Ma Tovu, or, Balak's Folly

Mah Tovu, or, Balak's Folly Num. 24:2-10, Read down each column to the tune of Ma Tovu (stretching out the sounds to include more than the usual amount of words). Bilaam Ben Beor Was hired to curse the people we are for He put on his cursing gown and this is what came down. Ma Tovu Ohalekha Ya'akov, Mish'k'notekha Yisrael. How good are your tents, 0 Jacob, your Temple places, Israel! King Balak had rented Bil To fill his paranoid propaganda swill But when he heard the opposite word he wanted to go to Brazil. Bilaam looked up and saw Israel camping by the law. The spirit of God took over his will and said, "Speak, 0 Bil." Like palm tree-groves that stretch on and on, Generations continue down You will heal what is wrong And become strong. "I am Bilaam ben Beor, My eye is clear, and what's more I'm about to speak in metaphor. And though your God may hide Take you on a stormy ride. What you can always do Is find God inside. He slapped his hands they almost broke. "I summoned you to curse these folks, Instead you 've gone and blessed them And I don't enjoy this joke. I see the vision of the One, I get to wear this fancy gown When I hear the holy curse I usually fall down. Here goes: Then blessed be the one who blesses you, and cursed those who curse you." At this Balaam's employer screamed out, "Fool! ... But Bil just sang: Balaam represents a part of us Unhappily trying to ca use a fuss Divine energy courses through and blesses what could have been cussed. AT T Cj.~; l:lrJ"tib~lt1 Num. 24:2 Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. Then the spirit of God came upon him, 24:3 and he uttered his oracle, saying: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is clear, 24:4 the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, but with eyes uncovered: 24:5 how fair are your tents, 0 Jacob, your encampments, 0 Israel! 24:6 Like palmgroves that stretch far away, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. 24:7 Water shall flow from your buckets, and your seed shall have abundant water, your king shall be higher than Agag, and your kingdom shall be exalted. 24:8 God who brings you out of Egypt, is like the horns of a wild ox for you; God shall devour the nations that are God's foes and break their bones. God shall strike with arrows. 24:9 God crouched, lay down like a lion, and like a lioness; who will rouse God up? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is everyone who curses you." 24:10 Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead you have blessed them these three times."