Numbers 22
New American Standard Bible
Balak Sends for Balaam
22 (A)Then the sons of Israel journeyed on, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho.
2 Now (B)Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 (C)So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of (D)Midian, “Now this [a]horde will eat up all that is around us, as the ox eats up the grass of the field!” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 So he sent messengers to (E)Balaam the son of Beor, at (F)Pethor, which is near the Euphrates River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call for him, saying, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they have covered the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. 6 (G)Now, therefore, please come, (H)curse this people for me since they are too [b]mighty for me; perhaps I will be able to [c]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 left with the fees for (I)divination in their hands; and they came to Balaam and [d]repeated Balak’s words to him. 8 And he said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you just as the Lord may speak to me.” And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 Then (J)God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent word to me: 11 ‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; (K)you shall not curse the people, for they (L)are blessed.” 13 So Balaam got up in the morning and said to Balak’s representatives, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 And the representatives from Moab got up and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Then Balak sent representatives once again, more numerous and more distinguished than [e]the previous. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak the son of Zippor says: ‘I beg you, let nothing keep you from coming to me; 17 for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you tell me. (M)Please come then, curse this people for me.’” 18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “(N)Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the [f]command of the Lord my God. 19 Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the Lord will say to me.” 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise and go with them; but you shall do (O)only the thing that I tell you.”
21 (P)So Balaam arose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab.
The Angel and Balaam
22 But God was angry that he was going, (Q)and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the road as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, the donkey turned off from the road and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey to guide her back onto the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a stone wall on this side and on that side. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed herself against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord went farther, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so (R)Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then (S)the Lord 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, “It is because you have made a mockery of me! If only there had been a sword in my hand! For (T)I would have killed you by now!” 30 But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing such a thing to you?” And he said, “No.”
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw (U)the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed [g]all the way to the ground. 32 Then the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was (V)reckless and contrary to me. 33 But the donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I certainly would have killed you just now, and let her live.” 34 So Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “(W)I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.” 35 But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but (X)you shall speak only the word that I [h]tell you.” So Balaam went along with the representatives of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, [i]at the extreme end of the border. 37 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not urgently send word to you to call for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor you?” 38 So Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you now! (Y)Am I really able to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that only shall I speak.” 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
41 Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to [j](Z)the high places of Baal, and he saw from there [k]a (AA)portion of the people.
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:4 Lit assembly
- Numbers 22:6 Or numerous
- Numbers 22:6 Lit strike
- Numbers 22:7 Lit spoke
- Numbers 22:15 Lit these
- Numbers 22:18 Lit mouth
- Numbers 22:31 Lit and prostrated himself to his face
- Numbers 22:35 Or speak to
- Numbers 22:36 Lit which is at
- Numbers 22:41 Or Bamoth-baal
- Numbers 22:41 Lit the extremity of the people
Numbers 22
English Standard Version
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then (A)the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And (B)Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And (C)Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to (D)the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 (E)sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor (F)at Pethor, which is near the River[a] in the land of the people of Amaw,[b] to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 (G)Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from 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 (H)the elders of Midian departed with (I)the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message. 8 And he said to them, “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 (J)And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for (K)they are blessed.” 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 (L)for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. (M)Come, curse this people for me.’” 18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, (N)“Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, (O)I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, (P)please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 20 (Q)And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; (R)but only do what I tell you.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaam's Donkey and the Angel
22 But God's anger was kindled because he went, (S)and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way (T)as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord (U)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 made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
31 Then the Lord (V)opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell 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 (W)to oppose you because your way is perverse[c] before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, (X)“I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” 35 And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, (Y)but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, (Z)on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to (AA)honor you?” 38 Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? (AB)The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.” 39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.
