1 The children of Israel traveled, 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.
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