| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho. | 1Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho. |
| 2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, | 2Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. |
| 3and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites. | 3So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel. |
| 4The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, | 4Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. |
| 5sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. | 5So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. |
| 6Now come and put a curse 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. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed." | 6"Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may 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." |
| 7The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said. | 7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's words to him. |
| 8"Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will report back to you with the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite officials stayed with him. | 8He said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me." And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. |
| 9God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?" | 9Then God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" |
| 10Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: | 10Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, |
| 11A 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.'" | 11'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.'" |
| 12But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed." | 12God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." |
| 13The 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." | 13So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." |
| 14So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us." | 14The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us." |
| 15Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. | 15Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former. |
| 16They came to Balaam and said: "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, | 16They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; |
| 17because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me." | 17for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.'" |
| 18But 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. | 18Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Though 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. |
| 19Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the LORD will tell me." | 19"Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me." |
| 20That night God came to Balaam and said, "Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you." | 20God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do." |
| 21Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. | 21So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. |
| 22But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. | 22But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. |
| 23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. | 23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. |
| 24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. | 24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. |
| 25When 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. | 25When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again. |
| 26Then 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. | 26The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. |
| 27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. | 27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. |
| 28Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" | 28And the LORD 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?" |
| 29Balaam 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." | 29Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now." |
| 30The 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. | 30The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No." |
| 31Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. | 31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. |
| 32The 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. | 32The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. |
| 33The 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, but I would have spared it." | 33"But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live." |
| 34Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back." | 34Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back." |
| 35The 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. | 35But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you." So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak. |
| 36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. | 36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, at the extreme end of the border. |
| 37Balak 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?" | 37Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not urgently send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor 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." | 38So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak." |
| 39Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. | 39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. |
| 40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. | 40Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders who were with him. |
| 41The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp. | 41Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there a portion of the people. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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