 1 The children of Israel pulled up and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. 2 Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was much afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was worried because of the children of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now this company is licking up all around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 He sent messengers therefore to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him saying, Behold. A people come out from Egypt. Behold. They cover the face of the earth, and they are staying across from me. 6 Therefore, I ask you now to come and curse this people for me for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I will prevail so that we may strike them and so that I may drive them out of the land. For I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed. 7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian pulled up with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and spoke the words of Balak to him. 8 He said to them, stay here tonight and I will bring you word again as the Lord speaks to me. Then the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 God came to Balaam and said, Who are these men with you? 10 Balaam said to God, Balak the son of King Zippor of Moab has sent to me saying, 11 Behold. A people has come out of Egypt which covers the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me. Perhaps, I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out. 12 God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed. 13 Balaam rose in the morning and said to the leaders of Balak, Go into your land, for the Lord refuses to let me go with you. 14 The leaders of Moab rose. They went to Balak and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. 15 Balak sent leaders again, more and more honorable than those. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Please do not let anything hinder you from coming to me. 17 For I will raise you up to very great honor, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then and curse this people for me. 18 Balaam said to the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 But please now stay here also this night so that I may know what more the Lord will say to me. 20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up, go with them. But still, the Word that I will say to you, that you must do. 21 Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the rulers of Moab. 22 God's anger was kindled because he went. The angel of the Lord stood in the way as an enemy against him as he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants with him. 23 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with His sword drawn in his hand. So the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. Then Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the way. 24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed herself into the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 The angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam. Then Balaam's anger was kindled and he struck the donkey with a staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you so that you have beaten me these three times? 29 Balaam said to the donkey, Because you mocked me, I wish there was a sword in my hand for now I would kill you. 30 The donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey upon which you have ridden ever since I was yours, to this day? Was I ever known to do so to you? And he said, No. 31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam 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 fell on his face. 32 The angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold. I went to be an enemy to you, because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned from me these three times. Unless she had turned from me, surely now I also would have killed you and saved her alive. 34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned for I did not know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again. 35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men. But only the word that I speak to you shall you speak. So Balaam went with the leaders of Balak. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went to meet him, to a city of Moab, in the border of Arnon that is in the outermost border. 37 Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able indeed to lift you up to honor? 38 Balaam said to Balak, I have come to you. Have I now any ability+ at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I will speak. 39 Balaam went with Balak and they came to Kirjathhuzoth. 40 Balak offered oxen and sheep and sent to Balaam and to the leaders who were with him. 41 The next day Balak took Balaam up into the high places of Baal so that from there he might see the edge of the people.
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