[1] The children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab
beyond the Jordan at Jericho. [2] Balak the son of Zippor saw all that
Israel had done to the Amorites. [3] Moab was sore afraid of the people,
because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of
Israel. [4] Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick
up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.
Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. [5] 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 come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the surface of the
earth, and they abide over against me. [6] Please come now therefore curse
me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure 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] The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with
the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke
to him the words of Balak. [8] He said to them, Lodge here this night, and
I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me: and the princes
of Moab abode with Balaam. [9] God came to Balaam, and said, What men are
these with you? [10] Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of
Moab, has sent to me, [saying], [11] Behold, the people that is come out of
Egypt, it covers the surface of the earth: now, come curse me them;
peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them
out. [12] God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not
curse the people; for they are blessed. [13] Balaam rose up in the morning,
and said to the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Yahweh
refuses to give me leave to go with you. [14] The princes of Moab rose up,
and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. [15]
Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. [16] 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] 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] 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] Now
therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may know what Yahweh
will speak to me more. [20] God came to Balaam at night, and said to him,
If the men are come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word
which I speak to you, that shall you do. [21] Balaam rose up in the
morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. [22]
God`s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Yahweh 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] The donkey saw the angel
of Yahweh 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: and Balaam
struck the donkey, to turn her into the way. [24] Then the angel of Yahweh
stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side,
and a wall on that side. [25] The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she
thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam`s foot against the wall: and
he struck her again. [26] The angel of Yahweh went further, and stood in a
narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the
left. [27] The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under
Balaam: and Balaam`s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his
staff. [28] 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]
Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a
sword in my hand, for now I had killed you. [30] The donkey said to Balaam,
Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this
day? was I ever wont to do so to you? and he said, No. [31] Then Yahweh
opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the
way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on
his face. [32] The angel of Yahweh said to him, Why have you struck your
donkey these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because
your way is perverse before me: [33] and the donkey saw me, and turned
aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me,
surely now I had even slain you, and saved her alive. [34] Balaam said to
the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I didn`t know that you stood in the
way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back
again. [35] The angel of Yahweh 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] When Balak heard that Balaam was 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] 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] 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]
Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. [40] Balak
sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were
with him. [41] It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and
brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the
utmost part of the people.
