[1] Then the children of Israel, journeying on, put up their tents in the
lowlands of Moab, on the other side of Jordan at Jericho. [2] Now Balak,
the son of Zippor, saw what Israel had done to the Amorites. [3] And in
Moab there was great fear of the people, because their numbers were so
great: and the feeling of Moab was bitter against the children of Israel.
[4] Then Moab said to the responsible men of Midian, It is clear that this
great people will be the destruction of everything round us, making a meal
of us as the ox does of the grass of the field. At that time Balak, the son
of Zippor, was king of Moab. [5] So he sent men to Balaam, son of Beor, at
Pethor by the River in the land of the children of his people, saying to
him, See, a people has come out of Egypt, covering all the face of the
earth, and they have put up their tents opposite to me: [6] Come now, in
answer to my prayer, and put a curse on this people, for they are greater
than I: and then I may be strong enough to overcome them and send them out
of the land: for it is clear that good comes to him who has your blessing,
but he on whom you put your curse is cursed. [7] So the responsible men of
Moab and Midian went away, taking in their hands rewards for the prophet;
and they came to Balaam and said to him what Balak had given them orders to
say. [8] And he said to them, Take your rest here tonight, and I will give
you an answer after hearing what the Lord says; so the chiefs of Moab kept
there with Balaam that night. [9] And God came to Balaam and said, Who are
these men with you? [10] And Balaam said to God, Balak, the son of Zippor,
king of Moab, has sent them to me, saying, [11] See, the people who have
come out of Egypt are covering all the earth: now, put a curse on this
people for me, so that I may be able to make war on them, driving them out
of the land. [12] And God said to Balaam, You are not to go with them, or
put a curse on this people, for they have my blessing. [13] In the morning
Balaam got up and said to the chiefs of Balak, Go back to your land, for
the Lord will not let me go with you. [14] So the chiefs of Moab went back
to Balak and said, Balaam will not come with us. [15] So Balak sent more
chiefs, greater in number and of higher position than the others. [16] And
they came to Balaam and said, Balak, son of Zippor, says, Let nothing keep
you from coming to me: [17] For I will give you a place of very great
honour, and whatever you say to me I will do; so come, in answer to my
prayer, and put a curse on this people. [18] But Balaam, in answer; said to
the servants of Balak, Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and
gold, it would not be possible for me to do anything more or less than the
orders of the Lord my God. [19] So take your rest here this night, till I
have knowledge what more the Lord has to say to me. [20] And that night God
came to Balaam and said to him, If these men have come for you, go with
them: but do only what I say to you. [21] So in the morning Balaam got up
and, making his ass ready, went with the chiefs of Moab. [22] But God was
moved to wrath because he went: and the angel of the Lord took up a
position in the road to keep him from his purpose. Now he was seated on his
ass, and his two servants were with him. [23] And the ass saw the angel of
the Lord waiting in the road with his sword in his hand; and turning from
the road, the ass went into the field; and Balaam gave the ass blows, to
get her back on to the road. [24] Then the angel of the Lord took up his
position in a narrow road through the vine-gardens, with a wall on this
side and on that. [25] And the ass saw the angel of the Lord, and went near
the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against the wall; and he gave her more
blows. [26] Then the angel of the Lord went further, stopping in a narrow
place where there was no room for turning to the right or to the left. [27]
And the ass saw the angel of the Lord and went down on the earth under
Balaam; and full of wrath, Balaam gave her hard blows with his stick. [28]
Then the Lord gave the ass the power of talking, and opening her mouth she
said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you have given me blows these
three times? [29] And Balaam said to the ass, You have made me seem
foolish: if only I had a sword in my hand I would put you to death. [30]
And the ass said to Balaam, Am I not your ass upon which you have gone all
your life till this day? and have I ever done this to you before? And he
said, No. [31] Then the Lord made Balaam's eyes open, and he saw the angel
of the Lord in the way with his sword in his hand: and he went down on his
face to the earth. [32] And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you
given your ass blows these three times? See, I have come out against you to
keep you back, because your purpose is not pleasing to me. [33] And the ass
saw me, turning to one side from me three times: if she had not gone to one
side, I would certainly have put you to death and kept her safe. [34] And
Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have done wrong, for I did not see
that you were in the way against me: but now, if it is evil in your eyes, I
will go back again. [35] And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with
the men; but say only what I give you to say. Then Balaam went on with the
chiefs of Balak. [36] Now Balak, hearing that Balaam had come, went to the
chief town of Moab, on the edge of the Arnon, in the farthest part of the
land, for the purpose of meeting him. [37] And Balak said to Balaam, Did I
not send to you, requesting you with all my heart to come to me? why did
you not come? am I not able to give you a place of honour? [38] Then Balaam
said to Balak, Now I have come to you; but have I power to say anything?
Only what God puts into my mouth may I say. [39] And Balaam went with Balak
to Kiriath-huzoth. [40] And Balak made offerings of oxen and sheep, and
sent to Balaam and the chiefs who were with him. [41] And in the morning
Balak took Balaam up to the high places of Baal, and from there he was able
to see the outer limits of the people.
