1 Partiram os filhos de Israel e acamparam nas planícies de Moab, além do Jordão, defronte de Jericó.2 Balac, filho de Sefor, tinha visto tudo o que Israel fizera aos amorreus.3 Moab teve um grande medo desse povo, porque era muito numeroso, e ficou aterrorizado diante dos israelitas.4 E disseram aos anciãos de Madiã: "Essa multidão vai devorar todos os nossos arredores como os bois devoram a erva do campo." Balac, filho de Sefor, reinava então em Moab.5 Mandou, pois, mensageiros a Balaão, filho de Beor, em Petor, sobre o rio, na terra dos filhos de Amon, para que o chamassem e lhe dissessem: "Há aqui um povo que saiu do Egito, o qual cobre a face da terra, e estabeleceu-se diante de mim.6 Rogo-te que venhas e amaldiçoes esse povo, pois é muito mais poderoso do que eu. Talvez assim eu possa batê-lo e expulsá-lo de minha terra. Eu sei que será bendito o que abençoares e maldito o que amaldiçoares."7 Os anciãos de Moab e de Madiã partiram levando consigo o preço da adivinhação. Chegando junto de Balaão, referiram-lhe as palavras de Balac.8 Balaão respondeu: "Passai a noite aqui, e dar-vos-ei a resposta que o Senhor me indicar." Ficaram, pois, os chefes de Moab em casa de Balaão.9 Deus veio a Balaão e disse-lhe: "Quem é essa gente que tens em tua casa?"10 Balaão respondeu a Deus: "É Balac, filho de Sefor, rei de Moab, que me manda dizer:11 há aqui um povo que saiu do Egito, o qual cobre a superfície da terra. Vem, pois, e amaldiçoa-o. Talvez assim possa eu batê-lo e expulsá-lo da terra."12 Disse Deus a Balaão: "Não irás com eles, e não amaldiçoarás esse povo, porque é bendito."13 Levantando-se Balaão pela manhã, disse aos chefes enviados por Balac: "Voltai para a vossa terra, pois o Senhor me proibiu de ir convosco."14 Os chefes de Moab retomaram o caminho e voltaram para junto de Balac: "Balaão, disseram-lhe eles, recusou vir conosco."15 Balac mandou-lhe de novo outros chefes, mais numerosos e mais importantes que os primeiros.16 Chegados junto a Balaão, disseram-lhe: "Eis a mensagem de Balac, filho de Sefor: rogo-te que não recuses vir ter comigo.17 Cumular-te-ei de honras e farei tudo o que me disseres. Vem amaldiçoar esse povo."18 "Ainda que o vosso senhor me desse a sua casa cheia de prata e de ouro, respondeu Balaão aos servos de Balac, eu não poderia transgredir a ordem do Senhor meu Deus, nem pouco nem muito, no que quer que seja.19 Todavia, passai ainda esta noite aqui, para que eu saiba o que o Senhor me responderá ainda desta vez."20 Deus veio a Balaão durante a noite e disse-lhe: "Já que essa gente te veio chamar, levanta-te e vai com eles. Mas só farás o que eu te disser."21 Balaão levantou-se de manhã, selou sua jumenta, e partiu com os chefes de Moab.22 O Senhor irritou-se com sua partida, e o anjo do Senhor pôs-se-lhe no caminho como obstáculo. Balaão cavalgava em sua jumenta, acompanhado de seus dois servos.23 A jumenta, vendo o anjo do Senhor postado no caminho, com uma espada desembainhada na mão, desviou-se e seguiu pelo campo; o adivinho a fustigava para fazê-la voltar ao caminho.24 Então o anjo do Senhor pôs-se num caminho estreito que passava por entre as vinhas, com um muro de cada lado.25 Vendo-o, a jumenta coseu-se com o muro, ferindo contra ele o pé de Balaão, que a fustigou de novo.26 O anjo do Senhor deteve-se de novo mais adiante em uma passagem estreita, onde não havia espaço para se desviar nem para a direita nem para a esquerda.27 A jumenta, ao vê-lo, deitou-se debaixo de Balaão, o qual, encolerizado, a fustigava mais fortemente com seu bastão.28 Então o Senhor abriu a boca da jumenta, que disse a Balaão: "Que te fiz eu? Por que me bateste já três vezes?"29 Porque zombaste de mim, respondeu ele. Ah, se eu tivesse uma espada na mão! Ter-te-ia já matado!"30 A jumenta replicou: "Acaso não sou eu a tua jumenta, a qual montaste até o dia de hoje? Tenho eu porventura o costume de proceder assim contigo?" "Não", respondeu ele.31 Então o Senhor abriu os olhos de Balaão, e ele viu o anjo do Senhor que estava no caminho com a espada desembainhada na mão. Inclinou-se e prostrou-se com a face por terra.32 "Por que, disse-lhe o anjo do Senhor, feriste três vezes a tua jumenta? Eu vim opor-me a ti, porque segues um caminho que te leva ao precipício.33 Vendo-me, a tua jumenta desviou-se por três vezes diante de mim. Se ela não o tivesse feito, ter-te-ia já matado, e ela ficaria viva."34 Balaão disse ao anjo do Senhor: "Pequei. Eu não sabia que estavas postado no caminho para deter-me. Se minha viagem te desagrada, voltarei."35 "Segue esses homens, respondeu-lhe o anjo do Senhor, mas cuida de só proferir as palavras que eu te disser." E Balaão partiu com os chefes de Balac.36 Quando Balac soube de sua chegada, subiu-lhe ao encontro até a cidade de Moab, na fronteira do Arnon, na extremidade daquela terra,37 e disse-lhe: "Mandei mensageiros chamar-te. Por que não vieste logo? Não posso eu tratar-te com honras?"38 "Eis-me aqui, respondeu Balaão; mas agora ser-me-á possível dizer algo de mim mesmo? Só direi o que Deus me puser na boca, nada mais."39 E partiram os dois para Quiriat-Chutsot.40 Balac imolou em sacrifício bois e ovelhas, dos quais mandou algumas porções a Balaão e aos chefes que o acompanhavam.41 No dia seguinte pela manhã, Balac tomou consigo o adivinho e levou-o a Bamot-Baal, de onde se podiam ver as últimas linhas do acampamento de Israel.

