1 T he Israelites journeyed and encamped in the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan at Jericho.

And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.

2 A nd Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

3 A nd Moab was terrified at the people and full of dread, because they were many. Moab was distressed and overcome with fear because of the Israelites.

And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

4 A nd Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. So Balak son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites at that time,

And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

5 S ent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the River, even to the land of the children of his people, to say to him, There is a people come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the earth and they have settled down and dwell opposite me.

He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

6 N ow come, I beg of you, curse this people for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

7 A nd the elders of Moab and of Midian departed with the rewards of foretelling in their hands; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

8 A nd he said to them, Lodge here tonight and I will bring you word as the Lord may speak to me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

9 A nd God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?

And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

10 A nd Balaam said to God, Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

11 B ehold, the people who came out of Egypt cover the face of the earth; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.

Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

12 A nd God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.

And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

13 A nd Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go back to your own land, for the Lord refuses to permit me to go with you.

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

14 S o the princes of Moab rose up and went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.

And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

15 T hen Balak again sent princes, more of them and more honorable than the first ones.

And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

16 A nd they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak son of Zippor, I beg of you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me.

And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

17 F or I will promote you to very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so come, I beg of you, curse this people for me.

For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

18 A nd Balaam answered the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.

And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.

19 N ow therefore, I pray you, tarry here again tonight that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.

Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.

20 A nd God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them, but still only what I tell you may you do.

And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

21 A nd Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

22 A nd God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

23 A nd the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way and His sword drawn in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the way.

And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

24 B ut the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side.

But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

25 A nd when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against it, and he struck her again.

And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

26 A nd the Angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right hand or to the left.

And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

27 A nd when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam’s anger was kindled and he struck the donkey with his staff.

And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

28 A nd the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times?

And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

29 A nd Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have ridiculed and provoked me! I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

30 A nd the donkey said to Balaam, Am not I your donkey, upon which you have ridden all your life long until this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you? And he said, No.

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.

31 T hen the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His sword drawn in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell on his face.

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

32 A nd the Angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? See, I came out to stand against and resist you, for your behavior is willfully obstinate and contrary before Me.

And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

33 A nd the ass saw Me and turned from Me these three times. If she had not turned from Me, surely I would have slain you and saved her alive.

And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

34 B alaam said to the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. But now, if my going displeases You, I will return.

And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

35 T he Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men, but you shall speak only what I tell you. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 W hen Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab on the border formed by the Arnon, at the farthest end of the boundary.

And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.

37 B alak said to Balaam, Did I not send to you to ask you to me? Why did you not come? Am not I able to promote you to honor?

And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?

38 A nd Balaam said to Balak, Indeed I have come to you, but do I now have any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.

And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

39 A nd Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.

40 A nd Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.

And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.

41 A nd on the following day Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Bamoth-baal; from there he saw the nearest of the Israelites.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.