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 people of Israel traveled on and set up their tents in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan beside 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.

So Moab was filled with much fear because of the people, for they were many. Moab was very afraid of the people 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.

And Moab said to the leaders of Midian, “Now these people will take away everything around us like the bull eats up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab 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.

So he sent men to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the children of his people. They said to him, “See, a people came out of Egypt. See, they cover the land, and they are living beside 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.

Now come, I beg you. Curse this people for me, because they are too strong for me. Then I may be able to win the battle against them and send them out of the land. For I know that good will come to the one you pray for, and trouble will come to the one you curse.”

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 leaders of Moab and the leaders of Midian left with the pay in their hand for the one who tells what will happen in the future. When they came to Balaam, they told him Balak’s words.

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.

Balaam said to them, “Stay here tonight. I will bring word to you as the Lord may speak to me.” So the leaders 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,

Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word 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.

‘See, the people who came out of Egypt cover the land. Now come, curse them for me. Then I may be able to fight against them and send them away.’”

12 T hen God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; neither shalt thou curse the people; for they are blessed.

God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. Do not curse the people, for I have decided that good would come to them.”

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 got up in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, “Return to your land. For the Lord will not let me 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.

So the leaders of Moab got up and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam would not come with us.”

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

Balak sent leaders again, more than were sent before, and men who were more important.

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;

They came to Balaam and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘I beg you, let nothing keep 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.

I will give you much honor. I will do whatever you tell me. I beg you to come and curse these 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.

Balaam answered and said to Balak’s men, “Balak could give me his house full of silver and gold. But I could not do anything, small or big, against the Word of the Lord my God.

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 I ask you to stay here tonight. I will find out what else 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.

God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you.” Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel

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

So Balaam got up in the morning and got his donkey ready, and went with the leaders of Moab.

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.

But God was angry because he was going. The angel of the Lord stood in the way against him. Balaam was sitting 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.

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword in his hand, the donkey turned off the road and went into the field. But Balaam hit the donkey to turn her on the road again.

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 in the grape-field, with a wall on each 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.

The donkey saw the angel of the Lord. So she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against it, so he hit 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 farther. He stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right or 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.

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. So Balaam was angry and hit the donkey with his stick.

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?

And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you? Why have you hit 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.

Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now!”

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.

The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have traveled all your life to this day? Have I ever done this to you before?” And Balaam 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 sword in his hand. And he bowed to the ground.

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.

The angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you hit your donkey these three times? See, I have come out against you, because your way was against 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.

But the donkey saw me and turned from me these three times. If she had not turned from me, for sure I would have killed you, 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.

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. For I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. But now, if it does not please 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.

The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men. But speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the leaders 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.

Balak heard that Balaam was coming. He went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the Arnon, at the far side of the country.

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?

Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send men to tell you to come? 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.

Balaam said to Balak, “See, I have come to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The Word that God puts in my mouth is what I must speak.”

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

Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriathhuzoth.

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

Balak killed bulls and sheep on the altar in worship, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.

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.

The next morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal. From there he saw part of the people of Israel.