Numbers 22:1-41
22 Then did the sons of Israel break up,—and encamp in the waste plains of Moab, on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho.
2 And Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done unto the Amorites;
3 and Moab shrank with great fear from the presence of the people, because many they were,—and Moab was alarmed at the presence of the sons of Israel.
4 So Moab said unto the elders of Midian—Now shall the gathered host lick up all that are round about us, as the ox doth lick up the verdure of the field. But Balak son of Zippor was king unto Moab at that time.
5 So he sent messengers unto Balaam son of Beor to Pethor, which was by the river of the land of the sons of his people, to call him,—saying—Lo! a people hath come forth out of Egypt, Lo! he hath covered the eye of the land, Yea, he is tarrying over against me.
6 Now therefore, do come, I pray thee, curse me this people, For stronger he is than I, If peradventure I prevail, we shall smite him, That I may drive him out of the land,—For I know that he whom thou dost bless is to be blessed, And he whom thou dost curse is to be cursed.
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went their way, with the rewards of divination in their hand,—so they came in unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8 And he said unto them—Tarry ye here for the night, and I will bring you back word, as Yahweh shall speak unto me. So the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 And God came in unto Balaam,—and said, Who are these men with thee?
10 Then said Balaam unto God,—Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me:
11 Lo! the people that hath come forth out of Egypt—he covereth the eye of the land. Now do come, do revile me him, Peradventure I shall prevail in making war with him, And shall drive him out.
12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them,—Thou shalt not curse the people, For blessed he is.
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your own land,—For Yahweh hath refused to let me go with you.
14 So the princes of Moab arose, and came in unto Balak,—and said, Balaam refused to come with us.
15 Then added Balak again,—to send princes, more and weightier than these.
16 And they came in unto Balaam,—and said unto him—Thus, said Balak son of Zippor, Do not be withheld, I pray thee, from coming unto me:
17 For I will honour thee exceedingly, and all that thou shalt say unto me will I do. Do come therefore, I pray thee, oh revile me this people.
18 And Balaam responded and said unto the servants of Balak, Though Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the bidding of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.
19 Now, therefore, abide here, I pray you, even ye—for the night,—that I may get to know what further Yahweh may be speaking with me.
20 And God came in unto Balaam by night, and said unto him—If to call thee the men have come in, arise, go with them,—But only the thing that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21 So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his ass,—and went with the princes of Moab.
22 Then kindled the anger of God, because he was going, and the messenger of Yahweh stationed himself in the way to withstand him,—as he was riding upon his ass, his two young men being with him.
23 And the ass saw the messenger of Yahweh stationed in the road with his drawn sword in his hand, so the ass turned aside out of the road and went into the field,—and Balaam smote the ass, to make her turn back into the road.
24 But the messenger of Yahweh took his stand, in a hollow pass of the vineyards,—with a fence on this side and a fence on that side.
25 And when the ass saw the messenger of Yahweh, she squeezed herself against the wall, and squeezed the foot of Balaam against the wall,—and again he smote her.
26 And the messenger of Yahweh went on further, and took his stand in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn to the right hand or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the messenger of Yahweh, she sank down under Balaam,—then was Balaam’s anger kindled, and he smote the ass with the staff.
28 And Yahweh opened the mouth of the ass,—and she said unto Balaam—What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Surely thou hast been making sport of me,—Would there had been a sword in my hand, for now would I have slain thee.
30 Then said the ass unto Balaam—Am not I thine own ass, on which thou hast ridden all thy life until this day? Have I been wont to do unto thee thus? And he said, Nay!
31 Then did Yahweh unveil the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the messenger of Yahweh stationed in the road, with his sword drawn in his hand,—so he bent his head and bowed down before him.
32 And the messenger of Yahweh said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass, these three times? Lo! I myself am come forth to withstand thee, because headlong was thy way before me.
33 And the ass hath seen me, and hath turned aside at my presence these three times: Unless she had turned aside from my presence, yea, now even thee had I slain, but her had I suffered to live.
34 Then said Balaam unto the messenger of Yahweh—I have sinned, for I knew not that thou wast stationed to meet me in the road,—Now, therefore, if it be displeasing in thine eyes, I must get me back again.
35 And the messenger of Yahweh said unto Balaam—Go with the men: Only the word that I shall speak unto thee that shalt thou speak. So Balaam went his way with the princes of Balak.
36 And Balak heard that Balaam was coming,—so he went forth to meet him unto a city of Moab which was upon the boundary of Arnon, which was in the utmost part of the boundary.
37 And Balak said unto Balaam: Did I not send unto thee to call thee? Wherefore didst thou not come unto me? Am I not, in very deed, able to honour thee?
38 And Balaam said unto Balak—Lo! I am come unto thee, Now can I possibly promise anything? The word that God shall put in my mouth, that must I speak.
39 So Balaam went with Balak,—and they entered Kiriath-huzoth.
40 And Balak sacrificed herd and flock,—and sent unto Balaam, and unto the princes that were with him.
41 And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up the high places of Baal,—and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.