Balaam’s First Oracle

1  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) בִּלְעָם֙ (Balaam) אֶל־ (to) בָּלָ֔ק (Balak), בְּנֵה־ (Build) לִ֥י (for me) בָזֶ֖ה (in this place) שִׁבְעָ֣ה (seven) מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת (altars), וְהָכֵ֥ן (and prepare) לִי֙ (for me) בָּזֶ֔ה (in this place) שִׁבְעָ֥ה (seven) פָרִ֖ים (bulls) וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה (and seven) אֵילִֽים׃ (rams).

2  וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And did) בָּלָ֔ק (Balak) כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) דִּבֶּ֣ר (had spoken); בִּלְעָ֑ם (Balaam) וַיַּ֨עַל (and offered) בָּלָ֧ק (Balak) וּבִלְעָ֛ם (and Balaam) פָּ֥ר (a bull) וָאַ֖יִל (and a ram) בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ (on each altar).

3  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) בִּלְעָ֜ם (Balaam) לְבָלָ֗ק (to Balak), הִתְיַצֵּב֮ (Stand) עַל־ (by) עֹלָתֶךָ֒ (your burnt offering), וְאֵֽלְכָ֗ה (and I will go). אוּלַ֞י (Perhaps) יִקָּרֵ֤ה (will come) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) לִקְרָאתִ֔י (to meet me), וּדְבַ֥ר (and the word) מַה־ (of what) יַּרְאֵ֖נִי (he shows me) וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי (and I will tell) לָ֑ךְ (to you).

וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (And he went to) שֶֽׁפִי׃ (a barren height). 4  וַיִּקָּ֥ר (And met) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) אֶל־ (with) בִּלְעָ֑ם (Balaam), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) אֵלָ֗יו (to Him) אֶת־ (-) שִׁבְעַ֤ת (seven) הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ (altars) עָרַ֔כְתִּי (I have prepared), וָאַ֛עַל (and I have offered) פָּ֥ר (a bull) וָאַ֖יִל (and a ram) בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ (on each altar).

5  וַיָּ֧שֶׂם (And put) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) דָּבָ֖ר (a word) בְּפִ֣י (in the mouth) בִלְעָ֑ם (of Balaam) וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (and said), שׁ֥וּב (Return) אֶל־ (to) בָּלָ֖ק (Balak), וְכֹ֥ה (and thus) תְדַבֵּֽר׃ (you shall speak).

6  וַיָּ֣שָׁב (And he returned) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold) נִצָּ֖ב (he is standing) עַל־ (by) עֹלָת֑וֹ (his burnt offering), ה֖וּא (he) וְכָל־ (and all) שָׂרֵ֥י (the princes) מוֹאָֽב׃ (of Moab).

7  וַיִּשָּׂ֥א (And he lifted up) מְשָׁל֖וֹ (his oracle) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said),

מִן־ (From) אֲ֠רָם (Aram) יַנְחֵ֨נִי (has brought me) בָלָ֤ק (Balak),

מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) מוֹאָב֙ (of Moab) מֵֽהַרְרֵי־ (from the mountains) קֶ֔דֶם (of the east):

לְכָה֙ (Come), אָֽרָה־ (curse) לִּ֣י (for me) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (Jacob),

וּלְכָ֖ה (and come), זֹעֲמָ֥ה (denounce) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel).

8  מָ֣ה (How) אֶקֹּ֔ב (shall I curse) לֹ֥א (those whom not) קַבֹּ֖ה (has cursed) אֵ֑ל (God),

וּמָ֣ה (and how) אֶזְעֹ֔ם (shall I denounce) לֹ֥א (those whom not) זָעַ֖ם (has denounced) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH)?

9  כִּֽי־ (For) מֵרֹ֤אשׁ (from the top) צֻרִים֙ (of the rocks) אֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ (I see him),

וּמִגְּבָע֖וֹת (and from the hills) אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ (I behold him).

הֶן־ (Behold), עָם֙ (a people) לְבָדָ֣ד (apart) יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן (dwelling),

וּבַגּוֹיִ֖ם (and among the nations) לֹ֥א (not) יִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃ (reckoning itself).

10  מִ֤י (Who) מָנָה֙ (can count) עֲפַ֣ר (the dust) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob),

וּמִסְפָּ֖ר (and ar number) אֶת־ (-) רֹ֣בַע (a fourth) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel)?

