Números 22
Catholic Public Domain Version
1And they set out and made camp in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan, where Jericho is situated.
2Then Balak, the son of Zippor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorite,
3and that the Moabites had great fear of him, and that they were not able to bear his assault,
4said to those greater by birth of Midian: “So will this people wipe away all those who are dwelling within our borders, in the same way that the ox is accustomed to tear out grass, all the way to the roots.” At that time, he was king of Moab.
5Therefore, he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, a seer who lived above the river of the land of the sons of Ammon, to call him, and to say: “Behold, a people has gone forth from Egypt, which has covered the face of the earth. They are encamped opposite me.
6Therefore, come and curse this people, for they are stronger than I am. If only, in some way, I might be able to strike them and to drive them from my land. For I know that he whom you bless shall be blessed, and he whom you curse shall be cursed.”
7And the elders of Moab, and those greater by birth of Midian, continued on, holding the price of divination in their hands. And when they had come to Balaam, and had explained to him all the words of Balak,
8he responded, “Remain for this night, and I will answer with whatever the Lord will say to me.” And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him,
9“What do these men want with you?”
10He responded, “Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,
11saying: ‘Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt, has covered the face of the earth. Come and curse them, so that, in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.’ ”
12And God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them, and do not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13And he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders, “Go into your own land, for the Lord has prohibited me from going with you.”
14Returning, the leaders said to Balak, “Balaam was not willing to come with us.”
15Again, he sent many more persons, and these were more noble than those he had sent before.
16And when these had come to Balaam, they said: “So says Balak, the son of Zippor. Do not hesitate to come to me.
17For I am ready to honor you, and whatever you would want, I shall give to you. Come and curse this people.”
18Balaam responded: “Even if Balak were to give to me his own house, filled with silver and gold, I still would not be able to change the word of the Lord my God, neither to say more, nor to say less.
19I beg you to remain for this night also, so that I may know what the Lord will answer me again.”
20Therefore, God came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: “If these men have arrived to call you, then rise up and go with them; yet only in so far as you shall do what I will command you.”
21Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddling his donkey, he set out with them.
22And God was angry. And an Angel of the Lord stood in the way opposite Balaam, who was sitting on the donkey, and he had two servants with him.
23The donkey, discerning that the Angel was standing in the way with a drawn sword, turned herself from the road and went through a field. And when Balaam beat her and intended to return her to the path,
24the Angel stood in a narrow place between the two walls, with which the vineyards were enclosed.
25And the donkey, seeing this, drew herself close to the wall and scraped the foot of the rider. So he beat her again.
26And, nevertheless, the Angel passing on to a narrow place, where one would not be able to deviate either to the right or to the left, stood to meet him.
27And when the donkey had seen the Angel standing there, she fell under the feet of the rider, who, being angry, struck her sides more vehemently with a club.
28And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said: “What have I done to you? Why do strike you me, behold now, for the third time?”
29Balaam responded, “Because you have deserved it, and you have mistreated me. If only I had a sword, so that I might pierce you.”
30The donkey said: “Am not I your animal, on which you have always been accustomed to sit, even until this present day? Tell me, when did I ever do the same thing to you.” But he said, “Never.”
31Immediately, the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he reverenced him prone on the ground.
32And the Angel said to him: “Why did you beat your donkey three times? I have come to be an adversary to you, because your way is perverse and contrary to me.
33And unless the donkey had turned aside from the way, allowing a place for my opposition, I would have killed you, and she would have lived.”
34Balaam said: “I have sinned, not knowing that you stood against me. And now, if it displeases you for me to continue on, I will return.”
35The Angel said, “Go with them, but be careful not to speak anything other than what I shall instruct you.” And so, he went with the leaders.
36And when Balak had heard it, he went out to meet him in a town of the Moabites, which is situated at the furthest borders of Arnon.
37And he said to Balaam: “I sent messengers to call you. Why did you not come to me immediately? Was it because I am not able to pay the cost for your arrival?”
38He answered him: “Behold, here I am. Am I able to speak anything other than what God will put into my mouth?”
39Therefore, they continued on together, and they arrived at a city, which was at the furthest borders of his kingdom.
40And after Balak had killed oxen and sheep, he sent the gifts to Balaam, and to the leaders who were with him.
41Then, when morning arrived, he led him to the heights of Baal, and he gazed upon the most distant portions of the population.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y MOVIERON los hijos de Israel, y asentaron en los campos de Moab, de esta parte del Jordán de Jericó.
2Y vió Balac, hijo de Zippor, todo lo que Israel había hecho al Amorrheo.
3Y Moab temió mucho á causa del pueblo que era mucho; y angustióse Moab á causa de los hijos de Israel.
4Y dijo Moab á los ancianos de Madián: Ahora lamerá esta gente todos nuestros contornos, como lame el buey la grama del campo. Y Balac, hijo de Zippor, era entonces rey de Moab.
5Por tanto envió mensajeros á Balaam hijo de Beor, á Pethor, que está junto al río en la tierra de los hijos de su pueblo, para que lo llamasen, diciendo: Un pueblo ha salido de Egipto, y he aquí cubre la haz de la tierra, y habita delante de mí:
6Ven pues ahora, te ruego, maldíceme este pueblo, porque es más fuerte que yo: quizá podré yo herirlo, y echarlo de la tierra: que yo sé que el que tú bendijeres, será bendito, y el que tú maldijeres, será maldito.
7Y fueron los ancianos de Moab, y los ancianos de Madián, con las dádivas de adivinación en su mano, y llegaron á Balaam, y le dijeron las palabras de Balac.
8Y él les dijo: Reposad aquí esta noche, y yo os referiré las palabras, como Jehová me hablare. Así los príncipes de Moab se quedaron con Balaam.
