1 And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho.
2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 And Moab was much afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this company lick up all that is round about us, as an ox licks up the green herb of the field. Now Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5 And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is on the river in the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people is come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the land, and they abide over against me.
6 And now come, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are mightier than I: perhaps I may be able to smite them, and drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed, having the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8 And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, according as Jehovah shall speak unto me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 And God came to Balaam, and said, Who are these men with thee?
10 And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me,
11 Behold, a people is come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the land. Now come, curse me them: perhaps I may be able to fight against them, and drive them out.
12 And God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go into your land; for Jehovah refuses to give me leave to go with you.
14 And the princes of Moab rose up; and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam has refused to come with us.
15 Then sent Balak yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Suffer not thyself, I pray thee, to be restrained from coming to me;
17 for very highly will I honour thee, and whatever thou shalt say to me will I do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18 And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
19 And now, I pray you, abide ye also here this night, and I shall know what Jehovah will say to me further.
20 Then God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men have come to call thee, rise up, {and} go with them; but only what I shall say unto thee shalt thou do.
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the Angel of Jehovah set himself in the way to withstand him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two young men were with him.
23 And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field, and Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way.
24 And the Angel of Jehovah stood in a hollow of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and she pressed herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.
26 Then the Angel of Jehovah went still further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.
28 And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee!
30 And the ass said to Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine to this day? was I ever wont to do so to thee? And he said, No.
31 Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed and prostrated himself on his face.
32 And the Angel of Jehovah said to him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, it was I who came forth to withstand thee, for the way {thou walkest in} is for ruin before me.
33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times; had she not turned from me, I had now certainly slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 And Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; and now, if it be evil in thine eyes, I will get me back again.
35 And the Angel of Jehovah said to Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak. And Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 And when Balak heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him, to the city of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is at the extremity of the border.
37 And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to thee to call thee? why didst thou not come to me? am I not surely able to honour thee?
38 And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to thee; but shall I now be able at all to say anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath-huzoth.
40 And Balak offered oxen and small cattle, and sent to Balaam and to the princes that were with him.
41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from thence the extremity of the people.
1 以色列人起行， 在摩押平原安营， 就是在约旦河东边， 耶利哥的对面。
2 以色列人向亚摩利人所行的一切事， 西拨的儿子巴勒都看见了。
3 摩押人十分惧怕这民， 因为他们众多； 摩押人因以色列人的缘故， 十分恐慌。
4 摩押人对米甸的长老说： "现在这群人要吞并我们四周的一切， 好像牛吞吃田间的草一样。"那时西拨的儿子巴勒， 作摩押王；
5 他就派使者到比珥的儿子巴兰那里去， 就是到大河的毗夺， 亚扪人的地那里， 去叫巴兰来， 说： "你看， 有一个民族从埃及出来， 遮满了全地， 如今住在我的对面。
6 现在请你来， 替我咒诅这民， 因为他们比我强盛， 或者我能够击败他们， 把他们从这地赶出去； 因为我知道你给谁祝福， 谁就得福； 你咒诅谁， 谁就受咒诅。"
7 摩押的长老和米甸的长老， 手里带着礼金去了； 他们到了巴兰那里， 把巴勒的话告诉他。
8 巴兰对他们说： "今夜你们留在这里， 我必照着耶和华吩咐我的话答复你们。"于是， 摩押的领袖就与巴兰同住。
9 神来到巴兰那里， 说： "与你在一起的这些人是谁？"
10 巴兰对 神说： "是摩押王西拨的儿子巴勒派到我这里来的人， 他们说：
11 ‘你看， 从埃及出来的民族， 遮满了全地； 现在请你来， 替我咒诅他们， 或者我能够战胜他们， 把他们赶走。’"
12 神对巴兰说： "你不可与他们同去， 也不可咒诅那民， 因为他们是蒙福的。"
13 巴兰早晨起来， 对巴勒的领袖说： "你们回本地去吧， 因为耶和华不准我与你们同去。"
14 摩押的领袖起来， 回到巴勒那里， 说： "巴兰不肯与我们同来。"
15 于是， 巴勒又派比先前更多、更尊贵的领袖去，
16 他们来到巴兰那里， 对他说： "西拨的儿子巴勒这样说： ‘求你不要推辞不到我这里来，
17 因为我必使你大得尊荣； 你向我说什么， 我都照办； 只求你替我咒诅这民。’"
18 巴兰回答巴勒的臣仆说： "巴勒就算把他满屋的金银给我， 但我不论作大事小事， 也不能越过耶和华我 神的命令。
19 现在请你们今夜也住在这里， 等我得知耶和华还要向我说什么。"
20 当夜， 神来到巴兰那里， 对他说： "这些人既然来请你， 你就起程与他们同去， 但是你只要遵行我吩咐你的事。"
21 巴兰早晨起来， 备上驴， 与摩押的领袖一同去了。
22 神因为巴兰去就发怒； 耶和华的使者站在路上敌挡他。那时他骑着驴， 有两个仆人同行。
23 驴看见了耶和华的使者站在路上， 手里拿着拔出来的刀， 就转离正路， 走入田中去； 巴兰就打驴， 要叫它转回路上。
24 耶和华的使者站在葡萄园间的窄路上， 两边都有围墙。
25 驴看见了耶和华的使者， 就紧挤在墙上， 把巴兰的脚挤伤了， 巴兰又打驴。
26 耶和华的使者又往前行， 站在狭窄之处， 左右都没有转身的地方。
27 驴看见了耶和华的使者， 就卧在巴兰身下； 巴兰大怒， 就用自己的杖打驴。
28 耶和华开了驴的口， 驴就对巴兰说： "我向你作了什么， 你竟打我这三次呢？"
29 巴兰对驴说： "因为你作弄我。但愿我手中有刀， 现在就把你杀死。"
30 驴对巴兰说： "我不是你从起初一直所骑的驴吗？我以前曾向你这样行过吗？"巴兰说： "没有。"
31 那时， 耶和华开了巴兰的眼睛， 他就看见耶和华的使者站在路上， 手里拿着拔出来的刀， 巴兰就低头俯伏在地。
32 耶和华的使者对他说： "你为什么这三次打你的驴呢？看哪， 是我来敌挡你， 因为你走的路在我面前邪僻。
33 驴看见了我， 就三次从我面前转开； 驴若是没有从我面前转开， 我早已把你杀了， 而留它活着。"
34 巴兰对耶和华的使者说： "我有罪了， 我不知道是你站在路上阻挡我； 现在你若是不喜欢我去， 我就回去。"
35 耶和华的使者对巴兰说： "你与这些人同去吧， 但是你只要说我吩咐你的话。"于是巴兰与巴勒的领袖一同去了。
36 巴勒听见巴兰来了， 就出去到摩押的京城迎接他； 这城是在亚嫩河旁， 在边界的尽头。
37 巴勒对巴兰说： "我不是急切地派人到你那里去请你吗？你为什么不到我这里来呢？难道我不能使你得尊荣吗？"
38 巴兰对巴勒说： "看哪， 我已经来到你这里， 现在我怎能说什么呢？ 神把什么话放在我口里， 我就说什么。"
39 巴兰与巴勒同行， 来到基列．胡琐。
40 巴勒宰了牛羊， 送给巴兰和与他在一起的领袖。
41 到了早晨， 巴勒带着巴兰上了巴力的高冈； 巴兰就从那里观看以色列民的边界。