民数记 22-24
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。
巴兰的预言
23 巴兰对巴勒说:“你在这里为我筑七座祭坛,预备七头公牛和七只公绵羊。” 2 巴勒就照巴兰的话做了。他们二人在每座坛上献上一头公牛和一只公绵羊, 3 巴兰对巴勒说:“你留在燔祭旁边,我到前面去,也许耶和华会来见我。无论祂有什么指示,我必告诉你。” 4 上帝果然向巴兰显现。巴兰对上帝说:“我已经预备了七座祭坛,每座祭坛上献了一头公牛和一只公绵羊。” 5 耶和华告诉他当说的话,命他回去转告巴勒。 6 巴兰就回到巴勒那里,看见他和摩押的臣仆们都站在燔祭旁边。 7 巴兰吟诗预言说:
“巴勒引我出亚兰,
摩押王请我出东山,
说,‘来为我咒诅雅各,
来斥责以色列!’
8 上帝没有咒诅的,
我怎能咒诅?
耶和华没有斥责的,
我怎能斥责?
9 我从峰顶观看他们,
从高岗眺望他们,
这独居一方之民,
不与万国同列。
10 雅各的子孙多如尘土,
谁能数得清?
谁能数清以色列人的四分之一?
我愿像义人一样死去,
如义人般终此一生。”
11 巴勒对巴兰说:“你这是做什么?我请你来咒诅我的仇敌,你竟祝福他们!” 12 巴兰说:“耶和华让我说的话,我岂能不说?”
巴兰第二次预言
13 巴勒说:“请你跟我去另一个地方,那里看不见全部以色列人,只能看见一部分,你要在那里为我咒诅他们。” 14 他领巴兰上到毗斯迦山顶的琐腓田,在那里筑了七座祭坛,每座坛上都献了一头公牛和一只公绵羊。 15 巴兰对巴勒说:“你留在这些燔祭旁边,我到那边去见耶和华。” 16 耶和华向巴兰显现,告诉他当说的话,让他转告巴勒。 17 巴兰回到巴勒那里,看见他和摩押的臣仆们都站在燔祭旁边。巴勒问道:“耶和华说了什么?” 18 巴兰吟诗预言说:
“巴勒啊,要留心听!
西拨的儿子啊,请听我言。
19 上帝并非世人,祂不撒谎;
上帝不是凡人,祂不反悔。
祂言出必行,信守承诺。
20 我奉命祝福,祂已赐福,
我不能改变。
21 雅各的子孙中未见有罪恶,
以色列人中看不见有祸患。
他们的上帝耶和华与他们同在,
他们向自己的君王欢呼。
22 上帝把他们带出埃及,
祂[b]的力量如野牛之角。
23 没有邪术能害雅各,
没有咒语可伤以色列。
时候一到,人们必谈论雅各,
谈论以色列,说,‘看啊,
上帝的作为何等伟大!’
24 看啊,这民族挺身如母狮,
又像雄狮一跃而起,
不吞掉猎物不罢休,
不喝饱猎物的血不躺卧。”
25 巴勒对巴兰说:“你可以不咒诅他们,但也不该为他们祝福啊!” 26 巴兰回答说:“我不是说过,我必须按耶和华的指示做吗?”
27 巴勒说:“来吧,我带你去另一个地方,也许上帝会同意你在那里为我咒诅他们。” 28 他领着巴兰登上俯瞰旷野的毗珥山顶。 29 巴兰对巴勒说:“你在这里为我筑七座祭坛,预备七头公牛和七只公绵羊。” 30 巴勒就照巴兰的话在每座祭坛上献了一头公牛和一只公绵羊。
巴兰第三次预言
24 巴兰见耶和华乐意赐福给以色列人,就不再像先前两次那样去求兆头,而是面向旷野, 2 举目四望,看见以色列人按支派扎营。上帝的灵降在他身上, 3 他便吟诗预言说:
“比珥之子巴兰的预言,
是眼睛明亮者的话,
4 他得听上帝之言,
俯伏在地,
得见全能者的异象。
5 雅各啊,
你的帐篷何等华美!
以色列啊,
你的居所何等佳美!
6 像连绵的山谷,
河畔的园子;
又如耶和华栽种的沉香,
水边的香柏树。
7 他们沐浴充沛的甘霖,
撒种于湿润的沃土。
他们的君王高过亚甲,
国度名震四方。
8 上帝把他们带出埃及,
祂[c]的力量如野牛之角。
他们要吞灭敌国,
打碎敌人的骨头,
用利箭射穿仇敌。
9 他们蹲伏如雄狮,
躺卧如母狮,谁敢招惹?
祝福他们的人有福了!
咒诅他们的人有祸了!”
