Chapter 22

And the children of Israel set forward,⁴ and pitched⁴ in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan [by] Jericho.

And Balak the son of Zippor saw⁴ all that Israel had done¹ to the Amorites.

And Moab was sore afraid⁴ of the people, because they [were] many: and Moab was distressed⁴ because of the children of Israel.

And Moab said⁴ unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up¹⁷ all [that are] round about us, as the ox licketh up² the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at that time.

He sent⁴ 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 call² him, saying,² Behold, there is a people come out¹ from Egypt: behold, they cover¹⁴ the face of the earth, and they abide⁶ over against me:

Come³ now therefore, I pray thee, curse³ me this people; for they [are] too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail,⁴ [that] we may smite⁵⁵ them, and [that] I may drive them out¹⁷ of the land: for I wot¹ that he whom thou blessest¹⁷ [is] blessed,³⁰ and he whom thou cursest⁴ is cursed.⁹³

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed⁴ with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came⁴ unto Balaam, and spake¹⁷ unto him the words of Balak.

And he said⁴ unto them, Lodge³ here this night, and I will bring you word again,⁵² as the LORD shall speak¹⁷ unto me: and the princes of Moab abode⁴ with Balaam.

And God came⁴ unto Balaam, and said,⁴ What men [are] these with thee?

And Balaam said⁴ unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent¹ unto me, [saying],

Behold, [there is] a people come out⁶ of Egypt, which covereth¹⁷ the face of the earth: come³ now, curse³ me them; peradventure I shall be able⁴ to overcome⁹ them, and drive them out.¹⁴

And God said⁴ unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go⁴ with them; thou shalt not curse⁴ the people: for they [are] blessed.⁷

And Balaam rose up⁴ in the morning, and said⁴ unto the princes of Balak, Get³ you into your land: for the LORD refuseth¹⁴ to give me leave² to go² with you.

And the princes of Moab rose up,⁴ and they went⁴ unto Balak, and said,⁴ Balaam refuseth¹⁴ to come² with us.

And Balak sent² yet again⁵⁵ princes, more, and more honourable¹² than they.

And they came⁴ to Balaam, and said⁴ to him, Thus saith¹ Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder¹¹ thee from coming² unto me:

For I will promote thee unto very great¹⁵ honour,¹⁷ and I will do⁴ whatsoever thou sayest⁴ unto me: come³ therefore, I pray thee, curse³ me this people.

And Balaam answered⁴ and said⁴ unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give⁴ me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot ^{3201 4} go beyond² the word of the LORD my God, to do² less or more.

Now therefore, I pray you, tarry³ ye also here this night, that I may know⁴ what the LORD will say¹⁵ unto me more.⁵⁵

And God came⁴ unto Balaam at night, and said⁴ unto him, If the men come¹ to call² thee, rise up,³ [and] go³ with them; but yet the word which I shall say¹⁷ unto thee, that shalt thou do.⁴

And Balaam rose up⁴ in the morning, and saddled⁴ his ass, and went⁴ with the princes of Moab.

And God's anger was kindled⁴ because he went:⁶ and the angel of the LORD stood¹⁰¹ in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding⁶ upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him.

And the ass saw⁴ the angel of the LORD standing¹² in the way, and his sword drawn⁷ in his hand: and the ass turned aside⁴ out of the way, and went⁴ into the field: and Balaam smote⁵⁵ the ass, to turn⁵³ her into the way.

But the angel of the LORD stood⁴ in a path of the vineyards, a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that side.

And when the ass saw⁴ the angel of the LORD, she thrust¹¹ herself unto the wall, and crushed⁴ Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote⁵³ her again.⁵⁵

And the angel of the LORD went² further,⁵⁵ and stood⁴ in a narrow place, where [was] no way to turn² either to the right hand or to the left.

And when the ass saw⁴ the angel of the LORD, she fell down⁴ under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled,⁴ and he smote⁵⁵ the ass with a staff.

And the LORD opened⁴ the mouth of the ass, and she said⁴ unto Balaam, What have I done¹ unto thee, that thou hast smitten⁵² me these three times?

And Balaam said⁴ unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked⁹⁸ me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill¹ thee.

And the ass said⁴ unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden¹ ever since [I was] thine unto this day? was I ever⁵³ wont⁵² to do² so unto thee? And he said,⁴ Nay.

Then the LORD opened¹⁷ the eyes of Balaam, and he saw⁴ the angel of the LORD standing¹² in the way, and his sword drawn⁷ in his hand: and he bowed down his head,⁴ and fell flat¹⁰¹ on his face.

And the angel of the LORD said⁴ unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten⁵² thine ass these three times? behold, I went out¹ to withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse¹ before me:

And the ass saw⁴ me, and turned⁴ from me these three times: unless she had turned¹ from me, surely now also I had slain¹ thee, and saved her alive.⁵²

And Balaam said⁴ unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned;¹ for I knew¹ not that thou stoodest¹² in the way against² me: now therefore, if it displease¹ thee, I will get me back again.⁴

And the angel of the LORD said⁴ unto Balaam, Go³ with the men: but only the word that I shall speak¹⁷ unto thee, that thou shalt speak.¹⁷ So Balaam went⁴ with the princes of Balak.

And when Balak heard⁴ that Balaam was come,⁶ he went out⁴ to meet² him unto a city of Moab, which [is] in the border of Arnon, which [is] in the utmost coast.

And Balak said⁴ unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly² send¹ unto thee to call² thee? wherefore camest¹ thou not unto me? am I not able⁴ indeed to promote thee to honour?¹⁵

And Balaam said⁴ unto Balak, Lo, I am come¹ unto thee: have I now any power⁴ at all² to say¹⁵ any thing? the word that God putteth⁴ in my mouth, that shall I speak.¹⁷

And Balaam went⁴ with Balak, and they came⁴ unto Kirjathhuzoth. ^{2351 7155}

And Balak offered⁴ oxen and sheep, and sent¹⁷ to Balaam, and to the princes that [were] with him.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took⁴ Balaam, and brought him up⁵⁵ into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see⁴ the utmost [part] of the people.