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
Números 22
Portuguese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
Balaão e o rei de Moabe
22 Os israelitas começaram a marchar e acamparam nas planícies de Moabe, do outro lado do Jordão, na frente de Jericó.
2 Balaque, filho de Zipor, se deu conta do que Israel tinha feito aos amorreus. 3 Portanto, os moabitas se apavoraram e se angustiaram ao ver que os israelitas eram muitos.
4 Então os moabitas disseram aos líderes de Midiã:
—Essa multidão vai destruir tudo ao seu passo, como quando um bezerro acaba com o pasto de um campo.
Balaque, filho de Zipor, era o rei de Moabe nesse tempo. 5 Ele enviou mensageiros para trazer Balaão, filho de Beor, que estava em Petor, junto ao rio Eufrates, a terra dos seus parentes. Eles disseram:
“Olhe, um povo que saiu do Egito tem se estendido por todo o país e está acampando aqui perto. 6 Agora venha e amaldiçoe estas pessoas por mim, porque são mais fortes do que eu. Talvez eu seja capaz de atacá-los e obrigá-los a sair da terra. Sei que aquele que você abençoa fica bendito e aquele que você amaldiçoa fica maldito”.
7 Os líderes de Moabe e os líderes de Midiã foram dar a mensagem a Balaão. Eles iam com o dinheiro na mão para pagar as maldições.[a]
8 Balaão disse a eles:
—Fiquem aqui esta noite e eu responderei a vocês o que o SENHOR me falar.
Então os chefes de Moabe permaneceram com Balaão. 9 Deus veio a Balaão num sonho e perguntou a ele:
—Quem são esses homens que se hospedam com você?
10 Balaão respondeu:
—Balaque, filho de Zipor, rei de Moabe, os enviou com esta mensagem: 11 “Olhe, um povo que saiu do Egito tem se estendido por todo o país. Venha e amaldiçoe estas pessoas por mim. Talvez eu seja capaz de atacá-los e obrigá-los a sair da terra”.
12 Então Deus disse a Balaão:
—Não vá com eles nem diga nenhuma maldição contra os israelitas, porque é um povo bendito.
13 Balaão se levantou de manhã e disse aos chefes de Balaque:
—Voltem à sua terra porque o SENHOR não me permite ir com vocês.
14 Os chefes de Moabe se levantaram e voltaram a Balaque e disseram a ele:
—Balaão não quis vir conosco.
15 Balaque enviou outros chefes, em maior número e mais importantes do que o primeiro grupo, 16 e eles foram até Balaão e disseram:
—Isto é o que Balaque, filho de Zipor, disse:
“Não deixe que nada impeça você de vir aqui. 17 Eu recompensarei você muito bem e farei tudo o que me peça, mas peço a você que venha para amaldiçoar por mim àquele povo”.
18 Então Balaão respondeu a eles:
—Embora Balaque me desse sua casa cheia de ouro e prata, eu não poderia fazer nada, grande nem pequeno, que fosse em contra da ordem do SENHOR, meu Deus. 19 Então, por favor, fiquem aqui esta noite como fizeram os outros e deixem-me consultar e ver o que mais o SENHOR tem para me dizer.
20 Essa noite Deus apresentou-se a Balaão num sonho e disse:
—Já que estes homens vieram buscar você, levante-se e vá com eles, mas faça só o que eu mandar.
21 Balaão levantou-se de amanhã, pôs a sela na sua jumenta e foi com os chefes de Moabe. 22 Então Deus se irritou com ele por ele ter ido, e o anjo do SENHOR se colocou na frente do seu caminho para atacá-lo. Balaão ia montado na sua jumenta acompanhado por dois dos seus servos. 23 Quando a jumenta viu o anjo do SENHOR parado no caminho com uma espada na sua mão, saiu do caminho e foi em direção ao campo. Então Balaão bateu na jumenta para obrigá-la a voltar ao caminho.
24 Depois o anjo do SENHOR se pôs numa trilha estreita por onde o caminho passava entre vinhas, com muros de pedra aos dois lados. 25 A jumenta viu o anjo do SENHOR e se encostou na parede apertando a perna de Balaão, então ele bateu nela de novo.
