1 ث ُمَّ أكمَلَ بَنو إسْرائِيلَ رِحلَتَهُمْ وَخَيَّمُوا فِي سُهُولِ مُوآبَ إلَى الشَّرقِ مِنْ نَهرِ الأُردُنِّ مُقابِلَ أرِيحا.

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

2 و َرَأى بالاقُ بْنُ صِفُّورَ كُلَّ ما عَمِلَهُ بَنُو إسْرائِيلَ بِالأمُورِيِّينَ.

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

3 و َارتَعَبَ المُوآبِيُّونَ مِنْ بَني إسْرائِيلَ لأنَّهُمْ كانُوا كَثِيرِينَ. كانَ المُوآبِيُّونَ مُرتَعِبِينَ مِنْ بَني إسْرائِيلَ.

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 و َقالَ مَلِكُ مُوآبَ لِشُيُوخِ مِديانَ: «سَيُدَمِّرُ هَذا الشَّعبُ العَظِيمُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ حَولَنا، كَما يَلتَهِمُ الثَّورُ عُشبَ الحَقلِ.» وَكانَ بالاقُ بْنُ صِفُّورَ مَلِكَ مُوآبَ فِي ذَلِكَ الوَقتِ.

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 ف َأرسَلَ بالاقُ رُسُلاً إلَى بَلْعامَ بْنِ بَعُورَ فِي فَتُورَ الواقِعَةِ عَلَى نَهرِ الفُراتِ حَيْثُ كانَ يَعِيشُ شَعبُ بَلْعامَ، لِيَدعُوَهُ. فَقالَ لَهُ: «لَقَدْ خَرَجَ شَعبٌ مِنْ مِصرَ، وَقَدْ غَطُّوا الأرْضَ مِنْ كَثرَتِهِمْ، وَهُمْ مُخَيِّمُونَ بِجِوارِي.

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 و َالآنَ، تَعالَ وَالعَنْ لِي هَذا الشَّعبَ لأنَّهُمْ أقوَى مِنِّي. فَرُبَّما أُصْبِحُ عِنْدها قادِراً عَلَى مُهاجَمَتِهِمْ وَطَردِهِمْ مِنَ الأرْضِ. أنا أعْرِفُ أنَّ الَّذِي تُبارِكُهُ يَكُونُ مُبارَكاً، وَالَّذِي تَلعَنُهُ يَكُونُ مَلعُوناً.»

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 ف َذَهَبَ شُيُوخُ مُوآبَ وَشُيُوخُ مِديانَ وَمَعَهُمْ أُجرَةُ بَلْعامَ مُقابِلَ عِرافَتِهِ. وَأتَوا إلَى بَلعامَ وَأخبَرُوهُ بِما قالَهُ بالاقُ.

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 ف َقالَ بَلعامُ لَهُمُ: «امْكُثوا هُنا اللَّيلَةَ، وَأنا سَأُخبِرُكُمْ بِما سَيَقُولُهُ اللهُ لِي.» فَمَكَثَ رُؤَساءُ مُوآبَ عِندَ بَلعامَ.

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 و َأتَى اللهُ إلَى بَلعامَ فِي حُلْمٍ وَقالَ لَهُ: «مَنْ هَؤُلاءِ الرِّجالُ الَّذِينَ عِندَكَ؟»

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

10 ف َقالَ بَلعامُ للهِ: «هَؤُلاءِ رِجالٌ أرسَلَهُمْ بالاقُ بْنُ صِفُّورَ، مَلِكُ مُوآبَ، إلَيَّ بِرِسالَةٍ يَقُولُ فِيها:

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

11 ‹ خَرَجَ شَعبٌ مِنْ مِصرَ وَقَدْ غَطَّى الأرْضَ مِنْ كَثرَتِهِ. تَعالَ الآنَ وَالعَنْهُمْ لِي، وَبِهَذا أُصبِحُ قادِراً عَلَى مُحارَبَتِهِمْ وَطَردِهِمْ.›»

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 ف َقالَ اللهُ لِبَلعامَ: «لا تَذهَبْ مَعَهُمْ، وَلا تَلعَنَ هَذا الشَّعبَ لأنَّهُ مُبارَكٌ.»

