Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

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

1וַיִּסְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙ בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת מוֹאָ֔ב מֵעֵ֖בֶר לְיַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ׃ ס

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

2וַיַּ֥רְא בָּלָ֖ק בֶּן־ צִפּ֑וֹר אֵ֛ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לָֽאֱמֹרִֽי׃

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

3וַיָּ֨גָר מוֹאָ֜ב מִפְּנֵ֥י הָעָ֛ם מְאֹ֖ד כִּ֣י רַב־ ה֑וּא וַיָּ֣קָץ מוֹאָ֔ב מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

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,

4וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מוֹאָ֜ב אֶל־ זִקְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן עַתָּ֞ה יְלַחֲכ֤וּ הַקָּהָל֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ סְבִ֣יבֹתֵ֔ינוּ כִּלְחֹ֣ךְ הַשּׁ֔וֹר אֵ֖ת יֶ֣רֶק הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּבָלָ֧ק בֶּן־ צִפּ֛וֹר מֶ֥לֶךְ לְמוֹאָ֖ב בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽוא׃

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.

5וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח מַלְאָכִ֜ים אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֣ם בֶּן־ בְּע֗וֹר פְּ֠תוֹרָה אֲשֶׁ֧ר עַל־ הַנָּהָ֛ר אֶ֥רֶץ בְּנֵי־ עַמּ֖וֹ לִקְרֹא־ ל֑וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר הִ֠נֵּה עַ֣ם יָצָ֤א מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ הִנֵּ֤ה כִסָּה֙ אֶת־ עֵ֣ין הָאָ֔רֶץ וְה֥וּא יֹשֵׁ֖ב מִמֻּלִֽי׃

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."

6וְעַתָּה֩ לְכָה־ נָּ֨א אָֽרָה־ לִּ֜י אֶת־ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה כִּֽי־ עָצ֥וּם הוּא֙ מִמֶּ֔נִּי אוּלַ֤י אוּכַל֙ נַכֶּה־ בּ֔וֹ וַאֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ מִן־ הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּ֣י יָדַ֗עְתִּי אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־ תְּבָרֵךְ֙ מְבֹרָ֔ךְ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּאֹ֖ר יוּאָֽר׃

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

7וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ זִקְנֵ֤י מוֹאָב֙ וְזִקְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֔ן וּקְסָמִ֖ים בְּיָדָ֑ם וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו דִּבְרֵ֥י בָלָֽק׃

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.

8וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לִ֤ינוּ פֹה֙ הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ דָּבָ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י וַיֵּשְׁב֥וּ שָׂרֵֽי־ מוֹאָ֖ב עִם־ בִּלְעָֽם׃

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

9וַיָּבֹ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֛י הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה עִמָּֽךְ׃

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

10וַיֹּ֥אמֶר בִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים בָּלָ֧ק בֶּן־ צִפֹּ֛ר מֶ֥לֶךְ מוֹאָ֖ב שָׁלַ֥ח אֵלָֽי׃

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.'"

11הִנֵּ֤ה הָעָם֙ הַיֹּצֵ֣א מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם וַיְכַ֖ס אֶת־ עֵ֣ין הָאָ֑רֶץ עַתָּ֗ה לְכָ֤ה קָֽבָה־ לִּי֙ אֹת֔וֹ אוּלַ֥י אוּכַ֛ל לְהִלָּ֥חֶם בּ֖וֹ וְגֵרַשְׁתִּֽיו׃

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

12וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֔ם לֹ֥א תֵלֵ֖ךְ עִמָּהֶ֑ם לֹ֤א תָאֹר֙ אֶת־ הָעָ֔ם כִּ֥י בָר֖וּךְ הֽוּא׃

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."

13וַיָּ֤קָם בִּלְעָם֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ שָׂרֵ֣י בָלָ֔ק לְכ֖וּ אֶֽל־ אַרְצְכֶ֑ם כִּ֚י מֵאֵ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה לְתִתִּ֖י לַהֲלֹ֥ךְ עִמָּכֶֽם׃

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

14וַיָּק֙וּמוּ֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־ בָּלָ֑ק וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵאֵ֥ן בִּלְעָ֖ם הֲלֹ֥ךְ עִמָּֽנוּ׃

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

15וַיֹּ֥סֶף ע֖וֹד בָּלָ֑ק שְׁלֹ֣חַ שָׂרִ֔ים רַבִּ֥ים וְנִכְבָּדִ֖ים מֵאֵֽלֶּה׃

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

16וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֗וֹ כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ בָּלָ֣ק בֶּן־ צִפּ֔וֹר אַל־ נָ֥א תִמָּנַ֖ע מֵהֲלֹ֥ךְ אֵלָֽי׃

17for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!'"