26 O anjo do SENHOR se adiantou de novo e se pôs num lugar estreito, sem deixar espaço nem à esquerda nem à direita. 27 Quando a jumenta viu o anjo do SENHOR se jogou no chão, então Balaão se irritou e bateu nela com a sua vara. 28 Então o SENHOR fez com que a jumenta falasse e ela disse a Balaão:
—O que fiz a você para que me batesse três vezes dessa maneira?
29 Balaão disse para a jumenta:
—Você zombou de mim e se tivesse uma espada na minha mão, mataria você agora mesmo.
30 A jumenta disse a Balaão:
—Por acaso não sou a jumenta que você tem montado toda a sua vida até hoje? Costumo atuar desta maneira?
—Não—respondeu Balaão.
31 O SENHOR permitiu que Balaão pudesse ver o anjo do SENHOR, que estava de pé no caminho com a espada na mão. Balaão se inclinou e se ajoelhou rosto em terra. 32 O anjo do SENHOR disse:
—Por que bateu na sua jumenta nessas três vezes? Olhe, eu mesmo vim para atacar você porque está fazendo o que me desagrada.[b] 33 Quando a sua jumenta me viu, se afastou de mim essas três vezes. Se não o tivesse feito, eu teria matado você mas teria perdoado a vida dela.
34 Balaão disse ao anjo do SENHOR:
—Pequei porque não sabia que estava ali no caminho para me deter, mas vendo agora que a minha viagem desagrada ao senhor, voltarei para casa.
35 O anjo do SENHOR disse a Balaão:
—Vá com esses homens, mas dirá só o que eu lhe mandar.
Então Balaão saiu com os chefes enviados por Balaque.
36 Quando Balaque ouviu que Balaão vinha, saiu ao seu encontro numa cidade de Moabe, que está na beira do rio Arnom, na parte mais distante da fronteira. 37 Balaque disse a Balaão:
—Por acaso não enviei homens para trazer você? Por que não veio? Por acaso não sou capaz de recompensar você?
38 Balaão respondeu a ele:
—Bem, pois já estou aqui. Mesmo assim, só posso dizer o que Deus me comunicar.
39 Balaão e Balaque saíram dali para Quiriate-Huzote, 40 onde Balaque sacrificou gado e ovelhas e as compartilhou com Balaão e com os chefes que estavam com ele. 41 No outro dia de manhã, Balaque levou Balaão a Bamote-Baal, onde Balaão podia ver uma parte do acampamento israelita.
Footnotes
- 22.7 dinheiro (…) maldições Ou “aqueles que eram também magicos” ou “com as coisas necessárias para amaldiçoar”. As pessoas em tempos antigos tentavam fazer mal aos outros escrevendo maldições em vasilhas e depois usando-as em cerimônias.
- 22.32 está fazendo o que me desagrada Ou “a sua viagem me desagrada”. Esta parte do texto em hebraico é de significado duvidoso.
Numbers 22
New International Version
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab(A) and camped along the Jordan(B) across from Jericho.(C)
2 Now Balak son of Zippor(D) saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread(E) because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites(F) said to the elders of Midian,(G) “This horde is going to lick up everything(H) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.(I)”
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,(J) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,(K) in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt;(L) they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse(M) on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.(N) For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.(O) When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.(P)” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam(Q) and asked,(R) “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11 ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.(S)”
13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said:
“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely(T) and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse(U) on these people for me.”
18 But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.(V) 19 Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.(W)”
20 That night God came to Balaam(X) and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”(Y)
Balaam’s Donkey
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry(Z) when he went, and the angel of the Lord(AA) stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam 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 a drawn sword(AB) in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it(AC) to get it back on the road.
24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry(AD) and beat it with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth,(AE) and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?(AF)”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.(AG)”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes,(AH) and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.[a] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now,(AI) but I would have spared it.”
34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned.(AJ) I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”
35 The 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.
36 When Balak(AK) heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon(AL) border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
38 “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”(AM)
39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep,(AN) and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal,(AO) and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.(AP)
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:32 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
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