The First Book of Moses, Commonly Called Numbers (WEB)
22: 1The children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at
Jericho. 22:2Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 22:3Moab was sore
afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of
Israel. 22:4Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about
us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
22:5He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of
the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt:
behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they abide over against me. 22:6Please come now
therefore curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that
we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless
is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. 22:7The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian
departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him
the words of Balak. 22:8He said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as
Yahweh shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 22:9God came to Balaam,
and said, What men are these with you? 22:10Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of
Moab, has sent to me, saying, 22:11Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covers the
surface of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them,
and shall drive them out. 22:12God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse
the people; for they are blessed. 22:13Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of
Balak, Get you into your land; for Yahweh refuses to give me leave to go with you. 22:14The princes
of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. 22:15Balak sent
yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 22:16They came to Balaam, and said to him,
Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me: 22:17for I will
promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and
curse this people for me. 22:18Balaam answered the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his
house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.
22:19Now therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may know what Yahweh will speak to me
more. 22:20God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men are come to call you, rise up,
go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that shall you do. 22:21Balaam rose up in the
morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22:22God's anger was kindled
because he went; and the angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him.
Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 22:23The donkey saw the
angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned
aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the
way. 22:24Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on
this side, and a wall on that side. 22:25The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself
to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he struck her again. 22:26The angel of
Yahweh went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right
hand or to the left. 22:27The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam: and
Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 22:28Yahweh 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? 22:29Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a
sword in my hand, for now I had killed you. 22:30The donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey,
on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? was I ever wont to do so to you? and he
said, No. 22:31Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing
in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 22:32The
angel of Yahweh said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? behold, I am
come forth for an adversary, because your way is perverse before me: 22:33and the donkey saw me,
and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I
had even slain you, and saved her alive. 22:34Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for
I didn't know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me
back again. 22:35The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I
shall speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 22:36When
Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the
border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 22:37Balak said to Balaam, Didn't I
earnestly send to you to call you? why didn't you come to me? am I not able indeed to promote
you to honor? 22:38Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all
to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak. 22:39Balaam went with
Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 22:40Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam,
and to the princes who were with him. 22:41It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and
brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.
World English Bible