1 A nd the sons of Israel journey and encamp in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan, 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 A nd Balak son of Zippor seeth all that Israel hath done to the Amorite,

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

3 a nd Moab is exceedingly afraid of the presence of the people, for it numerous; and Moab is vexed by the presence of the sons 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 a nd Moab saith unto the elders of Midian, `Now doth the assembly lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the green thing of the field.' And Balak son of Zippor king of Moab 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 a nd he sendeth messengers unto Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which by the River of the land of the sons of his people, to call for him, saying, `Lo, a people hath come out of Egypt; lo, it hath covered the eye of the land, and it is abiding over-against 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 a nd now, come, I pray thee, curse for me this people, for it mightier than I; it may be I prevail -- we smite it -- and I cast it out from the land; for I have known -- that which thou blessest is blessed, and that which thou cursest 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 A nd the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian go, and divinations in their hand, and they come in unto Balaam, and speak unto 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 saith unto them, `Lodge here to-night, and I have brought you back word, as Jehovah speaketh unto me;' and the princes of Moab abide 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 A nd God cometh in unto Balaam, and saith, `Who these men with thee?'

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

10 A nd Balaam saith unto God, `Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me:

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

11 L o, the people that is coming out from Egypt and covereth the eye of the land, -- now come, pierce it for me; it may be I am able to fight against it, and have cast it 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 saith unto Balaam, `Thou dost not go with them; thou dost not curse the people; for it 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 A nd Balaam riseth in the morning, and saith unto the princes of Balak, `Go unto your land, for Jehovah is refusing to suffer me 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 rise, and come in unto Balak, and say, `Balaam is refusing to come with us.'

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

15 A nd Balak addeth yet to send princes, more numerous and honoured than these,

Balak sent leaders again, more than were sent before, and men who were more important.

16 a nd they come in unto Balaam, and say to him, `Thus said Balak son of Zippor, Be not, I pray thee, withheld from coming unto 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 very greatly I honour thee, and all that thou sayest unto me I do; and come, I pray thee, pierce for me this people.'

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 A nd Balaam answereth and saith unto the servants of Balak, `If Balak doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah my God, to do a little or a great thing;

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 a nd, now, abide, I pray you, in this, you also, to-night; and I know what Jehovah is adding to speak with 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 cometh in unto Balaam, by night, and saith to him, `If to call for thee the men have come, rise, go with them, and only the thing which I speak unto thee -- it thou dost 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 A nd Balaam riseth in the morning, and saddleth his ass, and goeth with the princes of Moab,

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

22 a nd the anger of God burneth because he is going, and a messenger of Jehovah stationeth himself in the way for an adversary to him, and he is riding on his ass, and two of his servants 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 a nd the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and the ass turneth aside out of the way, and goeth into a field, and Balaam smiteth the ass to turn it aside into the way.

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 A nd the messenger of Jehovah standeth in a narrow path of the vineyards -- a wall on this and a wall on that --

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

25 a nd the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah, and is pressed unto the wall, and presseth Balaam's foot unto the wall, and he addeth to smite her;

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 a nd the messenger of Jehovah addeth to pass over, and standeth in a strait place where there is no way to turn aside -- right or 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 the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah, and croucheth under Balaam, and the anger of Balaam burneth, and he smiteth the ass with a 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 A nd Jehovah openeth the mouth of the ass, and she saith to Balaam, `What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten 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 saith to the ass, `Because thou hast rolled thyself against me; oh that there were a sword in my hand, for now I had slain thee;'

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 a nd the ass saith unto Balaam, `Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden since thine unto this day? have I at all been accustomed to do to thee thus?' and he saith, `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 A nd Jehovah uncovereth the eyes of Balaam, and he seeeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and he boweth and doth obeisance, to 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 messenger of Jehovah saith unto him, `Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? lo, I -- I have come out for an adversary, for way hath been 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 a nd the ass seeth me, and turneth aside at my presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from my presence, surely now also, thee I had slain, and her kept alive.'

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 saith unto the messenger of Jehovah, `I have sinned, for I did not know that thou standing to meet me in the way; and now, if evil in thine eyes -- I turn back by myself.'

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 A nd the messenger of Jehovah saith unto Balaam, `Go with the men; and only the word which I speak unto thee -- it thou dost speak;' and Balaam goeth 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 A nd Balak heareth that Balaam hath come, and goeth out to meet him, unto a city of Moab, which on the border of Arnon, which in the extremity of the border;

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 a nd Balak saith unto Balaam, `Did I not diligently sent unto thee to call for thee? why didst thou not come unto me? am I not truly able to honour thee?'

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 saith unto Balak, `Lo, I have come unto thee; now -- am I at all able to speak anything? the word which God setteth in my mouth -- it I do 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 A nd Balaam goeth with Balak, and they come to Kirjath-Huzoth,

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

40 a nd Balak sacrificeth oxen and sheep, and sendeth to Balaam, and to the princes who with him;

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

41 a nd it cometh to pass in the morning, that Balak taketh Balaam, and causeth him to go up the high places of Baal, and he seeth from thence the extremity 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.