1 T hen 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.

The Israelites journeyed and encamped in the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan at Jericho.

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

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

3 S o Moab was filled with much fear because of the people, for they were many. Moab was very afraid of the people of Israel.

And Moab was terrified at the people and full of dread, because they were many. Moab was distressed and overcome with fear because of the Israelites.

4 A nd 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.

And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. So Balak son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites at that time,

5 S o 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.

Sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the River, even to the land of the children of his people, to say to him, There is a people come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the earth and they have settled down and dwell opposite me.

6 N ow 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.”

Now come, I beg of you, curse this people for me, for they are too powerful 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.

7 S o 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.

And the elders of Moab and of Midian departed with the rewards of foretelling in their hands; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.

8 B alaam 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.

And he said to them, Lodge here tonight and I will bring you word as the Lord may speak to me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

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

And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?

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

And Balaam said to God, Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

11 ‘ 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.’”

Behold, the people who came out of Egypt cover the face of the earth; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.

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

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 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.”

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go back to your own land, for the Lord refuses to permit me to go with you.

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

So the princes of Moab rose up and went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.

15 B alak sent leaders again, more than were sent before, and men who were more important.

Then Balak again sent princes, more of them and more honorable than the first ones.

16 T hey came to Balaam and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘I beg you, let nothing keep you from coming to me.

And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak son of Zippor, I beg of you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me.

17 I will give you much honor. I will do whatever you tell me. I beg you to come and curse these people for me.’”

For I will promote you to very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so come, I beg of you, curse this people for me.

18 B alaam 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.

And Balaam answered the servants 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 less or more.

19 N ow I ask you to stay here tonight. I will find out what else the Lord will say to me.”

Now therefore, I pray you, tarry here again tonight that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.

20 G od 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

And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them, but still only what I tell you may you do.

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

And 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. The angel of the Lord stood in the way against him. Balaam was sitting on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

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 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 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.

And the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way and His sword drawn in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the way.

24 T hen the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path in the grape-field, with a wall on each side.

But the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side.

25 T he 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.

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

26 T hen 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.

And the Angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no room 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 hit the donkey with his stick.

And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam’s anger was kindled 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? Why have you hit me these three times?”

And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times?

29 B alaam 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!”

And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have ridiculed and provoked me! I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!

30 T he 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.”

And the donkey said to Balaam, Am not I your donkey, upon which you have ridden all your life long until this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you? And he 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 sword in his hand. And he bowed to the ground.

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord 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 hit your donkey these three times? See, I have come out against you, because your way was against me.

And the Angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? See, I came out to stand against and resist you, for your behavior is willfully obstinate and contrary before Me.

33 B ut 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.”

And the ass saw Me and turned from Me these three times. If she had not turned from Me, surely I would have slain 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. But now, if it does not please you, I will turn back.”

Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. But now, if my going displeases You, I will return.

35 T he 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.

The Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men, but you shall speak only what I tell you. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 B alak 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.

When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab on the border formed by the Arnon, at the farthest end of the boundary.

37 B alak 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?”

Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send to you to ask you to me? Why did you not come? Am not I able to promote you to honor?

38 B alaam 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.”

And Balaam said to Balak, Indeed I have come to you, but do I now have any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.

39 T hen Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriathhuzoth.

And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

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

And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.

41 T he 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.

And on the following day Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Bamoth-baal; from there he saw the nearest of the Israelites.