41 And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:5 That is, the Euphrates
- Numbers 22:5 Or the people of his kindred
- Numbers 22:32 Or reckless
民數記 22
Revised Chinese Union Version (Traditional Script) Shen Edition
摩押王召巴蘭
22 以色列人起行，在摩押平原，約旦河東，對着耶利哥安營。 2 西撥的兒子巴勒看見以色列向亞摩利人所做的一切。 3 摩押因以色列百姓這麼多，非常懼怕。摩押因以色列人的緣故就憂懼。 4 摩押對米甸的長老說：「現在這羣人要舔盡我們四圍的一切，好像牛舔盡田間的草一樣。」
那時，西撥的兒子巴勒作摩押王。 5 他派使者往大河附近的毗奪去，到比珥的兒子巴蘭的家鄉[a]，召巴蘭來，說：「看哪，有一羣百姓從埃及出來；看哪，他們遮滿地面，住在我的對面。 6 現在請你來，為我詛咒這百姓，因為他們比我強大，或許我能打敗他們，把他們趕出此地。因為我知道，你為誰祝福，誰就得福；你詛咒誰，誰就受詛咒。」
7 摩押的長老和米甸的長老手裏拿着占卜的禮金到巴蘭那裏，將巴勒的話告訴他。 8 巴蘭對他們說：「今晚你們在這裏過夜，我必照着耶和華向我說的話給你們答覆。」摩押的官員就在巴蘭那裏住下。 9 神臨到巴蘭那裏，說：「你這裏的這些人是誰？」 10 巴蘭對 神說：「摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒送信給我： 11 『看哪，從埃及出來的百姓遮滿了地面，現在請你來，為我詛咒他們，或許我能打敗他們，把他們趕走。』」 12 神對巴蘭說：「你不可跟他們去，也不可詛咒這百姓，因為他們是蒙福的。」 13 巴蘭早晨起來，對巴勒的官員說：「你們回本地去吧，因為耶和華不允許我和你們一起去。」 14 摩押的官員就起來，到巴勒那裏，說：「巴蘭不肯和我們一起來。」
15 巴勒又差遣比這些更多，更尊貴的官員。 16 他們來到巴蘭那裏，對他說：「西撥的兒子巴勒這樣說：『請你不要再推辭到我這裏來！ 17 我必使你得極大的尊榮，無論你向我要甚麼，我都給你。只求你來為我詛咒這百姓。』」 18 巴蘭回答巴勒的臣僕說：「巴勒就是將他滿屋的金銀給我，我也不能做任何大小的事，違背耶和華—我 神的指示。 19 現在請你們今晚也在這裏住下，我好知道耶和華還要對我說甚麼。」 20 神在夜裏臨到巴蘭那裏，說：「這些人若來求你，你就起來跟他們去吧，只是你必須照着我對你說的話去做。」
巴蘭和他的驢
21 巴蘭早晨起來，備了驢，就和摩押的官員一同去了。 22 神因他去就怒氣發作；耶和華的使者站在路中間敵對他。他騎着驢，有兩個僕人跟隨他。 23 驢看見耶和華的使者站在路中間，手裏有拔出來的刀，就離開了路，岔入田間。巴蘭就打驢，要牠回到路上。 24 耶和華的使者站在葡萄園的窄路上，這邊有牆，那邊也有牆。 25 驢看見耶和華的使者，就往牆擠去，把巴蘭的腳擠到牆上；巴蘭再打驢。 26 耶和華的使者又往前去，站在狹窄的地方，那裏左右都無路可轉。 27 驢看見耶和華的使者，就伏在巴蘭底下。巴蘭怒氣發作，用杖打驢。 28 耶和華使驢開口，對巴蘭說：「我向你做了甚麼，你竟打我這三次呢？」 29 巴蘭對驢說：「因為你戲弄我，我恨不得手中有刀，現在就把你殺了。」 30 驢對巴蘭說：「我不是你從小直到今天所騎的驢嗎？我平時有這樣待過你嗎？」巴蘭說：「沒有。」
31 耶和華使巴蘭的眼目明亮，他看見耶和華的使者站在路中間，手裏有拔出來的刀；巴蘭就低頭俯伏下拜。 32 耶和華的使者對他說：「你為甚麼這三次打你的驢呢？看哪，我出來敵對你，因為這路在我面前已經偏離了。 33 驢看見我就從我面前迴避了這三次；驢若沒有迴避我，我早把你殺了，留牠存活。」 34 巴蘭對耶和華的使者說：「我有罪了。我不知道你站在路中間阻擋我；現在你若看為不好，我就回去。」 35 耶和華的使者對巴蘭說：「你和這些人去吧！你只要說我對你說的話。」於是巴蘭和巴勒的官員一同去了。
巴勒歡迎巴蘭
36 巴勒聽見巴蘭來了，就到摩押的城[b]去迎接他；這城是在邊界的亞嫩河旁。 37 巴勒對巴蘭說：「我不是急切地派人到你那裏去召你嗎？你為何不到我這裏來呢？我豈不能使你得尊榮嗎？」 38 巴蘭對巴勒說：「看哪，我已經到你這裏來了！現在我豈能擅自說甚麼呢？ 神將甚麼話放在我口中，我就說甚麼。」 39 巴蘭和巴勒同去，來到基列‧胡瑣。 40 巴勒宰了牛羊為祭物，送給巴蘭和陪伴他的官員。
巴蘭首次預言
41 到了早晨，巴勒領巴蘭到巴末‧巴力，從那裏可以看到一部分以色列的百姓。
Numbers 22
Modern English Version
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then the children of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho.
2 Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was very 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 this company will lick up all that are around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.”
And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying,
“A people went out from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they dwell next to me. 6 And now, please come curse this people for me because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I will prevail, and we will defeat them, and I will drive them out of the land because 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 went with the divination payments in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8 He said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord will speak to me.” And the leaders of Moab dwelt with Balaam.
9 God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, saying, 11 ‘A people went out of Egypt who covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to battle them and drive them out.’ ”
12 God said to Balaam, “You will not go with them. You will not curse the people because they are blessed.”
