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.

Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite 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 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.

So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel.

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.

Moab 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.

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.

So 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.

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, 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.”

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.

So 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.

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.

He 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.

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

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

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, 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.’”

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.”

God said to Balaam, “Do 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.”

So 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.”

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

The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refused 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 leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former.

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.

They 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;

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 indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, 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.

Balaam 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.

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

Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the Lord will speak 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

God 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.”

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

So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. The Angel and Balaam

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.

But 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.

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.

When 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.

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

Then 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.

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.

When 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.

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.

The 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.

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.

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

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 have struck 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!”

Then 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.”

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.”

The 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.”

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 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.

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.

The 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.

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.”

But 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.”

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 that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.”

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.

But 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.

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 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.

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?”

Then 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?”

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.”

So 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.”

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.

Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders 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.

Then 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.