Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1The Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan across from Jericho.

1Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

3Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous, and Moab dreaded the Israelites.

3And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.

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,

4And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the 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. 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.

5sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.

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."

6Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

7The elders of Moab and Midian departed with fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and reported Balak's words to him.

7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message.

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.

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.

9Then God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"

9And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

10Balaam replied to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me:

10And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

11'Look, 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.'"

11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

12Then God said to Balaam, "You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed."

12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

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."

13So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

14The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, "Balaam refused to come with us."

14So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

15Balak sent officials again who were more numerous and higher in rank than the others.

15Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.

16They came to Balaam and said to him, "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: 'Let nothing keep you from coming to me,

16And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to 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!'"

17for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’”

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.

18But 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 command of the LORD my God to do less or more.

19Please stay here overnight as the others did, so that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me."

19So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”

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."

20And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”

21When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab.

21So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

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.

22But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

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.

23And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.

24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between the vineyards, with a stone wall on either side.

24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.

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.

25And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.

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.

26Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.

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.

27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

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?"

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?”

29Balaam answered the donkey, "You made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, I'd kill you now!"

29And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”

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.

30And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

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 low and bowed in worship on his face.

31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

32The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because I consider what you are doing to be evil.

32And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.

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."

33The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”

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."

34Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”

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.

35And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

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 had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border.

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?"

37And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?”

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."

38Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.”

39So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

39Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

40Balak sacrificed cattle, sheep, and goats and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him.

40And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.

41In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him to Bamoth-baal. From there he saw the outskirts of the people's camp.

41And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.