1 ¶ And the sons of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan in front of Jericho.

Then the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho.

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

Now Balak the 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 sons of Israel.

And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel.

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

So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

5 T herefore he sent messengers unto Balaam, the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the river Eufrates in the land of the sons 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.

Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me!

6 C ome now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me; peradventure I shall be able to smite them and drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest shall be blessed, and he whom thou cursest shall be cursed.

Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall 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 incantations in their hand; and they came unto Balaam and spoke unto him the words of Balak.

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.

8 A nd he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will recite the words unto you when the LORD shall speak unto me. So the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

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

Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

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

So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

11 B ehold, this people that has come out of Egypt, covers the face of the earth; come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out.

‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.’”

12 T hen God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; neither shalt thou 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 S o Balaam rose up in the morning and said unto the princes of Balak, Go back to your land; for the LORD refuses to give me leave to go with you.

So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you.”

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

And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

15 ¶ And Balak sent yet again princes, more and more honourable than those.

Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they.

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 the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me;

17 f or I will without a doubt honour thee greatly, and I will do whatever thou sayest unto me; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’”

18 A nd Balaam answered and said unto the slaves 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 anything small or great.

Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not 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 the LORD will say unto me again.

Now therefore, please, you also stay here 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 come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say 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 and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.”

21 S o Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his female ass and went with the princes of Moab.

So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel

22 ¶ 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 ass, and his two servants were with him.

Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 A nd the ass saw the angel of the LORD 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. Then Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way.

Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road.

24 B ut the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side and a wall on that side.

Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.

25 A nd 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.

And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again.

26 A nd 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.

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

27 A nd 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.

And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

28 T hen 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?

Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

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

And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused 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 I not thine ass upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so unto thee? And he said, No.

So the donkey said to Balaam, “ Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.”

31 T hen 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.

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.

32 A nd the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out as thine 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? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.

33 T he ass saw me and turned from me these three times; and if she had not turned from me, I also now would slay thee and leave her alive.

The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”

34 T hen Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I did not know that thou didst stand in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will return.

And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.”

35 A nd 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.

Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 ¶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is next to the border of Arnon, which is at the limit of his territory.

Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory.

37 A nd Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? Why hast thou not come unto me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?

Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?”

38 A nd Balaam said unto Balak, Behold, I am come unto thee; may I now say something? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.

And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.”

39 A nd Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.

So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth.

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

Then Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. Balaam’s First Prophecy

41 A nd on the next day, Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Baal, and from there he saw the utmost part of the people.

So it was, the next day, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, that from there he might observe the extent of the people.