Numbers 22

1And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

1The Israelites traveled on and set up camp in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from Jericho.

2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

2Balak son of Zippor saw everything that Israel had done to the Amorites.

3And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

3Moab was terrified of the people because there were so many of them; indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.

4And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

4The Moabites said to the leaders of Midian, 'This crowd will swallow up everything around us, just like an ox eats up the grass in a field.' At that time, Balak son of Zippor was the king of Moab.

5And he sent messengers unto 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 face of the earth, and they abide over against me.

5He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates River in his native land. The message said, 'Look, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and have settled right next to me.'

6Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

6'Please come and curse this people for me, because they are too strong for me. Maybe then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.'

7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

7The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking money with them to pay for the curse. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.

8And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

8Balaam said to them, 'Stay here tonight, and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.' So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

9God came to Balaam and asked, 'Who are these men with you?'

10And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

10Balaam said to God, 'Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:'

11Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.

11'Look, the people who came out of Egypt cover the face of the earth. Come now and curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to fight them and drive them away.'

12And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.

12But God said to Balaam, 'Do not go with them. You must not curse these people, because they are blessed.'

13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

13Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s officials, 'Go back to your own land, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.'

14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

14The Moabite officials got up, returned to Balak, and said, 'Balaam refused to come with us.'

15And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.

15Then Balak sent another group of officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.

16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

16They came to Balaam and said, 'This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please do not let anything stop you from coming to me.'

17for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

17'I will reward you with great honor and do whatever you ask. Please come and curse these people for me.'

18And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.

18Balaam answered Balak’s servants, 'Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything, small or great, that goes against the command of the LORD my God.'

19Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more.

19'But please, stay here tonight like the others did, so I can find out if the LORD has anything else to say to me.'

20And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.

20That night God came to Balaam and said, 'Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them. But you must do only what I tell you.'

21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

21Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.

22And God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

22But God was very angry that he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to block his way. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat the donkey to pull her back onto the path.

24Then the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with a stone wall on each side.

25And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

25The donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again.

26And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

26Then the angel of the LORD moved further ahead and stood in a place so narrow that there was no room to turn to the right or to the left.

27And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.

27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. Balaam became furious and beat the donkey with his staff.

28And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

28Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?'

29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.

29Balaam said to the donkey, 'You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.'

30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.

30The donkey said to Balaam, 'Am I not your own donkey, which you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever been in the habit of doing this to you?' 'No,' he replied.

31Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

32And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:

32The angel of the LORD asked him, 'Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to block your way because your path is reckless and wrong before me.'

33and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.

33'The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I certainly would have killed you by now and let her live.'

34And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

34Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, 'I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to block me. Now, if you are displeased, I will go back home.'

35And the angel of Jehovah said unto Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

35The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, 'Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.' So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.

36And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.

36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab on the Arnon border, at the very edge of his territory.

37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?

37Balak said to Balaam, 'Did I not send you an urgent request? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?'

38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

38'Well, I have come to you now,' Balaam replied. 'But do I have any power to say whatever I want? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.'

39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth.

39Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-huzoth.

40And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.

40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave some of the meat to Balaam and the officials who were with him.

41And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.

41The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.