Numbers 22
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
22 And they went forward and encamped in the plains of Moab, over against where Jericho is situate beyond the Jordan.
2 And Balac the son of Sephor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorrhite,
3 And that the Moabites were in great fear of him, and were not able to sustain his assault,
4 He said to the elders of Madian: So will this people destroy all that dwell in our borders, as the ox is wont to eat the grass to the very roots. Now he was at that time king in Moab.
5 He sent therefore messengers to Balaam the son of Beer, a soothsayer, who dwelt by the river of the land of the children of Ammon, to call him, and to say: Behold a people is come out of Egypt, that hath covered the face of the earth, sitting over against me.
6 Come therefore, and curse this people, because it is mightier than I: if by any means I may beat them and drive them out of my land: for I know that he whom thou shalt bless is blessed, and he whom thou shalt curse is cursed.
7 And the ancients of Moab, and the elders of Madian, went with the price of divination in their hands. And when they were come to Balaam, and had told him all the words of Balac:
8 He answered: Tarry here this night, and I will answer whatsoever the Lord shall say to me. And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him:
9 What mean these men that are with thee?
10 He answered: Balac the son of Sephor king of the Moabites hath sent to me,
11 Saying: Behold a people that is come out of Egypt, hath covered the face of the land: come and curse them, if by any means I may fight with them and drive them away.
12 And God said to Balaam: Thou shalt not go with them, nor shalt thou curse the people: because it is blessed.
13 And he rose in the morning and said to the princes: Go into your country, because the Lord hath forbid me to come with you.
14 The princes returning, said to Balac: Balaam would not come with us.
15 Then he sent many more and more noble than he had sent before:
16 Who, when they were come to Balaam, said: Thus saith Balac the son of Sephor, Delay not to come to me:
17 For I am ready to honour thee, and will give thee whatsoever thou wilt: come and curse this people.
18 Balaam answered: If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot alter the word of the Lord my God, to speak either more or less.
19 I pray you to stay here this night also, that I may know what the Lord will answer me once more.
20 God therefore came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: It these men be come to call thee, arise and go with them: yet so, that thou do what I shall command thee.
21 Balaam arose in the morning, and saddling his ass went with them.
22 And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against Balaam, who sat on the ass, and had two servants with him.
23 The ass seeing the angel standing in the way, with a drawn sword, turned herself out of the way, and went into the field. And when Balaam beat her, and had a mind to bring her again to the way,
24 The angel stood in a narrow place between two walls, wherewith the vineyards were enclosed.
25 And the ass seeing him, thrust herself close to the wall, and bruised the foot of the rider. But he beat her again:
26 And nevertheless the angel going on to a narrow place, where there was no way to turn aside either to the right hand or to the left, stood to meet him.
27 And when the ass saw the angel standing, she fell under the feet of the rider: who being angry beat her sides more vehemently with a staff.
28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time?
29 Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee.
30 The ass said: Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always accustomed to ride until this present day? tell me if I ever did the like thing to thee. But he said: Never.
31 Forthwith the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he worshipped him falling flat on the ground.
32 And the angel said to him: Why beatest thou thy ass these three times? I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse, and contrary to me:
33 And unless the ass had turned out of the way, giving place to me who stood against thee, I had slain thee, and she should have lived.
34 Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return.
35 The angel said: Go with these men, and see thou speak no other thing than what I shall command thee. He went therefore with the princes.
36 And when Balac heard it he came forth to meet him in a town of the Moabites, that is situate in the uttermost borders of Arnon.
37 And he said to Balaam: I sent messengers to call thee, why didst thou not come immediately to me? was it because I am not able to reward thy coming?
38 He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?
39 So they went on together, and came into a city, that was in the uttermost borders of his kingdom.
40 And when Balac had killed oxen and sheep, he sent presents to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41 And when morning was come, he brought him to the high places of Baal, and he beheld the uttermost part of the people.