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

13 ف َقامَ بَلعامُ فِي الصَّباحِ وَقالَ لِلقادَةِ الَّذِينَ أرسَلَهُمْ بالاقُ: «ارجِعُوا إلَى أرْضِكُمْ لأنَّ اللهَ رَفَضَ أنْ يَسمَحَ لِيَ بِالذَّهابِ مَعَكُمْ.»

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 ف َقامَ قادَةُ مُوآبَ وَذَهَبُوا إلَى بالاقَ، وَقالُوا لَهُ: «رَفَضَ بَلعامُ أنْ يَأتِيَ مَعَنا.»

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

15 ف َأرسَلَ بالاقُ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى قادَةً آخَرِينَ أكثَرَ عَدَداً وَأهَمِّيَّةً مِنْ مَجمُوعَةِ القادَةِ الأُولَى،

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

16 و َذَهَبُوا إلَى بَلعامَ وَقالُوا لَهُ: «هَذا هُوَ ما يَقُولُهُ بالاقُ بْنُ صِفُّورَ: أرجُو أنْ لا يَمنَعَكَ مَانِعٌ مِنَ المَجِيءِ إلَيَّ.

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 ل أنِّي سَأُكافِئُكَ كَثِيراً، وَسَأعْطيكَ كُلَّ ما تَطلُبُهُ. فَتَعالَ وَالْعَنْ لِي هَذا الشَّعبَ.»

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 ف َأجابَ بَلعامُ قادَةَ بالاقَ: «حَتَّى لَو أعطانِي بالاقُ مِلءَ بَيتِهِ مِنَ الفِضَّةِ وَالذَّهَبِ، فَإنِّي لا أستَطِيعُ أنْ أعصِيَ أمرَ إلَهِي بِشَيءٍ كَبِيرٍ أوْ صَغِيرٍ.

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 و َالآنَ، امْكُثوا هُنا اللَّيلَةَ كَما فَعَلَ الآخَرونَ لأعْرِفَ ماذا يُرِيدُ اللهُ أنْ يَقُولَ لِي.»

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

20 و َفِي تِلكَ اللَّيلَةِ أتَى اللهُ إلَى بَلعامَ فِي حُلْمٍ وَقالَ لَهُ: «إنْ طَلَبَ هَؤُلاءِ الرِّجالُ مِنكَ الذَّهابَ مَعَهُمْ، قُمْ وَاذْهَبْ مَعَهُمْ، لَكِنِ افْعَلْ ما أطلُبُهُ مِنكَ فَقَطْ.» حِمارُ بَلعام

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 ف َقامَ بَلعامُ فِي الصَّباحِ وَسَرَجَ حِمارَهُ وَذَهَبَ مَعَ قادَةِ مُوآبَ.

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

22 ف َغَضِبَ اللهُ لأنَّ بَلعامَ ذَهَبَ. فَأتَى مَلاكُ اللهِ وَوَقَفَ فِي الطَّرِيقِ لِيُوقِفَهُ، وَقَدْ كانَ بَلعامُ راكِباً عَلَى حِمارِهِ وَيُرافِقُهُ اثْنانِ مِنْ خُدّامِهِ.

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 و َحِينَ رَأى الحِمارُ مَلاكَ اللهِ واقِفاً فِي الطَّرِيقِ وَسَيفُهُ فِي يَدِهِ، انحَرَفَ الحِمارُ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ وَذَهَبَ إلَى الحَقلِ، وَلِذا ضَرَبَ بَلعامُ الحِمارَ لِيُعِيدَهُ إلَى الطَّرِيقِ.

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 ث ُمَّ وَقَفَ مَلاكُ اللهِ فِي طَرِيقٍ ضَيِّقٍ بَينَ كَرْمَينِ، لِكُلٍّ مِنْهُما حائِطٌ.

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 و َحِينَ رَأى الحِمارُ مَلاكَ اللهِ التَصَقَ بِالحائِطِ فَضَغَطَ قَدَمَ بَلعامَ، فَضَرَبَ بَلعامُ الحِمارَ ثانِيَةً.

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 ث ُمَّ عادَ مَلاكُ اللهِ وَوَقَفَ فِي مَكانٍ ضَيِّقٍ لا يُمكِنُ تَجاوزُهُ إلَى اليَمِينِ أوِ اليَسارِ.

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 و َحِينَ رَأى الحِمارُ مَلاكَ اللهِ ، بَرَكَ تَحتَ بَلعامَ. فَغَضِبَ بَلعامُ وَضَرَبَ الحِمارَ بِعَصاهُ.

