1 T hen the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho.

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

2 N ow Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

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

3 S o Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread 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 M oab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab 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 S o 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, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite 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 N ow, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty 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.”

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 S o the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak’s words to him.

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 H e said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the Lord may speak to me.” And the leaders of Moab stayed 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 T hen God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

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

10 B alaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me,

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

11 ‘ Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against 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 G od said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not 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 arose in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me 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 T he leaders of Moab arose and went to 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 T hen Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former.

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

16 T hey came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to 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 indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.’”

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 B alaam replied to the servants of Balak, “ Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God.

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 please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the Lord will speak to me.”

Now therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may know what Yahweh will speak to me more.”

20 G od came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you 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 arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. The Angel and Balaam

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

22 B ut God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey 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 W hen the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back 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 T hen the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall 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 W hen the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck 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 T he angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or 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 W hen the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick.

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 A nd 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?”

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

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 T he donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?” 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 with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.

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 T he angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to 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 B ut the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.”

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 B alaam said to the angel of the Lord, “ I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.”

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 B ut the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.” So Balaam went along with the leaders 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 W hen Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, at the extreme end of the border.

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 T hen Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not urgently send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor you?”

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 S o Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall 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 to Kiriath-huzoth.

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

40 B alak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.

Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.

41 T hen it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there a portion 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.