Don’t Bring Me Bad News

Don't nobody bring me no bad news

'Cause I wake up already negative

And I've wired up my fuse

So don't nobody bring me no bad news

If we're going to be buddies

Better bone up on the rules

'Cause don't nobody bring me no bad news

You can be my best of friends

As opposed to payin' dues

But don't nobody bring me no bad news

No bad news

No bad news

Don't you ever bring me no bad news

'Cause I'll make you an offer, child

That you cannot refuse

So don't nobody bring me no bad news

When you're talking to me

Don't be cryin' the blues

'Cause don't nobody bring me no bad news

You can verbalize and vocalize

But just bring me the clues

But don't nobody bring me no bad news

Bring some message in your head

Or in something you can't lose

But don't you ever bring me no bad news

If you're gonna bring me something

Bring me, something I can use

But don't you bring me no bad news

24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Balaam now recognized that it was Yahweh’s intention to bless Israel. So he realized that his enchantments, his ‘persuaders’, would not work and decided to try another tack. He would set his face towards the wilderness and seek to contact Yahweh Whom he did not know was the only real God, not fallen angels impersonating a god.

2 And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him

Balaam fixed his eyes on Israel dwelling in their usual formation, in their tribes. Now he saw the whole of Israel. And as he did so ‘the Spirit of God’ came on him.

3 Then he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened, 4 The utterance of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, with eyes wide open: 5 “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! 6 Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters. 7 He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. “His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8 “God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones and pierce them with his arrows. 9 ‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’ “Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.”

The comments in verse 3 refer back in the reader’s mind to the incident with his donkey. There Balaam’s eyes had been closed. That may also have been Balaam’s intention if rumors had begun to spread around about what had happened.

Once again his incantation could hardly please the frustrated Balak. As gardens by the riverside, as fragrant aloes (aromatic trees) which Yahweh has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters,’ Israel’s tents were to be ‘goodly’, prosperous and flourishing and fruitful.