Numbers 22
International Children’s Bible
Balaam and Balak
22 Then the people of Israel went to the plains of Moab. They camped near the Jordan River across from Jericho.
2 Balak son of Zippor saw everything the Israelites had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was scared of so many Israelites. Truly, Moab was terrified by them.
4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This mob will take everything around us. It will be like an ox eating grass.”
Balak son of Zippor was the king of Moab at this time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor. It was near the Euphrates River in the land of Amaw. Balak said, “A nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the land. They have camped next to me. 6 They are too powerful for me. So come and put a curse on them. Maybe then I can defeat them and make them leave the area. I know that if you bless someone, the blessings happen. And if you put a curse on someone, it happens.”
7 The elders of Moab and Midian went with payment in their hands. They found Balaam. Then they told him what Balak had said.
8 Balaam said to them, “Stay here for the night. I will tell you what the Lord tells me.” So the Moabite leaders stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam said to God, “The king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, sent them. He sent me this message: 11 ‘A nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the land. So come and put a curse on them. Then maybe I can fight them and force them out of my land.’”
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. Don’t put a curse on those people. I have blessed them.”
13 The next morning Balaam awoke and said to Balak’s leaders, “Go back to your own country. The Lord will not let me go with you.”
14 So the Moabite leaders went back to Balak. They said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 So Balak sent other leaders. He sent more leaders this time. And they were more important. 16 They went to Balaam and said, “Balak son of Zippor says this: Please don’t let anything stop you from coming to me. 17 I will pay you well. I will do what you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”
18 But Balaam answered Balak’s servants, “King Balak could give me his palace full of silver and gold. But I cannot disobey the Lord my God in anything, great or small. 19 You stay here tonight as the other men did. I will find out what more the Lord tells me.”
20 That night God came to Balaam. He said, “These men have come to ask you to go with them. Go. But only do what I tell you.”
Balaam and His Donkey
21 Balaam got up the next morning. He put a saddle on his donkey. Then he went with the Moabite leaders. 22 But God became angry because Balaam went. So the angel of the Lord stood in the road to stop Balaam. Balaam was riding his donkey. And he had two servants with him. 23 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road. The angel had a sword in his hand. So the donkey left the road and went into the field. Balaam hit the donkey to force her back on the road.
24 Later, the angel of the Lord stood on a narrow path between two vineyards. There were walls on both sides. 25 Again the donkey saw the angel of the Lord. So the donkey walked close to one wall. This crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he hit her again.
26 The angel of the Lord went ahead again. The angel stood at a narrow place. It was too narrow to turn left or right. 27 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord. So she lay down under Balaam. Balaam was very angry and hit her with his stick. 28 Then the Lord made the donkey talk. She said to Balaam, “What have I done to make you hit me three times?”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made me look foolish! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!”
30 But the donkey said to Balaam, “I am your very own donkey. You have ridden me for years. Have I ever done this to you before?”
“No,” Balaam said.
31 Then the Lord let Balaam see the angel. The angel of the Lord was standing in the road with his sword drawn. Then Balaam bowed facedown on the ground.
32 The angel of the Lord asked Balaam, “Why have you hit your donkey three times? I have stood here to stop you. What you are doing is wrong. 33 The donkey saw me. She turned away from me three times. If she had not turned away, I would have killed you by now. But I would let her live.”
34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not know you were standing in the road to stop me. If I am wrong, I will go back.”
35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with these men. But say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s leaders.
36 Balak heard that Balaam was coming. So he went out to meet him at Ar in Moab. It was beside the Arnon, at the edge of his country. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “I had asked you before to come quickly. Why didn’t you come to me? I am able to reward you well.”
38 But Balaam answered, “I have come to you now. But I can’t say just anything. I can only say what God tells me to say.”
39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak offered cattle and sheep as a sacrifice. He gave some meat to Balaam and the leaders with him.
41 The next morning Balak took Balaam to Bamoth Baal. From there he could see the edge of the Israelite camp.
民数记 22
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
摩押王巴勒召巴蘭
22 以色列人起行，在摩押平原安營，就是在約旦河東邊，耶利哥的對面。
