1 A nd the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

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

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

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

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

And 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.

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

And 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,

5 A nd he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to 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.

Sent 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.

6 C ome 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 know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

Now 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.

7 A nd 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.

And 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.

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

And 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.

9 A nd God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?

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

And Balaam said to God, Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

11 B ehold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.

Behold, 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.

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

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

13 A nd Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

And 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.

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

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

15 A nd Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.

Then Balak again sent princes, more of them and more honorable than the first ones.

16 A nd 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:

And 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.

17 f or I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

For 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.

18 A nd 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 Jehovah my God, to do less or more.

And 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.

19 N ow therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more.

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

20 A nd God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.

And 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.

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

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

22 A nd God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, 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 as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 A nd the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with 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.

And 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.

24 T hen the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

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

25 A nd the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

And 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.

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

27 A nd the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.

And 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.

28 A nd Jehovah 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?

And 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?

29 A nd Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.

And 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!

30 A nd the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.

And 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.

31 T hen Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah 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 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.

32 A nd the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:

And 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.

33 a nd the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.

And 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.

34 A nd Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, 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.

Balaam 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.

35 A nd the angel of Jehovah 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.

The 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.

36 A nd when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.

When 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.

37 A nd 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 honor?

Balak 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?

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

And 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.

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

And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

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

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

41 A nd it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.

And 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.