Numbers 22:12
◄  Numbers 22:12  ►
New International Version (©2011)
But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed."

New Living Translation (©2007)
But God told Balaam, "Do not go with them. You are not to curse these people, for they have been blessed!"

English Standard Version (©2001)
God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then God said to Balaam, "You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed."

International Standard Version (©2012)
But God told Balaam, "Don't go with them. Don't curse the people, because they're blessed."

NET Bible (©2006)
But God said to Balaam, "You must not go with them; you must not curse the people, for they are blessed."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
But God said to Balaam, "Don't go with them! Don't curse these people, because they are blessed."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And God said unto Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people: for they are blessed.

American King James Version
And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people: for they are blessed.

American Standard Version
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And God said to Balaam : Thou shalt not go with them, nor shalt thou curse the people: because it is blessed.

Darby Bible Translation
And God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.

English Revised Version
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

Webster's Bible Translation
And God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

World English Bible
God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed."

Young's Literal Translation
and God saith unto Balaam, 'Thou dost not go with them; thou dost not curse the people; for it is blessed.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:1-14 The king of Moab formed a plan to get the people of Israel cursed; that is, to set God against them, who had hitherto fought for them. He had a false notion, that if he could get some prophet to pray for evil upon them, and to pronounce a blessing upon himself and his forces, that then he should be able to deal with them. None had so great a reputation as Balaam; and Balak will employ him, though he send a great way for him. It is not known whether the Lord had ever spoken to Balaam, or by him, before this; though it is probable he had, and it is certain he did afterwards. Yet we have abundant proof that he lived and died a wicked man, an enemy to God and his people. And the curse shall not come upon us if there is not a cause, even though men utter it. To prevail with Balaam, they took the wages of unrighteousness, but God laid restraint upon Balaam, forbidding him to curse Israel. Balaam was no stranger to Israel's cause; so that he ought to have answered the messengers at once, that he would never curse a people whom God had blessed; but he takes a night's time to consider what he should do. When we parley with temptations, we are in great danger of being overcome. Balaam was not faithful in returning God's answer to the messengers. Those are a fair mark for Satan's temptation, who lessen Divine restraints; as if to go against God's law were only to go without his leave. The messengers also are not faithful in returning Balaam's answer to Balak. Thus many are abused by the flatteries of those about them, and are prevented from seeing their own faults and follies.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And God said unto Balaam, thou shalt not go with them,.... Which is a denial of the first thing Balak requested, "come now, therefore", &c. Numbers 22:6.

thou shall not curse the people; which was the principal thing desired, and in order to which he was solicited to go with the messengers; but this is absolutely forbidden:

for they are blessed; by the Lord himself, with an irrevocable blessing, and therefore it would be vain and fruitless, as well as dangerous for him to attempt to curse them, Genesis 12:3 this may have a special respect to the blessing of Jacob by Isaac, which could not be reversed by the solicitations of Esau, and which descended to Jacob's posterity, the Israelites, Genesis 27:33.

Numbers 22:12 Parallel Commentaries

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Balak Summons Balaam
…11Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covers the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. 12And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people: for they are blessed. 13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuses to give me leave to go with you. …

Genesis 12:2 "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
Genesis 22:17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,
Numbers 22:6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed."
Numbers 22:11 A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.'"
Numbers 22:13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's officials, "Go back to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."
Numbers 23:8 How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?
Numbers 23:20 I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.
Numbers 24:9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse them? "May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!"