2 以色列人向亞摩利人所行的一切事，西撥的兒子巴勒都看見了。 3 摩押人十分懼怕這民，因為他們眾多；摩押人因以色列人的緣故，十分恐慌。 4 摩押人對米甸的長老說：“現在這群人要吞併我們四周的一切，好像牛吞吃田間的草一樣。”那時西撥的兒子巴勒，作摩押王； 5 他就派使者到比珥的兒子巴蘭那裡去，就是到大河附近的毘奪，亞捫人的地那裡，去叫巴蘭來，說：“你看，有一個民族從埃及出來，遮滿了全地，如今住在我的對面。 6 現在請你來，替我咒詛這民，因為他們比我強盛，或者我能夠擊敗他們，把他們從這地趕出去；因為我知道你給誰祝福，誰就得福；你咒詛誰，誰就受咒詛。”
7 摩押的長老和米甸的長老，手裡帶著占卜的禮金去了；他們到了巴蘭那裡，把巴勒的話告訴他。 8 巴蘭對他們說：“今夜你們留在這裡，我必照著耶和華吩咐我的話答覆你們。”於是，摩押的領袖就與巴蘭同住。 9 神來到巴蘭那裡，說：“與你在一起的這些人是誰？” 10 巴蘭對 神說：“是摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒派到我這裡來的人，他們說： 11 ‘你看，從埃及出來的民族，遮滿了全地；現在請你來，替我咒詛他們，或者我能夠戰勝他們，把他們趕走。’” 12 神對巴蘭說：“你不可與他們同去，也不可咒詛那民，因為他們是蒙福的。” 13 巴蘭早晨起來，對巴勒的領袖說：“你們回本地去吧，因為耶和華不准我與你們同去。” 14 摩押的領袖起來，回到巴勒那裡，說：“巴蘭不肯與我們同來。”
15 於是，巴勒又派比先前更多、更尊貴的領袖去， 16 他們來到巴蘭那裡，對他說：“西撥的兒子巴勒這樣說：‘求你不要推辭不到我這裡來， 17 因為我必使你大得尊榮；你向我說甚麼，我都照辦；只求你替我咒詛這民。’” 18 巴蘭回答巴勒的臣僕說：“巴勒就算把他滿屋的金銀給我，但我不論作大事小事，也不能越過耶和華我 神的命令。 19 現在請你們今夜也住在這裡，等我得知耶和華還要向我說甚麼。” 20 當夜， 神來到巴蘭那裡，對他說：“這些人既然來請你，你就起程與他們同去，但是你只要遵行我吩咐你的事。”
天使與巴蘭的驢子
21 巴蘭早晨起來，備上驢，與摩押的領袖一同去了。 22 神因為巴蘭去就發怒；耶和華的使者站在路上敵擋他。那時他騎著驢，有兩個僕人同行。 23 驢看見了耶和華的使者站在路上，手裡拿著拔出來的刀，就轉離正路，走入田中去；巴蘭就打驢，要叫牠轉回路上。 24 耶和華的使者站在葡萄園間的窄路上，兩邊都有圍牆。 25 驢看見了耶和華的使者，就緊擠在牆上，把巴蘭的腳擠傷了，巴蘭又打驢。 26 耶和華的使者又往前行，站在狹窄之處，左右都沒有轉身的地方。 27 驢看見了耶和華的使者，就臥在巴蘭身下；巴蘭大怒，就用自己的杖打驢。 28 耶和華開了驢的口，驢就對巴蘭說：“我向你作了甚麼，你竟打我這三次呢？” 29 巴蘭對驢說：“因為你作弄我。但願我手中有刀，現在就把你殺死。” 30 驢對巴蘭說：“我不是你從起初一直所騎的驢嗎？我曾慣常向你這樣行過嗎？”巴蘭說：“沒有。”
責備巴蘭
31 那時，耶和華開了巴蘭的眼睛，他就看見耶和華的使者站在路上，手裡拿著拔出來的刀，巴蘭就低頭俯伏在地。 32 耶和華的使者對他說：“你為甚麼這三次打你的驢呢？看哪，是我來敵擋你，因為你走的路在我面前邪僻。 33 驢看見了我，就三次從我面前轉開；驢若是沒有從我面前轉開，我早已把你殺了，而留牠活著。” 34 巴蘭對耶和華的使者說：“我有罪了，我不知道是你站在路上阻擋我；現在你若是不喜歡我去，我就回去。” 35 耶和華的使者對巴蘭說：“你與這些人同去吧，但是你只要說我吩咐你的話。”於是巴蘭與巴勒的領袖一同去了。
巴勒迎接巴蘭
36 巴勒聽見巴蘭來了，就出去到摩押的京城迎接他；這城是在亞嫩河旁，在邊界的盡頭。 37 巴勒對巴蘭說：“我不是急切地派人到你那裡去請你嗎？你為甚麼不到我這裡來呢？難道我不能使你得尊榮嗎？” 38 巴蘭對巴勒說：“看哪，我已經來到你這裡，現在我怎能說甚麼呢？ 神把甚麼話放在我口裡，我就說甚麼。” 39 巴蘭與巴勒同行，來到基列．胡瑣。 40 巴勒宰了牛羊，送給巴蘭和與他在一起的領袖。
41 到了早晨，巴勒帶著巴蘭上了巴力的高岡；巴蘭就從那裡觀看以色列民的邊界。
Numbers 22
New King James Version
Balak Sends for Balaam
22 Then (A)the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho.
2 Now (B)Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And (C)Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. 4 So Moab said to (D)the elders of Midian, “Now this company will [a]lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 Then (E)he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at (F)Pethor, which is near [b]the River in the land of [c]the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! 6 (G)Therefore please come at once, (H)curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with (I)the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 And he said to them, (J)“Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 (K)Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10 So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.’ ”
12 And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for (L)they are blessed.”
13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you.”
14 And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more [d]honorable than they. 16 And 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 certainly (M)honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. (N)Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’ ”
18 Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, (O)“Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, (P)I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please, you also (Q)stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”
20 (R)And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but (S)only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel
22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, (T)and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 Now (U)the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. 24 Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. 26 Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Then the Lord (V)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 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have [e]abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, (W)for now I would kill you!”
30 (X)So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever [f]disposed to do this to you?”
And he said, “No.”
31 Then the Lord (Y)opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out [g]to stand against you, because your way is (Z)perverse[h] before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”
34 And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, (AA)“I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it [i]displeases You, I will turn back.”
35 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, (AB)but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, (AC)he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, (AD)which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory. 37 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able (AE)to honor you?”
38 And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? (AF)The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.” 39 So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth. 40 Then Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.
Balaam’s First Prophecy
41 So it was, the next day, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the (AG)high places of Baal, that from there he might observe [j]the extent of the people.
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:4 consume
- Numbers 22:5 The Euphrates
- Numbers 22:5 Or the people of Amau
- Numbers 22:15 distinguished
- Numbers 22:29 mocked
- Numbers 22:30 accustomed
- Numbers 22:32 as an adversary
- Numbers 22:32 contrary
- Numbers 22:34 Lit. is evil in your eyes
- Numbers 22:41 the farthest extent
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.