1 And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains
of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the
Amorites. 3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were
many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 And
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. 5 And 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. 6 Come 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.
7 And 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. 8 And 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. 9 And God came unto Balaam, and
said, What men are these with thee? 10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the
son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 11 Behold,
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. 12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with
them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed. 13 And 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. 14 And the
princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth
to come with us.
15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.
16 And 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: 17 for
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. 18 And
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. 19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here
this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more. 20 And
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.
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with
the princes of Moab. 22 And 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. 23 And
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. 24 Then the angel of
Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this
side, and a wall on that side. 25 And 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. 26 And 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. 27 And 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. 28 And 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? 29 And 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. 30 And 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.
31 Then 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. 32 And 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: 33 and 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. 34 And
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. 35 And 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.
36 And 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. 37 And 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? 38 And 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. 39 And Balaam went with
Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and
sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41 And 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.
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