Balaam the son of Beor is the man whose eye is opened. ¹⁶ He hears the words of God. He knows what the Most High wants him to know. He sees what the All-powerful wants him to see. He falls down, but has his eyes open. ¹⁷ I see him, but not now. I see him, but he is not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A special stick of power will rise from Israel. It will crush the forehead of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth. ¹⁸ It will take the land of Edom. And it will take the land of Seir, who fights against Israel. And Israel will fight with much power. ¹⁹ One from Jacob will rule. He will destroy from the city all who are left alive." ²⁰ Then Balaam looked at Amalek and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations. But he will be destroyed in the end." ²¹ Then he looked at the Kenite and said, "The place where you live is strong. Your nest is set in the rock. ²² But Kain will be destroyed. How long will Asshur keep you against your will?" ²³ Then Balaam said, "Who can live when God does this? ²⁴ But ships will come from Kittim. They will bring trouble to Asshur and Eber, but they will be destroyed also."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when God: Numbers 23:23, 2 Kings 5:1, Malachi 3:2

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:7 - he took Joel 2:11 - who Acts 15:17 - who

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he took up his parable, and said,.... Or delivered another prophecy, having made some little pause:

alas, who shall live when God doeth this? referring not to what goes before, but to what follows; though Jarchi and Aben Ezra think it refers to the Assyria conquering and carrying captive, not only the Kenites, but all the nations of the world, so that there was no living comfortably in it on his account; but this is said after Balaam had taken up his parable again, and so respects what follows, as the destruction of the Persian empire by Alexander, in which Ashur or the Assyrians were included; and the destruction of the Jews by the Romans more especially; which was such as had not been the like from the beginning of the world, Matthew 24:21, and perhaps may have a further respect to the affliction of the witnesses and church of Christ by antichrist; see Daniel 12:1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

When God doeth this - The eventual carrying away of the allies of Israel by Assyria presented itself to Balaam as the ruin of all peace and safety upon earth. One prediction was howerer, yet wanting, and is next given, namely, that the conquerors of the Kenites should fare no better than the Kenites themselves.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 24:23. Who shall live when God doeth this! — There are two senses in which these words may be taken: -

1. That the event is so distant that none then alive could possibly live to see it.

2. That the times would be so distressing and desolating that scarcely any should be able to escape.

The words are very similar to those of our Lord, and probably are to be taken in the same sense: "Wo to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days."