10 巴勒听了大怒,用力击掌,对巴兰说:“我请你来咒诅我的仇敌,你竟三次祝福他们。 11 现在快回家去吧!我说过要给你重赏,但耶和华不让你得到。” 12 巴兰说:“我不是对你派来的使臣说过吗? 13 就是你把满屋的金银都给我,我也不能违背耶和华的命令、凭自己的意思行事——无论好事坏事。我只能说耶和华让我说的话。 14 现在我要回本族去了。但我要告诉你日后以色列人会怎样对待你的人民。”
巴兰第四次预言
15 巴兰吟诗预言说:
“比珥之子巴兰的预言,
是眼睛明亮者的话,
16 他得听上帝之言,
明白至高者的旨意,
俯伏在地,
得见全能者的异象。
17 我所见的尚未发生,
我目睹的关乎将来。
一颗星要从雅各家升起,
一位君王要从以色列兴起。
他要打烂摩押的前额,
击碎舍特人的头颅。
18 他必征服以东,
占领敌疆西珥,
以色列必勇往直前。
19 雅各的后裔必掌权,
消灭城中的余民。”
巴兰最后的预言
20 巴兰观看亚玛力人,并以诗歌预言说:
“亚玛力原是列国之首,
但他的结局却是灭亡。”
21 巴兰又观看基尼人,并以诗歌预言说:
“虽然你的居所坚固,
你的巢筑在峭壁,
22 但你必遭灭顶,
被亚述掳去。”
23 巴兰又以诗歌预言说:
“唉!若非上帝许可,
谁能存活呢?
24 船只从基提驶来,
征服亚述和希伯,
但他也要灭亡。”
25 说完,巴兰动身返回家乡,巴勒也回去了。
Numbers 22-24
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)
Balaam’s First Message
23 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams(AQ) for me.” 2 Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.(AR)
3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me.(AS) Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.
4 God met with him,(AT) and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
5 The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth(AU) and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”(AV)
6 So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.(AW) 7 Then Balaam(AX) spoke his message:(AY)
“Balak brought me from Aram,(AZ)
the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.(BA)
‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me;
come, denounce Israel.’(BB)
8 How can I curse
those whom God has not cursed?(BC)
How can I denounce
those whom the Lord has not denounced?(BD)
9 From the rocky peaks I see them,
from the heights I view them.(BE)
I see a people who live apart
and do not consider themselves one of the nations.(BF)
10 Who can count the dust of Jacob(BG)
or number even a fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous,(BH)
and may my final end be like theirs!(BI)”
11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies,(BJ) but you have done nothing but bless them!”(BK)
12 He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”(BL)
Balaam’s Second Message
13 Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place(BM) where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp.(BN) And from there, curse them for me.(BO)” 14 So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah,(BP) and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.(BQ)
15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”
16 The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth(BR) and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
17 So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials.(BS) Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
18 Then he spoke his message:(BT)
“Arise, Balak, and listen;
hear me, son of Zippor.(BU)
19 God is not human,(BV) that he should lie,(BW)
not a human being, that he should change his mind.(BX)
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise(BY) and not fulfill?
20 I have received a command to bless;(BZ)
he has blessed,(CA) and I cannot change it.(CB)
21 “No misfortune is seen in Jacob,(CC)
no misery observed[b] in Israel.(CD)
The Lord their God is with them;(CE)
the shout of the King(CF) is among them.
22 God brought them out of Egypt;(CG)
they have the strength of a wild ox.(CH)
23 There is no divination against[c] Jacob,
no evil omens(CI) against[d] Israel.
It will now be said of Jacob
and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
24 The people rise like a lioness;(CJ)
they rouse themselves like a lion(CK)
that does not rest till it devours its prey
and drinks the blood(CL) of its victims.”
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”
26 Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”(CM)
Balaam’s Third Message
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place.(CN) Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me(CO) from there.” 28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor,(CP) overlooking the wasteland.
29 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.(CQ)
24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,(CR) he did not resort to divination(CS) as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.(CT) 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him(CU) 3 and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,(CV)
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,(CW)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,[e](CX)
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 “How beautiful are your tents,(CY) Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!
6 “Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,(CZ)
like aloes(DA) planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.(DB)
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.
8 “God brought them out of Egypt;
they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
and break their bones in pieces;(DE)
with their arrows they pierce them.(DF)
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness(DG)—who dares to rouse them?
10 Then Balak’s anger burned(DJ) against Balaam. He struck his hands together(DK) and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,(DL) but you have blessed them(DM) these three times.(DN) 11 Now leave at once and go home!(DO) I said I would reward you handsomely,(DP) but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,(DQ) 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord(DR)—and I must say only what the Lord says’?(DS) 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”(DT)
Balaam’s Fourth Message
15 Then he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words(DU) of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,(DV)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
17 “I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.(DW)
A star will come out of Jacob;(DX)
a scepter will rise out of Israel.(DY)
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,(DZ)
the skulls[f](EA) of[g] all the people of Sheth.[h]
18 Edom(EB) will be conquered;
Seir,(EC) his enemy, will be conquered,(ED)
but Israel(EE) will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob(EF)
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
Balaam’s Fifth Message
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek(EG) and spoke his message:
“Amalek was first among the nations,
but their end will be utter destruction.”(EH)
Balaam’s Sixth Message
21 Then he saw the Kenites(EI) and spoke his message:
“Your dwelling place is secure,(EJ)
your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
when Ashur(EK) takes you captive.”
Balaam’s Seventh Message
23 Then he spoke his message:
“Alas! Who can live when God does this?[i]
24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;(EL)
they will subdue Ashur(EM) and Eber,(EN)
but they too will come to ruin.(EO)”
25 Then Balaam(EP) got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:32 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
- Numbers 23:21 Or He has not looked on Jacob’s offenses / or on the wrongs found
- Numbers 23:23 Or in
- Numbers 23:23 Or in
- Numbers 24:4 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16
- Numbers 24:17 Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
- Numbers 24:17 Or possibly Moab, / batter
- Numbers 24:17 Or all the noisy boasters
- Numbers 24:23 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.
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