תָּמֹ֤ת (Let die) נַפְשִׁי֙ (me) מ֣וֹת (the death) יְשָׁרִ֔ים (of the righteous),

וּתְהִ֥י (and let be) אַחֲרִיתִ֖י (my end) כָּמֹֽהוּ׃ (like his)!

11  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) בָּלָק֙ (Balak) אֶל־ (to) בִּלְעָ֔ם (Balaam), מֶ֥ה (What) עָשִׂ֖יתָ (have you done) לִ֑י (to me)? לָקֹ֤ב (To curse) אֹיְבַי֙ (my enemies) לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ (I took you), וְהִנֵּ֖ה (and behold), בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ (blessing) בָרֵֽךְ׃ (you have blessed them).

12  וַיַּ֖עַן (And he answered) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), הֲלֹ֗א (Is it not that) אֵת֩ (-) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (what) יָשִׂ֤ים (has put) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בְּפִ֔י (in my mouth) אֹת֥וֹ (-) אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר (I must guard myself) לְדַבֵּֽר׃ (to speak)?

Balaam’s Second Oracle

13  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֵלָ֜יו (to him) בָּלָ֗ק (Balak), לְךָ (Come), נָּ֨א (please) אִתִּ֜י (with me) אֶל־ (to) מָק֤וֹם (place) אַחֵר֙ (another) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) תִּרְאֶ֣נּוּ (you may see them) מִשָּׁ֔ם (from there). אֶ֚פֶס (Only the outer) קָצֵ֣הוּ (part of them) תִרְאֶ֔ה (you shall see), וְכֻלּ֖וֹ (and them all) לֹ֣א (not) תִרְאֶ֑ה (you shall see). וְקָבְנוֹ־ (And curse them) לִ֖י (for me) מִשָּֽׁם׃ (from there).

14  וַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙ (And he brought him) שְׂדֵ֣ה (to the field) צֹפִ֔ים (of Zophim), אֶל־ (to) רֹ֖אשׁ (the top) הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה (of Pisgah), וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ (and built) שִׁבְעָ֣ה (seven) מִזְבְּחֹ֔ת (altars) וַיַּ֛עַל (and offered) פָּ֥ר (a bull) וָאַ֖יִל (and a ram) בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ (on each altar).

15  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said) אֶל־ (to) בָּלָ֔ק (Balak), הִתְיַצֵּ֥ב (Stand) כֹּ֖ה (here) עַל־ (by) עֹלָתֶ֑ךָ (your burnt offering), וְאָנֹכִ֖י (and I) אִקָּ֥רֶה (meet Him) כֹּֽה׃ (over there).

16  וַיִּקָּ֤ר (And met) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (with) בִּלְעָ֔ם (Balaam) וַיָּ֥שֶׂם (and put) דָּבָ֖ר (a word) בְּפִ֑יו (in his mouth) וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (and said), שׁ֥וּב (Go back) אֶל־ (to) בָּלָ֖ק (Balak), וְכֹ֥ה (and thus) תְדַבֵּֽר׃ (you shall speak).

17  וַיָּבֹ֣א (And he came) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) וְהִנּ֤וֹ (and behold), נִצָּב֙ (he is standing) עַל־ (by) עֹ֣לָת֔וֹ (his burnt offering), וְשָׂרֵ֥י (and the princes) מוֹאָ֖ב (of Moab were) אִתּ֑וֹ (with him).

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לוֹ֙ (to him) בָּלָ֔ק (Balak) מַה־ (What) דִּבֶּ֖ר (has spoken) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH)?

18  וַיִּשָּׂ֥א (And he lifted up) מְשָׁל֖וֹ (his oracle) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said),

ק֤וּם (Rise up), בָּלָק֙ (O Balak), וּֽשֲׁמָ֔ע (and hear);

הַאֲזִ֥ינָה (give ear) עָדַ֖י (to me), בְּנ֥וֹ (O son) צִפֹּֽר׃ (of Zippor)!

19  לֹ֣א (Not) אִ֥ישׁ (is a man), אֵל֙ (God) וִֽיכַזֵּ֔ב (that He should lie),

וּבֶן־ (and not a son) אָדָ֖ם (of man), וְיִתְנֶחָ֑ם (that He should repent).

הַה֤וּא (Has He) אָמַר֙ (said), וְלֹ֣א (and not) יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה (will He do)?