民数记 22
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
摩押王召巴兰
22 以色列人继续前行，抵达约旦河东岸的摩押平原，在耶利哥对面安营。 2 西拨的儿子摩押王巴勒及其人民得知以色列人杀败了亚摩利人， 3 又见他们人多势众，都惊恐万状， 4 对米甸的长老说：“这群人将吞掉我们周围的一切，如同牛吃光田间的草一样。”那时，西拨的儿子巴勒做摩押王。 5 他差遣使者到幼发拉底河附近的毗夺——比珥的儿子巴兰的家乡，去召巴兰。他让使者带去的信息是：“有一个民族从埃及铺天盖地而来，就住在我对面。 6 他们比我强大，求你为我咒诅他们。这样，我也许就能击败他们，把他们赶走。我知道你祝福谁，谁就蒙福；你咒诅谁，谁就遭祸。”
7 摩押和米甸的长老们带着占卜的礼金去见巴兰，把巴勒的话转告他。 8 巴兰说：“你们今夜住在这里，我必照耶和华的旨意回复你们。”摩押的使臣就在巴兰那里住下。 9 晚上，上帝来问巴兰：“住在你这里的是谁？” 10 巴兰回答说：“他们是摩押王西拨的儿子巴勒派来的使臣， 11 前来告诉我说，‘有一个民族从埃及铺天盖地而来。请你去咒诅那民族，这样巴勒王或许能击败他们，把他们赶走。’” 12 上帝对巴兰说：“你不可跟他们去，也不可咒诅那民族，因为那民族是蒙福的。”
13 第二天清早，巴兰对巴勒的使臣说：“你们回去吧，耶和华不准我跟你们去。” 14 摩押的使臣回去对巴勒说：“巴兰不肯跟我们来。” 15 巴勒又派去更多、更尊贵的使臣。 16 他们到了巴兰那里，对他说：“西拨的儿子巴勒请你务必去一趟， 17 他必有重赏。你要什么都可以，只求你去为他咒诅那民族。” 18 巴兰回答说：“巴勒就是把他满屋的金银都给我，我也不能在任何事上违背我的上帝耶和华的命令。 19 你们可以在这里过夜，看看耶和华对我还有什么吩咐。” 20 当夜，上帝来对巴兰说：“这些人既然来请你，你就跟他们去吧，但你只可照我说的做。” 21 巴兰清早起来，备好驴，跟摩押的使臣去了。
上帝拦阻巴兰
22 巴兰这一去，激怒了上帝。巴兰骑着驴，带着两个仆人正走在途中，耶和华的天使拦住他的去路。 23 驴看见耶和华的天使持刀拦在路上，就离开大路，跑进田间。巴兰鞭打它，要它回到路上。 24 耶和华的天使又站在葡萄园之间的一条窄路上，两边都是墙。 25 驴看见耶和华的天使，就靠着墙边走，将巴兰的脚挤伤了。巴兰又鞭打它。 26 耶和华的天使又走到前面，站在狭窄之处，两边都无侧身通过的余地。 27 驴看见耶和华的天使，就卧在地上，巴兰大怒，便用杖打它。 28 耶和华使驴开口对巴兰说：“我做错了什么，你竟打我三次！” 29 巴兰说：“因为你戏弄我。如果我手中有刀，早就把你宰了！” 30 驴对巴兰说：“我是你从小就骑的驴，我可曾这样对你？”巴兰说：“没有。”
31 那时，耶和华开了巴兰的眼，他才看见耶和华的天使持刀拦在路上，便俯伏在地。 32 耶和华的天使对他说：“你为何三次打你的驴？我特意来阻挡你，因为你走的路在我眼中是邪路。 33 你的驴看见我，一连躲避了三次，驴若没有躲开，我早已杀了你，只放过驴。” 34 巴兰对耶和华的天使说：“我有罪了，我不知道是你拦在路上。如果你反对我去，我就回去。” 35 耶和华的天使说：“跟这些人去吧，但你只许按我的指示说话。”于是，巴兰跟巴勒的使臣去了。
36 巴勒听见巴兰来了，就来到边界尽头、亚嫩河边的摩押城迎接他。 37 巴勒对巴兰说：“上次派人请你，你为何不肯来？难道我不能给你重赏吗？” 38 巴兰说：“现在我已经来了，但我不能随便发言，只能按上帝的指示说话。” 39 巴兰和巴勒一同来到基列·胡琐。 40 巴勒宰牛杀羊赏给巴兰和随行的臣仆。 41 次日清晨，巴勒领巴兰上到巴力巴末[a]，从那里可以看到一部分以色列人。
Footnotes
- 22:41 “巴力巴末”希伯来文是“巴力的高岗”之意。
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
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Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
