| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho. | 1Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho. |
| 2Now Balak 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 terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. | 3and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites. |
| 4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time, | 4The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, |
| 5he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. | 5sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. |
| 6So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps 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.” | 6Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed." |
| 7The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak. | 7The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said. |
| 8“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. | 8"Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will report back to you with the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite officials stayed with him. |
| 9Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” | 9God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?" |
| 10And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: | 10Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: |
| 11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’ ” | 11A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.'" |
| 12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” | 12But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed." |
| 13So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.” | 13The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's officials, "Go back to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." |
| 14And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.” | 14So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us." |
| 15Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers. | 15Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. |
| 16They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, | 16They came to Balaam and said: "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, |
| 17for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’ ” | 17because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me." |
| 18But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. | 18But Balaam answered them, "Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. |
| 19So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.” | 19Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the LORD will tell me." |
| 20That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” | 20That night God came to Balaam and said, "Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you." |
| 21So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. | 21Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. |
| 22Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. | 22But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. |
| 23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path. | 23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. |
| 24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side. | 24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. |
| 25And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again. | 25When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat the donkey again. |
| 26And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. | 26Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. |
| 27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff. | 27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. |
| 28Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?” | 28Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" |
| 29Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!” | 29Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now." |
| 30But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied. | 30The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said. |
| 31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown. | 31Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. |
| 32The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me. | 32The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. |
| 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.” | 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it." |
| 34“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.” | 34Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back." |
| 35But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. | 35The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went with Balak's officials. |
| 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. | 36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. |
| 37And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?” | 37Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?" |
| 38“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.” | 38"Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. "But I can't say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth." |
| 39So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. | 39Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. |
| 40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him. | 40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. |
| 41The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people. | 41The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp. |
|