17כִּֽי־ כַבֵּ֤ד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ֙ מְאֹ֔ד וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ תֹּאמַ֥ר אֵלַ֖י אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֑ה וּלְכָה־ נָּא֙ קָֽבָה־ לִּ֔י אֵ֖ת הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃

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.

18וַיַּ֣עַן בִּלְעָ֗ם וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ עַבְדֵ֣י בָלָ֔ק אִם־ יִתֶּן־ לִ֥י בָלָ֛ק מְלֹ֥א בֵית֖וֹ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֑ב לֹ֣א אוּכַ֗ל לַעֲבֹר֙ אֶת־ פִּי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת קְטַנָּ֖ה א֥וֹ גְדוֹלָֽה׃

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

19וְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁב֨וּ נָ֥א בָזֶ֛ה גַּם־ אַתֶּ֖ם הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְאֵ֣דְעָ֔ה מַה־ יֹּסֵ֥ף יְהוָ֖ה דַּבֵּ֥ר עִמִּֽי׃

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."

20וַיָּבֹ֨א אֱלֹהִ֥ים ׀ אֶל־ בִּלְעָם֮ לַיְלָה֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ אִם־ לִקְרֹ֤א לְךָ֙ בָּ֣אוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים ק֖וּם לֵ֣ךְ אִתָּ֑ם וְאַ֗ךְ אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־ אֲדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ אֹת֥וֹ תַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

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

21וַיָּ֤קָם בִּלְעָם֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַֽיַּחֲבֹ֖שׁ אֶת־ אֲתֹנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ עִם־ שָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב׃

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.

22וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֣ף אֱלֹהִים֮ כִּֽי־ הוֹלֵ֣ךְ הוּא֒ וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֞ב מַלְאַ֧ךְ יְהוָ֛ה בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ לְשָׂטָ֣ן ל֑וֹ וְהוּא֙ רֹכֵ֣ב עַל־ אֲתֹנ֔וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֥י נְעָרָ֖יו עִמּֽוֹ׃

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.

23וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָאָתוֹן֩ אֶת־ מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהוָ֜ה נִצָּ֣ב בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ וְחַרְבּ֤וֹ שְׁלוּפָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ וַתֵּ֤ט הָֽאָתוֹן֙ מִן־ הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיַּ֤ךְ בִּלְעָם֙ אֶת־ הָ֣אָת֔וֹן לְהַטֹּתָ֖הּ הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃

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

24וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה בְּמִשְׁע֖וֹל הַכְּרָמִ֑ים גָּדֵ֥ר מִזֶּ֖ה וְגָדֵ֥ר מִזֶּֽה׃

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.

25וַתֵּ֨רֶא הָאָת֜וֹן אֶת־ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה וַתִּלָּחֵץ֙ אֶל־ הַקִּ֔יר וַתִּלְחַ֛ץ אֶת־ רֶ֥גֶל בִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־ הַקִּ֑יר וַיֹּ֖סֶף לְהַכֹּתָֽהּ׃

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.

26וַיּ֥וֹסֶף מַלְאַךְ־ יְהוָ֖ה עֲב֑וֹר וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ בְּמָק֣וֹם צָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֛ר אֵֽין־ דֶּ֥רֶךְ לִנְט֖וֹת יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃

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.

27וַתֵּ֤רֶא הָֽאָתוֹן֙ אֶת־ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה וַתִּרְבַּ֖ץ תַּ֣חַת בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֣ף בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־ הָאָת֖וֹן בַּמַּקֵּֽל׃

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?"

