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

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 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.”

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 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.

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 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, “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, saying,

Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said 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, 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. Do not curse the people, for I have decided that good would come to them.”

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.”

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

The princes of Moab rose up, and they 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.

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

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, ‘Please 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 whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and 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 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 I ask you to stay here tonight. I will find out what else the Lord will say 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, 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, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”

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

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.

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 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.

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 in the grape-field, with a wall on each 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 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.

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 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.

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 hit 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? Why have you hit 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 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!”

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 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 long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” 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 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 hit your donkey these three times? See, I have come out against you, because your way was against 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 from me these three times. If she had not turned from me, for sure I would have killed you, 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. But now, if it does not please 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 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.

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 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 to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part 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?”

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 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.”

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

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 cattle 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.

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.