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 ح ِينَئِذٍ، جَعَلَ اللهُ الحِمارَ يَتَكَلَّمَ، فَقالَ لِبَلعامَ: «ماذا عَمِلْتُ لَكَ لِتَضْرِبَنِي ثَلاثَ مَرّاتٍ؟»

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 ف َقالَ بَلعامُ لِلحِمارِ: «قَدِ اسْتَهَنْتَ بِي. لَيْتَ فِي يَدِي سَيفٌ كَي أقتُلَكَ الآنَ.»

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 ف َقالَ الحِمارُ لِبَلعامَ: «ألَسْتُ حِمارَكَ الَّذِي رَكِبْتَهُ طِيلَةَ حَياتِكَ إلَى هَذا اليَومِ؟ فَهَلْ عَمِلْتُ هَذا مَعكَ سابِقاً؟» فَقالَ بَلعامُ: «لا.»

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 ف َفَتَحَ اللهُ عَينَيِّ بَلعامَ لِيَرَى مَلاكَ اللهِ الَّذِي كانَ واقِفاً فِي الطَّرِيقِ وَبِيَدِهِ سَيفٌ مَسلُولٌ. فَسَجَدَ بَلعامُ وَوَجهُهُ إلَى الأرْضِ.

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 ف َقالَ مَلاكُ اللهِ: «لِماذا ضَرَبْتَ حِمارَكَ هَذِهِ المَرّاتِ الثَّلاثَ؟ لَقَدْ خَرَجْتُ لإيقافِكَ. رأيَتُ طَرِيقَكَ قَدِ انحَرَفَ.

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 ر َآنِي الحِمارُ فَمالَ عَنِّي ثَلاثَ مَرّاتٍ. وَلَو لَمْ يَمِلْ، لَكُنْتُ قَتَلْتُكَ، وَاسْتَبْقَيتُ الحِمارَ.»

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 ف َقالَ بَلعامُ لِمَلاكِ اللهِ: «أخطَأْتُ بِعَدَمِ مَعرِفَتِي أنَّكَ كُنتَ تَقِفُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ لِتُوقِفَنِي. وَالآنَ، إنْ كانَتْ رِحلَتِي لا تُرضِيكَ فَإنِّي سَأرجِعُ إلَى بَيتِي.»

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 ف َقالَ مَلاكُ اللهِ لِبَلعامَ: «اذهَبْ مَعَ الرِّجالِ، لَكِنْ قُلْ ما أقُولُهُ لَكَ فَقَطْ.» فَذَهَبَ بَلعامُ مَعَ القادَةِ الَّذِينَ أرسَلَهُمْ بالاقُ. استِقبالُ بالاقَ لِبَلعام

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 و َحِينَ سَمِعَ بالاقُ بِقُدُومِ بَلعامَ، خَرَجَ لِلِقائِهِ عِندَ عِيرِ مُوآبَ الواقِعَةِ عَلَى نَهرِ أرنُونَ عِندَ أبعَدِ نُقطَةٍ عَلَى الحُدُودِ.

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 ف َقالَ بالاقُ لِبَلعامَ: «ألَمْ أُرسِلْ لَكَ رِجالاً لأدعُوكَ لِلمَجِيءِ؟ فَلِماذا لَمْ تَأتِ إلَيَّ؟ هَلْ أنا غَيرُ قادِرٍ عَلَى إكْرامِكَ وَمُكافَئَتِكَ؟»

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 ف َقالَ بَلعامُ لِبالاقَ: «ها قَدْ أتَيتُ إلَيكَ الآنَ، فَهَلْ أستَطِيعُ أنْ أعمَلَ شَيئاً؟ فَعَلَيَّ أنْ أقُولَ ما يَقُولُهُ اللهُ لِي.»

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 و َجاءَ بَلعامُ مَعَ بالاقَ إلَى قَريَةِ حُصُوتَ.

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

40 و َذَبَحَ بالاقُ بَقَراً وَغَنَماً وَأرسَلَها إلَى بَلعامَ وَالقادَةِ الَّذِينَ كانُوا مَعَهُ.

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

41 و َفِي الصَّباحِ أخَذَ بالاقُ بَلعامَ إلَى بامُوتَ بَعلَ. فَاسْتَطاعَ بَلعامُ مِنْ هُناكَ أنْ يَرَى جُزءاً مِنْ بَني إسْرائِيلَ.

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.