Numbers 23 NLT ISV Parallel

◄ Numbers 23 ►

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1Then Balaam said to King Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.”

1Balaam told Balak, "Build for me here seven altars and prepare here for me seven bulls and seven rams."

2Balak followed his instructions, and the two of them sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.

2So Balak did just as Balaam instructed. Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

3Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offerings, and I will go to see if the LORD will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” So Balaam went alone to the top of a bare hill,

3Then Balaam instructed Balak, "Stand by your offering and leave me alone by myself. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me. I'll tell you whatever he reveals to me." And so he went to a high place,

4and God met him there. Balaam said to him, “I have prepared seven altars and have sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.”

4where the LORD met with Balaam, who told him, "I've prepared seven altars and offered bulls and rams on an altar."

5The LORD gave Balaam a message for King Balak. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.”

5Then the LORD gave Balaam this message. "Return to Balak and speak to him."

6So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab.

6So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by all the Moabite officials.

7This was the message Balaam delivered: “Balak summoned me to come from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me! Come and announce Israel’s doom.’

7Then Balaam uttered this prophetic statement: "King Balak of Moab brought me from Aram, from the eastern mountains, and told me, 'Come and curse Jacob for me. Come and curse Israel.'

8But how can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom the LORD has not condemned?

8But how can I curse those whom God hasn't cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD hasn't denounced?

9I see them from the cliff tops; I watch them from the hills. I see a people who live by themselves, set apart from other nations.

9I saw them from the top of the rocks. I watched them from the hills. Truly this is a people that lives by itself and doesn't matter among the nations.

10Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust? Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people? Let me die like the righteous; let my life end like theirs.”

10Who can count the dust of Jacob? Who can number the dust of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may I end up like him."

11Then King Balak demanded of Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them!”

11"What are you doing to me?" Balak asked Balaam. "I brought you to curse my enemies, not pronounce a blessing!"

12But Balaam replied, “I will speak only the message that the LORD puts in my mouth.” Balaam’s Second Message

12But in response, Balaam asked, "Shouldn't I be careful to communicate only what the LORD puts in my mouth?"

13Then King Balak told him, “Come with me to another place. There you will see another part of the nation of Israel, but not all of them. Curse at least that many!”

13"Come with me to another place where you can see them," Balak replied. "You'll only see a portion of them, because you won't be able to see them completely. Come and curse them from there for me."

14So Balak took Balaam to the plateau of Zophim on Pisgah Peak. He built seven altars there and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.

14So Balak took him to the field of Zophim, and from there to the top of Mount Pisgah, where he built seven altars and then offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

15Then Balaam said to the king, “Stand here by your burnt offerings while I go over there to meet the LORD.”

15Then he told Balak, "Stand by your offering while I go alone to meet the LORD."

16And the LORD met Balaam and gave him a message. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.”

16Then the LORD met with Balaam and gave a message to him. "Now go back to Balak and speak to him."

17So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. “What did the LORD say?” Balak asked eagerly.

17So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by the Moabite officials. "What did the LORD say?" Balak asked him.

18This was the message Balaam delivered: “Rise up, Balak, and listen! Hear me, son of Zippor.

18In response, Balaam uttered this prophetic statement: "Stand up, Balak, and pay attention! Listen to me, you son of Zippor!

19God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

19God is not a human male— he doesn't lie, nor is he a human being— he never vacillates. Once he speaks up, he's going to act, isn't he? Once he makes a promise, he'll fulfill it, won't he?

20Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!

20Look! I've received a blessing, and so I will bless. I won't withdraw it.

21No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king.

21He has not responded to iniquity in Jacob or gazed at mischief in Israel. The LORD his God is with them, and the triumphant cry of a king is among them.

22God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox.

22From Egypt God brought them— his strength was like a wild ox!

23No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’

23No Satanic plan against Jacob nor divination against Israel can ever prevail. When the time is right, it is to be asked about Jacob and Israel, 'What has God accomplished?'

24These people rise up like a lioness, like a majestic lion rousing itself. They refuse to rest until they have feasted on prey, drinking the blood of the slaughtered!”

24Look! The people are like lions. Like the lion, he rises up! He does not lie down again until he has consumed his prey and drunk the blood of the slain."

25Then Balak said to Balaam, “Fine, but if you won’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!”

25Then Balak told Balaam, "Don't curse them or bless them!"

26But Balaam replied to Balak, “Didn’t I tell you that I can do only what the LORD tells me?” Balaam’s Third Message

26"Didn't I tell you," Balaam responded to Balak, "that I'll say whatever the LORD tells me to say?"

27Then King Balak said to Balaam, “Come, I will take you to one more place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them from there.”

27So Balak exhorted Balaam, "Let's go right now! I'll take you to another place. Maybe God will agree to have you curse them for me from there."

28So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, overlooking the wasteland.

28So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, which overlooks the open wilderness.

29Balaam again told Balak, “Build me seven altars, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.”

29Balaam told Balak, "Build seven altars for me right here. Then prepare seven bulls and seven rams."

30So Balak did as Balaam ordered and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.

30Balak did just what Balaam had instructed—he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

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