28וַיִּפְתַּ֥ח יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־ פִּ֣י הָאָת֑וֹן וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לְבִלְעָם֙ מֶה־ עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי לְךָ֔ כִּ֣י הִכִּיתַ֔נִי זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֥שׁ רְגָלִֽים׃

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

29וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ לָֽאָת֔וֹן כִּ֥י הִתְעַלַּ֖לְתְּ בִּ֑י ל֤וּ יֶשׁ־ חֶ֙רֶב֙ בְּיָדִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה הֲרַגְתִּֽיךְ׃

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.

30וַתֹּ֨אמֶר הָאָת֜וֹן אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֗ם הֲלוֹא֩ אָנֹכִ֨י אֲתֹֽנְךָ֜ אֲשֶׁר־ רָכַ֣בְתָּ עָלַ֗י מֵעֽוֹדְךָ֙ עַד־ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה הַֽהַסְכֵּ֣ן הִסְכַּ֔נְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לְךָ֖ כֹּ֑ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹֽא׃

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.

31וַיְגַ֣ל יְהוָה֮ אֶת־ עֵינֵ֣י בִלְעָם֒ וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־ מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ נִצָּ֣ב בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְחַרְבּ֥וֹ שְׁלֻפָ֖ה בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיִּקֹּ֥ד וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לְאַפָּֽיו׃

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.

32וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה עַל־ מָ֗ה הִכִּ֙יתָ֙ אֶת־ אֲתֹ֣נְךָ֔ זֶ֖ה שָׁל֣וֹשׁ רְגָלִ֑ים הִנֵּ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ יָצָ֣אתִי לְשָׂטָ֔ן כִּֽי־ יָרַ֥ט הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃

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."

33וַתִּרְאַ֙נִי֙ הָֽאָת֔וֹן וַתֵּ֣ט לְפָנַ֔י זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֣שׁ רְגָלִ֑ים אוּלַי֙ נָטְתָ֣ה מִפָּנַ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֛ה גַּם־ אֹתְכָ֥ה הָרַ֖גְתִּי וְאוֹתָ֥הּ הֶחֱיֵֽיתִי׃

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."

34וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם אֶל־ מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ חָטָ֔אתִי כִּ֚י לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י אַתָּ֛ה נִצָּ֥ב לִקְרָאתִ֖י בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְעַתָּ֛ה אִם־ רַ֥ע בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ אָשׁ֥וּבָה לִּֽי׃

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.

35וַיֹּאמֶר֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֗ם לֵ֚ךְ עִם־ הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְאֶ֗פֶס אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־ אֲדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ אֹת֣וֹ תְדַבֵּ֑ר וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בִּלְעָ֖ם עִם־ שָׂרֵ֥י בָלָֽק׃

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.

36וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע בָּלָ֖ק כִּ֣י בָ֣א בִלְעָ֑ם וַיֵּצֵ֨א לִקְרָאת֜וֹ אֶל־ עִ֣יר מוֹאָ֗ב אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־ גְּב֣וּל אַרְנֹ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֥ה הַגְּבֽוּל׃

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?"

37וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בָּלָ֜ק אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֗ם הֲלֹא֩ שָׁלֹ֨חַ שָׁלַ֤חְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לִקְרֹא־ לָ֔ךְ לָ֥מָּה לֹא־ הָלַ֖כְתָּ אֵלָ֑י הַֽאֻמְנָ֔ם לֹ֥א אוּכַ֖ל כַּבְּדֶֽךָ׃

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."

38וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם אֶל־ בָּלָ֗ק הִֽנֵּה־ בָ֙אתִי֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ עַתָּ֕ה הֲיָכ֥וֹל אוּכַ֖ל דַּבֵּ֣ר מְא֑וּמָה הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֧ים אֱלֹהִ֛ים בְּפִ֖י אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃

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

39וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בִּלְעָ֖ם עִם־ בָּלָ֑ק וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ קִרְיַ֥ת חֻצֽוֹת׃

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

40וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח בָּלָ֖ק בָּקָ֣ר וָצֹ֑אן וַיְשַׁלַּ֣ח לְבִלְעָ֔ם וְלַשָּׂרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

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

41וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּקַּ֤ח בָּלָק֙ אֶת־ בִּלְעָ֔ם וַֽיַּעֲלֵ֖הוּ בָּמ֣וֹת בָּ֑עַל וַיַּ֥רְא מִשָּׁ֖ם קְצֵ֥ה הָעָֽם׃

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

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.