| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. | 1The Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan across from Jericho. |
| 2Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. | 2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. |
| 3And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. | 3Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous, and Moab dreaded the Israelites. |
| 4So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. | 4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde will devour everything around us like an ox eats up the green plants in the field." Since Balak son of Zippor was Moab's king at that time, |
| 5Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! | 5he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. Balak said to him: "Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land and are living right across from me. |
| 6Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” | 6Please come and put a curse on these people for me because they are more powerful than I am. I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed." |
| 7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. | 7The elders of Moab and Midian departed with fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and reported Balak's words to him. |
| 8And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. | 8He said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will give you the answer the LORD tells me." So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam. |
| 9Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” | 9Then God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?" |
| 10So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, | 10Balaam replied to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me: |
| 11‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.’ ” | 11Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.'" |
| 12And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” | 12Then God said to Balaam, "You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed." |
| 13So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to give me permission to go with you.” | 13So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak's officials, "Go back to your land, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you." |
| 14And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.” | 14The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, "Balaam refused to come with us." |
| 15Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they. | 15Balak sent officials again who were more numerous and higher in rank than the others. |
| 16And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; | 16They came to Balaam and said to him, "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: 'Let nothing keep you from coming to me, |
| 17for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’ ” | 17for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!'" |
| 18Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. | 18But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, "If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the LORD my God to do anything small or great. |
| 19Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.” | 19Please stay here overnight as the others did, so that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me." |
| 20And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.” | 20God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you." |
| 21So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. | 21When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab. |
| 22Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. | 22But God was incensed that Balaam was going, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand on the path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. |
| 23Now the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. | 23When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing on the path with a drawn sword in His hand, she turned off the path and went into the field. So Balaam hit her to return her to the path. |
| 24Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. | 24Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between the vineyards, with a stone wall on either side. |
| 25And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. | 25The donkey saw the Angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, squeezing Balaam's foot against it. So he hit her once again. |
| 26Then the Angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. | 26The Angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or the left. |
| 27And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. | 27When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she crouched down under Balaam. So he became furious and beat the donkey with his stick. |
| 28Then the 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?” | 28Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she asked Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?" |
| 29And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” | 29Balaam answered the donkey, "You made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, I'd kill you now!" |
| 30So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.” | 30But the donkey said, "Am I not the donkey you've ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?"" No," he replied. |
| 31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. | 31Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the path with a drawn sword in His hand. Balaam knelt and bowed with his face to the ground. |
| 32And the Angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. | 32The Angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because what you are doing is evil in My sight. |
| 33The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.” | 33The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have killed you by now and let her live." |
| 34And Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.” | 34Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in Your sight, I will go back." |
| 35Then the Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. | 35Then the Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you." So Balaam went with Balak's officials. |
| 36Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory. | 36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. |
| 37Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” | 37Balak asked Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?" |
| 38And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.” | 38Balaam said to him, "Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth." |
| 39So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth. | 39So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. |
| 40Then Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. | 40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him. |
| 41So it was, the next day, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, that from there he might observe the extent of the people. | 41In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him to Bamoth-baal. From there he saw the outskirts of the people's camp. |
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