1 GLT And the sons of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab, from the other side of the Jordan at Jericho. BSB BSB: Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
2 GLT And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorite. BSB BSB: Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3 GLT And Moab was extremely terrified because of the face of the people, because they were numerous. And Moab was sick with terror because of the face of the sons of Israel, BSB BSB: and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4 GLT and Moab said to the elders of Midian,“Now the assembly will lick up all that is around us like an ox licks up the green of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was the king of Moab at that time, BSB BSB: So 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,
5 GLT and he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River, the land of the sons of his people, to summon him, saying,“Behold, a people went out from Egypt. Behold, he has covered the eye of the land, and he is dwelling opposite me. BSB BSB: he sent messengers to summon 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. 6 GLT And now please go curse this people for me because they are more numerous than I. Perhaps I will be able to strike them and drive them out from the land. For I know whom you bless will be blessed, and whom you curse will be cursed.” BSB BSB: So 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.”
7 GLT And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, and divination fees were in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. BSB BSB: The 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.
8 GLT And he said to them,“Lodge here tonight, and I will bring you back a word, just as Yahweh speaks to me,” and the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. BSB BSB: “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.
9 GLT And God came to Balaam and said,“Who are these men with you?” BSB BSB: Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 GLT And Balaam said to God,“Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, has sent to me. BSB BSB: And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 GLT ‘Behold, the people who have come out from Egypt and have covered the eye of the land! Now go curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to fight them and drive them out.’” BSB BSB: ‘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.’”
12 GLT And God said to Balaam,“You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, because they are blessed.” BSB BSB: But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 GLT And Balaam rose in the morning and said to the leaders of Balak,“Go to your land, because Yahweh has refused to grant me to go with you.” BSB BSB: So 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.”
14 GLT And the leaders of Moab rose and came to Balak, and they said,“Balaam refused to come with us.” BSB BSB: And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 GLT And Balak added again and sent many leaders, and they were more honored than these. BSB BSB: Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
16 GLT And they came to Balaam and said to him,“Thus says Balak the son of Zippor,‘Please do not refrain from coming to me, BSB BSB: They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 GLT for I will very greatly honor you, and I will do all that you say to me. And please go curse this people for me.’” BSB BSB: for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
18 GLT And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak,“If Balak gives to me his house full of silver and gold, I will not be able to go beyond the mouth of Yahweh my God to do small or big. BSB BSB: But 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.
19 GLT And now, you also please stay in this place tonight; and may I know what Yahweh will add to speak with me.” BSB BSB: So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
20 GLT And God came to Balaam at night and said to him,“If the men have come to summon you, rise and go with them, and only the word that I speak to you, it you shall do.” BSB BSB: That 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.”
21 GLT And Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his female donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. BSB BSB: So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 GLT And the nose of God burned because he was going; and the angel of Yahweh stationed himself in the road as an adversary to him, and he was riding on his female donkey, and two of his servants were with him. BSB BSB: Then 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.
23 GLT And the female donkey saw the angel of Yahweh stationed in the road, and his drawn sword was in his hand, and the female donkey turned aside from the road and went in the field. And Balaam struck the female donkey to turn her to the road. BSB BSB: When 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.
24 GLT And the angel of Yahweh stood in the narrow pass of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side. BSB BSB: Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
25 GLT And the female donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she pressed herself to the wall, and she pressed the foot of Balaam to the wall. And he struck her again. BSB BSB: And 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.
26 GLT And the angel of Yahweh passed on again and stood in a narrow place where there was no road to turn right or left. BSB BSB: And 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.
27 GLT And the female donkey saw the angel of Yahweh and lay down under Balaam, and the nose of Balaam burned, and he struck the female donkey with the staff. BSB BSB: When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.
28 GLT And Yahweh opened the mouth of the female donkey, and she said to Balaam,“What have I done to you that you struck me these three times?” BSB BSB: Then 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?”
29 GLT And Balaam said to the female donkey,“Because you acted mockingly with me! If only there was a sword in my hand! Surely I would slay you!” BSB BSB: Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
30 GLT And the female donkey said to Balaam,“Am I not your female donkey on which you have ridden from your continuance until this day? Have I ever been accustomed to doing thus to you?” And he said,“No.” BSB BSB: But 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.
31 GLT And Yahweh uncovered the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh stationed in the road and his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed and bowed down his nose. BSB BSB: Then 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.
32 GLT And the angel of Yahweh said to him,“On account of what have you struck your female donkey these three times? Behold, I myself have gone out as an adversary because your way has been perverse in front of me. BSB BSB: The 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.
33 GLT And the female donkey saw me and turned aside before my face these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely now even you I would have slain and kept her alive.” BSB BSB: The 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.”
34 GLT And Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh,“I have sinned, for I did not know that you were stationed to meet me in the road. And now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will return to me.” BSB BSB: “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.”
35 GLT And the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam,“Go with the men, and only the word that I speak to you, it you must speak.” And Balaam went with the leaders of Balak. BSB BSB: But 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.
36 GLT And Balak heard that Balaam had come, and he went out to meet him at a city of Moab, that is near the border of the Arnon, which is at the end of the border. BSB BSB: When 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.
37 GLT And Balak said to Balaam,“Did I not indeed send to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I truly not able to honor you?” BSB BSB: And 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 reward you richly?”
38 GLT And Balaam said to Balak,“Behold, I have come to you. Am I now at all able to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, it will I speak.” BSB BSB: “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.”
39 GLT And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth, BSB BSB: So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 GLT and Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and sent to Balaam and to the leaders who were with him. BSB BSB: Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
41 GLT And it happened in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high place of Baal, and from there he saw the edge of the people. BSB BSB: The 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.