| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1The Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan across from Jericho. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous, and Moab dreaded the Israelites. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde will devour everything around us like an ox eats up the green plants in the field." Since Balak son of Zippor was Moab's king at that time, |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. Balak said to him: "Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land and are living right across from me. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Please come and put a curse on these people for me because they are more powerful than I am. I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed." |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7The elders of Moab and Midian departed with fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and reported Balak's words to him. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8He said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will give you the answer the LORD tells me." So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Then God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?" |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Balaam replied to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me: |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11'Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.'" |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Then God said to Balaam, "You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed." |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak's officials, "Go back to your land, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you." |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, "Balaam refused to come with us." |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15Balak sent officials again who were more numerous and higher in rank than the others. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16They came to Balaam and said to him, "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: 'Let nothing keep you from coming to me, |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!'" |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, "If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the LORD my God to do anything small or great. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Please stay here overnight as the others did, so that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me." |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you." |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22But God was incensed that Balaam was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand on the path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing on the path with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into the field. So Balaam hit her to return her to the path. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between the vineyards, with a stone wall on either side. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25The donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, squeezing Balaam's foot against it. So he hit her once again. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26The angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or the left. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she crouched down under Balaam. So he became furious and beat the donkey with his stick. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she asked Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?" |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Balaam answered the donkey, "You made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, I'd kill you now!" |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30But the donkey said, "Am I not the donkey you've ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?" "No," he replied. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the path with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam knelt low and bowed in worship on his face. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because I consider what you are doing to be evil. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and let her live." |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in your sight, I will go back." |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35Then the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you." So Balaam went with Balak's officials. |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37Balak asked Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?" |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38Balaam said to him, "Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth." |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40Balak sacrificed cattle, sheep, and goats and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him. |
| 41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him to Bamoth-baal. From there he saw the outskirts of the people's camp. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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