9Y vino Dios á Balaam, y díjole: ¿Qué varones son estos que están contigo?
10Y Balaam respondió á Dios: Balac hijo de Zippor, rey de Moab, ha enviado á mí diciendo:
11He aquí este pueblo que ha salido de Egipto, cubre la haz de la tierra: ven pues ahora, y maldícemelo; quizá podré pelear con él, y echarlo.
12Entonces dijo Dios á Balaam: No vayas con ellos, ni maldigas al pueblo; porque es bendito.
13Así Balaam se levantó por la mañana, y dijo á los príncipes de Balac: Volveos á vuestra tierra, porque Jehová no me quiere dejar ir con vosotros.
14Y los príncipes de Moab se levantaron, y vinieron á Balac, y dijeron: Balaam no quiso venir con nosotros.
15Y tornó Balac á enviar otra vez más príncipes, y más honorables que los otros.
16Los cuales vinieron á Balaam, y dijéronle: Así dice Balac, hijo de Zippor: Ruégote que no dejes de venir á mí:
17Porque sin duda te honraré mucho, y haré todo lo que me dijeres: ven pues ahora, maldíceme á este pueblo.
18Y Balaam respondió, y dijo á los siervos de Balac: Aunque Balac me diese su casa llena de plata y oro, no puedo traspasar la palabra de Jehová mi Dios, para hacer cosa chica ni grande.
19Ruégoos por tanto ahora, que reposéis aquí esta noche, para que yo sepa qué me vuelve á decir Jehová.
20Y vino Dios á Balaam de noche, y díjole: Si vinieren á llamarte hombres, levántate y ve con ellos: empero harás lo que yo te dijere.
21Así Balaam se levantó por la mañana, y cinchó su asna, y fué con los príncipes de Moab.
22Y el furor de Dios se encendió porque él iba; y el ángel de Jehová se puso en el camino por adversario suyo. Iba, pues, él montado sobre su asna, y con él dos mozos suyos.
23Y el asna vió al ángel de Jehová, que estaba en el camino con su espada desnuda en su mano; y apartóse el asna del camino, é iba por el campo. Entonces hirió Balaam al asna para hacerla volver al camino.
24Mas el ángel de Jehová se puso en una senda de viñas que tenía pared de una parte y pared de otra.
25Y viendo el asna al ángel de Jehová, pegóse á la pared, y apretó contra la pared el pie de Balaam: y él volvió á herirla.
26Y el ángel de Jehová pasó más allá, y púsose en una angostura, donde no había camino para apartarse ni á diestra ni á siniestra.
27Y viendo el asna al ángel de Jehová, echóse debajo de Balaam: y enojóse Balaam, é hirió al asna con el palo.
28Entonces Jehová abrió la boca al asna, la cual dijo á Balaam: ¿Qué te he hecho, que me has herido estas tres veces?
29Y Balaam respondió al asna: Porque te has burlado de mí: ¡ojalá tuviera espada en mi mano, que ahora te mataría!
30Y el asna dijo á Balaam: ¿No soy yo tu asna? sobre mí has cabalgado desde que tú me tienes hasta este día; ¿he acostumbrado á hacerlo así contigo? Y él respondió: No.
31Entonces Jehová abrió los ojos á Balaam, y vió al ángel de Jehová que estaba en el camino, y tenía su espada desnuda en su mano. Y Balaam hizo reverencia, é inclinóse sobre su rostro.
32Y el ángel de Jehová le dijo: ¿Por qué has herido tu asna estas tres veces? he aquí yo he salido para contrarrestarte, porque tu camino es perverso delante de mí:
33El asna me ha visto, y hase apartado luego de delante de mí estas tres veces: y si de mí no se hubiera apartado, yo también ahora te mataría á ti, y á ella dejaría viva.
34Entonces Balaam dijo al ángel de Jehová: He pecado, que no sabía que tú te ponías delante de mí en el camino: mas ahora, si te parece mal, yo me volveré.
35Y el ángel de Jehová dijo á Balaam: Ve con esos hombres: empero la palabra que yo te dijere, esa hablarás. Así Balaam fué con los príncipes de Balac.
36Y oyendo Balac que Balaam venía, salió á recibirlo á la ciudad de Moab, que está junto al término de Arnón, que es el cabo de los confines.
37Y Balac dijo á Balaam: ¿No envié yo á ti á llamarte? ¿por qué no has venido á mí? ¿no puedo yo honrarte?
38Y Balaam respondió á Balac: He aquí yo he venido á ti: mas ¿podré ahora hablar alguna cosa? La palabra que Dios pusiere en mi boca, esa hablaré.
39Y fué Balaam con Balac, y vinieron á la ciudad de Husoth.
40Y Balac hizo matar bueyes y ovejas, y envió á Balaam, y á los príncipes que estaban con él.
41Y el día siguiente Balac tomó á Balaam, é hízolo subir á los altos de Baal, y desde allí vió la extremidad del pueblo.
King James Version
1And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of 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 face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
6Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
17For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18And Balaam answered and said unto 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.
19Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
20And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23And the ass saw the angel of the LORD 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.
24But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
35And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath-huzoth.
40And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
World English Bible
1The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
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 who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
6Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps 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.”
7The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,
11‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you.”
14The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they.
16They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
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.’”
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 the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the LORD will speak to me.”
20God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”
21Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22God’s anger burned because he went; and the LORD’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23The donkey saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.
24Then the LORD’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.
26The LORD’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28The 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 said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”
30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”
31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.
33The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”
34Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”
35The LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36When Balak heard that Balaam had 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.
37Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”
38Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
41In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.