Parallel Verses New International Version Then he spoke his message: "Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor.
English Standard Version And Balaam took up his discourse and said, “Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
New American Standard Bible Then he took up his discourse and said, "Arise, O Balak, and hear; Give ear to me, O son of Zippor!
King James Bible And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
Holman Christian Standard Bible Balaam proclaimed his poem: Balak, get up and listen; son of Zippor, pay attention to what I say!
International Standard Version In response, Balaam uttered this prophetic statement: "Stand up, Balak, and pay attention! Listen to me, you son of Zippor!
American Standard Version And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
Douay-Rheims Bible But he taking up his parable, said: Stand, O Balac, and give ear: hear, thou son of Sephor:
Darby Bible Translation Then he took up his parable and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear! hearken unto me, son of Zippor!
Young's Literal Translation And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Rise, Balak, and hear; Give ear unto me, son of Zippor!
Commentaries 23:11-30 Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and this blessing is both larger and stronger than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his promise. And when in Scripture he is said to repent, it does not mean any change of his mind; but only a change of his way. There was sin in Jacob, and God saw it; but there was not such as might provoke him to give them up to ruin. If the Lord sees that we trust in his mercy, and accept of his salvation; that we indulge no secret lust, and continue not in rebellion, but endeavour to serve and glorify him; we may be sure that he looks upon us as accepted in Christ, that our sins are all pardoned. Oh the wonders of providence and grace, the wonders of redeeming love, of pardoning mercy, of the new-creating Spirit! Balak had no hope of ruining Israel, and Balaam showed that he had more reason to fear being ruined by them. Since Balaam cannot say what he would have him, Balak wished him to say nothing. But though there are many devices in man's heart, God's counsels shall stand. Yet they resolve to make another attempt, though they had no promise on which to build their hopes. Let us, who have a promise that the vision at the end shall speak and not lie, continue earnest in prayer, Lu 18:1.
18, 19. Rise up—As Balak was already standing (Nu 23:17), this expression is equivalent to "now attend to me." The counsels and promises of God respecting Israel are unchangeable; and no attempt to prevail on Him to reverse them will succeed, as they may with a man. |
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