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

The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

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

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.

Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed 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.

Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks 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.

He sent messengers to 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 who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite 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.

Please come now therefore curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may 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.

The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. 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.

He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

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

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 said to me,

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.

‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse me them. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall 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.

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.

Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for Yahweh 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 refused to come with us.

The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

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

Balak again sent princes, more, 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;

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 promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and 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.

Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of Yahweh 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 wait also here this night, that I may know what Yahweh will speak to me more.”

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, rise up, 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.

Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes 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.

God’s anger burned because he went; and Yahweh’s angel placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now 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.

The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.

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 Yahweh’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being 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.

The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. 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.

Yahweh’s angel 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.

The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, 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?

Yahweh 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.

Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed 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.

The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” 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 Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw Yahweh’s angel 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 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.

Yahweh’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, 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 before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”

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 Yahweh’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”

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.

Yahweh’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but only the word that I shall 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.

When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.

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, “Didn’t I earnestly send to you to call you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”

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, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.”

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

Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.

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

Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes 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.

In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.