1 T hen the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from 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 N ow Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

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

3 A nd Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children 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 S o 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.

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 hen 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!

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 T herefore 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.”

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 S o 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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

11 ‘ 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.’”

‘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 A nd God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not 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 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.”

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 and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

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

15 T hen Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they.

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 says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to 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 certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’”

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 T hen 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.

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, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”

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 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.”

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

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

22 T hen 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.

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 N ow 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.

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 T hen 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.

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 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.

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 T hen 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.

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 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.

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 donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck 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 to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”

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 S o 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.”

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.”

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 A nd 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.”

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 T hen 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.

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 N ow 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.

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 T hen 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?”

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 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.”

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

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

40 T hen Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. Balaam’s First Prophecy

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

41 S o 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.

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.