1 And the children of Israel set forward, and encamped in the plains of Moab, on this side of the Jordan, opposite Jericho.2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Emorites.3 And Moab was greatly afraid of the people, because it was numerous; and Moab was horrified because of the children of Israel.4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this assemblage devour all that is round about us, as the ox devoureth the grass of the field; and Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.5 And he sent messengers unto Bil’am the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river, in the land of the children of his people, to have him called; saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt; behold, it covereth the surface of the earth, and it is abiding opposite to me:6 And now do but come, curse me this people; for it is too mighty for me; peradventure I may be able to smite it, that I may drive it 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 with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Bil’am, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.8 And he said unto them, Remain you here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord may speak unto me; and the princes of Moab abode with Bil’am.9 And God came unto Bil’am, and said, Who are these men with thee?10 And Bil’am said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,11 Behold, there is the people that is come out of Egypt, and covereth the face of the earth: now come, denounce it for me; peradventure I shall be able to fight against it, and drive it away.12 And God said unto Bil’am, Thou shalt not go with them: thou shalt not curse the people; for it is blessed.13 And Bil’am rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Go back to your land; for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Bil’am refuseth to come with us.15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more in number, and more honorable than those.16 And they came to Bil’am, and said to him, Thus hath said Balak the son of Zippor, Do not suffer thyself, I pray thee, to be prevented from coming unto me;17 For I will honor thee greatly, and whatsoever thou mayest say unto me will I do: and only come, I pray thee, denounce me this people.18 And Bil’am answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the order of the Lord my God, to do a small or a great thing.19 And now, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will farther speak with me.20 And God came unto Bil’am at night, and said unto him, If to call thee the men have come, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.21 And Bil’am rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.22 And the anger of God was kindled, because he went; and an angel of the Lord placed himself in the way to be a hindrance to him; and he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.23 And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Bil’am smote the ass, to make her turn into the way.24 But the angel of the Lord stepped into a path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side, and a wall on that side.25 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she forced herself against the wall, and pressed Bil’am’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.26 And the angel of the Lord went yet farther, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Bil’am: whereupon Bil’am’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a stick.28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Bil’am, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?29 And Bil’am said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: had I but a sword in my hand, I would assuredly have now killed thee.30 And the ass said unto Bil’am, Am not I thy ass, upon which thou hast ridden from thy commencement unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, No.31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Bil’am, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head and prostrated himself on his face.32 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thy ass these three times? behold, I went out to be a hindrance; because the journey which is odious to me was too quickly begun.33 And the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times; if she had not turned aside from me, I would surely now not only have slain thee, but saved her alive.34 And Bil’am said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou wast standing against me in the way; but now, if it be evil in thy eyes, I will return home again.35 And the angel of the Lord said unto Bil’am, Go with the men; however, only the word which I will speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak: and Bil’am went with the princes of Balak.36 And when Balak heard that Bil’am was come, he went out to meet him unto ‘Ir–Moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is at the outmost end of the boundary.37 And Balak said unto Bil’am, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to have thee called? wherefore camest thou not unto me? in truth, am I not able to honor thee?38 And Bil’am said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee; have I now any power whatever to speak the least? the word that God may put in my mouth, that alone must I speak.39 And Bil’am went with Balak, and they came unto Kiryath–chuzoth.40 And Balak slew oxen and sheep, and sent to Bil’am and to the princes that were with him.41 And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Bil’am, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, and he saw thence a portion of the people.