| New International Version | New International Version |
| 1Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me." | 1Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me." |
| 2Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. | 2Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. |
| 3Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went off to a barren height. | 3Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went off to a barren height. |
| 4God met with him, and Balaam said, "I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram." | 4God met with him, and Balaam said, "I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram." |
| 5The LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this word." | 5The LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this word." |
| 6So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. | 6So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. |
| 7Then Balaam spoke his message: "Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. 'Come,' he said, 'curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.' | 7Then Balaam spoke his message: "Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. 'Come,' he said, 'curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.' |
| 8How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced? | 8How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced? |
| 9From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations. | 9From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations. |
| 10Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!" | 10Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!" |
| 11Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!" | 11Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!" |
| 12He answered, "Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?" | 12He answered, "Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?" |
| 13Then Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me." | 13Then Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me." |
| 14So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. | 14So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. |
| 15Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there." | 15Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there." |
| 16The LORD met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this word." | 16The LORD met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this word." |
| 17So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, "What did the LORD say?" | 17So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, "What did the LORD say?" |
| 18Then he spoke his message: "Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor. | 18Then he spoke his message: "Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor. |
| 19God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? | 19God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? |
| 20I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. | 20I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. |
| 21"No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. | 21"No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. |
| 22God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. | 22God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. |
| 23There is no divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'See what God has done!' | 23There is no divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'See what God has done!' |
| 24The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till it devours its prey and drinks the blood of its victims." | 24The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till it devours its prey and drinks the blood of its victims." |
| 25Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!" | 25Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!" |
| 26Balaam answered, "Did I not tell you I must do whatever the LORD says?" | 26Balaam answered, "Did I not tell you I must do whatever the LORD says?" |
| 27Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there." | 27Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there." |
| 28And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland. | 28And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland. |
| 29Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me." | 29Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me." |
| 30Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. | 30Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. |
| 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 International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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