English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

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

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

2And 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 in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.

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

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,

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,

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

9And 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?”

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

10And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

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.’”

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.’ ”

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

12But God said to Balaam, “Do not 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 to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

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.”

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

14And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

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

15Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.

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

16They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

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

17for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’ ”

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.

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.

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

19So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, 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 have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”

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.”

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.

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 said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”

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.”

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!”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?”

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?”

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.”

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.”

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

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

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

40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.

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

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.

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.

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