Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

A Psalm of David.

Balak Sends for Balaam

22 The Israelites journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan [River] across from Jericho.

² And Balak [the king of Moab] the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. ³ So Moab was terrified because of the people, for they were numerous. Moab was overcome with fear because of the sons of Israel. ⁴ Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, just as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was the king of Moab at that time. ⁵ So he sent messengers to ^[a]Balaam [a famous prophet-diviner] the son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the [Euphrates] River, in the land of the descendants of his people, to call for him, saying, “There is a people who have come out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. ⁶ Now please come, curse these people for me, for they are too powerful for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know [your reputation] that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

⁷ So the elders of Moab and of Midian departed with fees for divination (foretelling) in hand; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak. ⁸ Balaam said to them, “Spend the night here and I will bring word back to you as the Lord may speak to me.” So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam [that night]. ⁹ 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, has sent word to me: ¹¹ ‘Hear this, the people who came out of Egypt cover the surface of the land; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” ¹² God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people [of Israel], for they are blessed.” ¹³ Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the leaders of Balak, “Go back to your own land [of Moab], for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” ¹⁴ The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

¹⁵ Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and [men who were] more distinguished than the first ones. ¹⁶ They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘I beg you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me. ¹⁷ For I will give you a very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so please come, curse these people [of Israel] for me.’” ¹⁸ Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “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 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 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them, but you shall still do only what I tell you.”

²¹ So Balaam got up in the morning and ^[b]saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.

¹⁷ When we arrived in Jerusalem, the ^[a]brothers and sisters welcomed us gladly. ¹⁸ On the next day Paul went with us to [see] ^[b]James, and all the elders of the church were present. ¹⁹ After greeting them, Paul began to give a detailed account of the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they began glorifying and praising God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all enthusiastic supporters of the Law [of Moses]. ²¹ Now they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are living among the Gentiles to turn away from [the Law of] Moses, advising them not to circumcise their children or to live according to the [Mosaic] customs. ²² What then should be done? They will certainly hear that you have arrived. ²³ Therefore do just what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow; ²⁴ take these men and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses [for the temple offerings] so that they may shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to the things they have been told about you, but that you yourself also follow and keep the Law. ²⁵ But with regard to the Gentiles who have believed [in Christ], we have sent them a letter with our decision that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from [consuming] blood and from [the meat of] what has been strangled and from sexual immorality.” ²⁶ Then Paul took the [four] men, and the next day he purified himself along with them [by submitting to the ritual]. He went into the temple to give notice of [the time] when the days of purification [ending each vow] would be fulfilled and the usual offering could be presented on behalf of each one.