Numbers 22
1. And the children of Israel set forward * , and pitched * in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2. And Balak the son of Zippor saw * all that Israel had done * to the Amorites.
3. And Moab was sore afraid * of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed * because of the children of Israel.
4. And Moab said * unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up * all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up * the grass of the field.And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5. He sent * messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor,which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call * him, saying * , Behold, there is a people come out * from Egypt: behold, they cover * the face of the earth, and they abide * over against me:
6. Come * now therefore, I pray thee, curse * me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail * , that we may smite * them, and that I may drive them out * of the land: for I wot * that he whom thou blessest * is blessed * , and he whom thou cursest * is cursed * .
7. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed * with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came * unto Balaam, and spake * unto him the words of Balak.
8. And he said * unto them, Lodge * here this night, and I will bring * you word again * , as the LORD shall speak * unto me: and the princes of Moab abode * with Balaam.
9. And God came * unto Balaam, and said * , What men are these with thee?
10. And Balaam said * unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent * unto me, saying,
11. Behold, there is a people come out * of Egypt, which covereth * the face of the earth: come * now, curse * me them; peradventure I shall be able * to overcome * them, and drive them out * .
12. And God said * unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go * with them; thou shalt not curse * the people: for they are blessed * .
13. And Balaam rose up * in the morning, and said * unto the princes of Balak, Get * you into your land: for the LORD refuseth * to give me leave * to go * with you.
14. And the princes of Moab rose up * , and they went * unto Balak, and said * , Balaam refuseth * to come * with us.
15. And Balak sent * yet again * princes, more, and more honourable * than they.
16. And they came * to Balaam, and said * to him, Thus saith * Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder * thee from coming * unto me:
17. For I will promote * thee unto very great * honour * , and I will do * whatsoever thou sayest * unto me: come * therefore, I pray thee, curse * me this people.
18. And Balaam answered * and said * unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give * me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot * go beyond * the word of the LORD my God, to do * less or more.
19. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry * ye also here this night, that I may know * what the LORD will say * unto me more * .
20. And God came * unto Balaam at night, and said * unto him, If the men come * to call * thee, rise up * , and go * with them; but yet the word which I shall say * unto thee, that shalt thou do * .
21. And Balaam rose up * in the morning, and saddled * his ass, and went * with the princes of Moab.
22. And God's anger was kindled * because he went * : and the angel of the LORD stood * in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding * upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23. And the ass saw * the angel of the LORD standing * in the way, and his sword drawn * in his hand: and the ass turned aside * out of the way, and went * into the field: and Balaam smote * the ass, to turn * her into the way.
24. But the angel of the LORD stood * in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25. And when the ass saw * the angel of the LORD, she thrust * herself unto the wall, and crushed * Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote * her again * .
26. And the angel of the LORD went * further * , and stood * in a narrow place, where was no way to turn * either to the right hand or to the left.
27. And when the ass saw * the angel of the LORD, she fell down * under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled * , and he smote * the ass with a staff.
28. And the LORD opened * the mouth of the ass, and she said * unto Balaam, What have I done * unto thee, that thou hast smitten * me these three times?
29. And Balaam said * unto the ass,Because thou hast mocked * me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill * thee.
30. And the ass said * unto Balaam,Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden * ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever * wont * to do so * unto thee? And he said * , Nay.
31. Then the LORD opened * the eyes of Balaam, and he saw * the angel of the LORD standing * in the way, and his sword drawn * in his hand: and he bowed down * his head, and fell flat * on his face.
32. And the angel of the LORD said * unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten * thine ass these three times? behold, I went out * to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse * before me:
33. And the ass saw * me, and turned * from me these three times: unless she had turned * from me, surely now also I had slain * thee, and saved her alive * .
34. And Balaam said * unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned * ; for I knew * not that thou stoodest * in the way against * me: now therefore, if it displease thee * , I will get me back again * .
35. And the angel of the LORD said * unto Balaam, Go * with the men: but only the word that I shall speak * unto thee, that thou shalt speak * . So Balaam went * with the princes of Balak.
36. And when Balak heard * that Balaam was come * , he went out * to meet * him unto a city of Moab,which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
37. And Balak said * unto Balaam,Did I not earnestly * send * unto thee to call * thee? wherefore camest * thou not unto me? am I not able * indeed to promote thee to honour * ?
38. And Balaam said * unto Balak,Lo, I am come * unto thee: have I now any power * at all * to say * any thing? the word that God putteth * in my mouth, that shall I speak * .
39. And Balaam went * with Balak,and they came * unto Kirjathhuzoth.
40. And Balak offered * oxen and sheep, and sent * to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took * Balaam, and brought him up * into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see * the utmost part of the people.