וְדִבֶּ֖ר (Or has He spoken), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יְקִימֶֽנָּה׃ (will He fulfill)?

20  הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), בָרֵ֖ךְ (to bless) לָקָ֑חְתִּי (I have received);

וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ (and He has blessed), וְלֹ֥א (and not) אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃ (I can reverse it).

21  לֹֽא־ (Not) הִבִּ֥יט (He has observed) אָ֙וֶן֙ (iniquity) בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב (in Jacob),

וְלֹא־ (and not) רָאָ֥ה (has He seen) עָמָ֖ל (wickedness) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (in Israel).

יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהָיו֙ (his God) עִמּ֔וֹ (is with him),

וּתְרוּעַ֥ת (and the shout) מֶ֖לֶךְ (of a King) בּֽוֹ׃ (is among them).

22  אֵ֖ל (God) מוֹצִיאָ֣ם (brings them out) מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt);

כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת (strength like) רְאֵ֖ם (a wild ox) לֽוֹ׃ (He has).

23  כִּ֤י (For) לֹא־ (not) נַ֙חַשׁ֙ (there is sorcery) בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב (against Jacob),

וְלֹא־ (and not) קֶ֖סֶם (any divination) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (against Israel).

כָּעֵ֗ת (Now) יֵאָמֵ֤ר (it must be said) לְיַעֲקֹב֙ (of Jacob) וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (and of Israel),

מַה־ (What) פָּ֖עַל (has done) אֵֽל׃ (God)!

24  הֶן־ (Look), עָם֙ (a people) כְּלָבִ֣יא (like a lioness) יָק֔וּם (rises),

וְכַאֲרִ֖י (and like a lion) יִתְנַשָּׂ֑א (lifts itself up).

לֹ֤א (Not) יִשְׁכַּב֙ (it shall lie down) עַד־ (until) יֹ֣אכַל (it devours) טֶ֔רֶף (the prey),

וְדַם־ (and the blood) חֲלָלִ֖ים (of the slain) יִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ (drinks).

25  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) בָּלָק֙ (Balak) אֶל־ (to) בִּלְעָ֔ם (Balaam), גַּם־ (Indeed) קֹ֖ב (at all), לֹ֣א (neither) תִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּ (curse them) גַּם־ (indeed) בָּרֵ֖ךְ (at all) לֹ֥א (and not) תְבָרֲכֶֽנּוּ׃ (bless them).

26  וַיַּ֣עַן (And answered) בִּלְעָ֔ם (Balaam) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said) אֶל־ (to) בָּלָ֑ק (Balak), הֲלֹ֗א (Did not) דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי (I speak) אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ (to you), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), כֹּ֛ל (all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יְדַבֵּ֥ר (speaks) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֹת֥וֹ (that is what) אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃ (I must do)?

27  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) בָּלָק֙ (Balak) אֶל־ (to) בִּלְעָ֔ם (Balaam), לְכָה־ (Come), נָּא֙ (please), אֶקָּ֣חֲךָ֔ (I will take you) אֶל־ (to) מָק֖וֹם (place) אַחֵ֑ר (another); אוּלַ֤י (perhaps) יִישַׁר֙ (it will please) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (the eye) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) וְקַבֹּ֥תוֹ (that you may curse them) לִ֖י (for me) מִשָּֽׁם׃ (from there).

28  וַיִּקַּ֥ח (And took) בָּלָ֖ק (Balak) אֶת־ (-) בִּלְעָ֑ם (Balaam) רֹ֣אשׁ (to the top) הַפְּע֔וֹר (of Peor), הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף (that overlooks) עַל־ (toward) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃ (of Jeshimon).

29  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) בִּלְעָם֙ (Balaam) אֶל־ (to) בָּלָ֔ק (Balak), בְּנֵה־ (Build) לִ֥י (for me) בָזֶ֖ה (in this place) שִׁבְעָ֣ה (seven) מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת (altars), וְהָכֵ֥ן (and prepare) לִי֙ (for me) בָּזֶ֔ה (in this place) שִׁבְעָ֥ה (seven) פָרִ֖ים (bulls) וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה (and seven) אֵילִֽים׃ (rams).

30  וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And did) בָּלָ֔ק (Balak) כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) אָמַ֣ר (had said) בִּלְעָ֑ם (Balaam), וַיַּ֛עַל (and offered) פָּ֥ר (a bull) וָאַ֖יִל (and a ram) בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ (on each altar).