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

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

2 B alak 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 M oab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children 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 M oab 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.

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 H e 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.

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 P lease 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.”

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 T he 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.

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 H e 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.

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 G od 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 said to me,

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

11 ‘ 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.’”

‘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, “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; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

13 B alaam 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.”

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 T he princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15 B alak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they.

Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former.

16 T hey 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, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me;

17 f or 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.’”

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 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.

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

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, rise up, 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, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.”

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

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

22 G od’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.

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 T he 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.

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 Yahweh’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that 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 Yahweh’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck 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 Y ahweh’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.

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 T he donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, 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 struck the donkey with his stick.

28 Y ahweh 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, that you have struck me these three times?”

29 B alaam 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.”

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 ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He 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 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.

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 Y ahweh’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.

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 T he 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.”

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 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.”

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 Y ahweh’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.

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 W hen 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.

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, “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?”

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, “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.”

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 B alaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.

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

40 B alak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.

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

41 I n the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.

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.