13 So Balaam rose up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land because the Lord refuses to let me 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 Again Balak sent officials, more numerous and more honorable than they. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him,
“Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Please, let nothing hold you back from coming to me, 17 because I will promote you to very great honor, and anything you say to me I will do. Come please, curse this people for me.’ ”
18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond the command of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 Now please remain here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”
20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them. But surely the word which I will say to you, that will you do.”
Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel
21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 The anger of God was inflamed because he went, and the angel[a] of the Lord stood in the way as 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 the Lord standing in the way, and His sword was drawn in His hand, so the donkey turned out of the way and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey to turn her onto the road.
24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she threw herself into the wall and crushed the foot of Balaam against the wall, and he struck her again.
26 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 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and the anger of Balaam was inflamed, and he struck the donkey with a staff. 28 Then the Lord 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, “You have mocked me. O that there was a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you.”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, whom you have ridden since I became yours, to this day? Do I normally do this to you?”
And he said, “No.”
31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and His sword was drawn in His hand, and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
32 The angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before Me. 33 And the donkey saw Me and turned from Me these three times. If she had not turned from Me, surely by now I would have slain you and saved her alive.”
34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned because I did not know that You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will return.”
35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men. But only speak the word that I tell you to speak.” So Balaam went with the leaders of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him in a city of Moab which is on the border of Arnon, which is at the furthest end of the border. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Indeed am I not able to honor you?”
38 And Balaam said to Balak, “I have come to you now. But am I able to speak just anything? The word God puts in my mouth is what I will speak. ”
39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak offered oxen and sheep and sent them to Balaam and to the officials who were with him.
Balaam’s First Prophecy
41 It came to pass on the next day that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he saw the extent of the people.
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:22 At times the Lord speaks directly through an angel (cf. the story of the burning bush in Ex 3:2–4).
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