Numbers 22

1 And the children of Israel set out and camped on the west of Moab, by the Jordan, across from Jericho. 2 And when Balak son of Zippor saw everything Israel had done to the Amorite, 3 Moab was terrified of the people, because they were so many; and Moab was sick at heart in front of the children of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, 4 “Now this gathering will lick up everything around us, the way a calf licks up the green grass of the field.” 4 And Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 And he sent envoys to Balaam son of Beor, at Pethor, which is on a river in the land of the sons of his people, to call him. He said, 5 “Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and look — it has covered the face of the earth, and it has camped right next to me. 6 So come now and curse this people for me, because they are stronger than we are; then perhaps we will be able to strike some of them down, and I will drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, with the fees for divining in their hands; and they came to Balaam and spoke Balak's words to him. [a] 8 And he said to them, 8 “Stay here tonight, and I will bring you back whatever the Lord says to me.” 8 And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said to him, 9 “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, 10 “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent them to me. He said: 11 ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt and covered the face of the land, and it has camped near me. So come now and curse it for me, and perhaps I will be able to strike it down and drive it out of the land.’” 12 And God said to Balaam, 12 “You are not to go with them, and you are not to curse the people, because they are blessed.” 13 And Balaam got up in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, 13 “Go back quickly to your lord. God does not allow me to go with you.” 14 And the leaders of Moab got up and came to Balak and said, 14 “Balaam will not come with us.”

15 And Balak sent again — more leaders, and of higher standing than the first. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, 16 “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: I beg you, do not hold back from coming to me. 17 For I will honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you tell me. Come then, and curse this people for me.” 18 And Balaam answered and said to Balak's leaders, 18 “If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go past the word of the Lord God, to make it small or great in my own mind. 19 And now you too stay here tonight, and I will find out what more the Lord will say to me.” 20 And God came to Balaam by night and said to him, 20 “If these men have come to call you, get up and follow them — but the word I speak to you, that is what you are to do.”

21 And Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. 22 And God was very angry because he went, and the messenger of God rose up to stand against him. Now Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. [b] 23 And when the donkey saw the messenger of God standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, the donkey turned off the road and went into the field; and Balaam beat the donkey with his staff to bring her back to the road. 24 And the messenger of God stood in the lane between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that. 25 And when the donkey saw the messenger of God she pressed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he beat her again. 26 And the messenger of God went on further and came and stood in a narrow place where there was no turning to the right or the left. 27 And when the donkey saw the messenger of God she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam lost his temper and struck the donkey with his staff. 28 And God opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, 28 “What have I done to you, that you have beaten me these three times?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, 29 “Because you have made a fool of me. If I had a sword in my hand I would have killed you by now.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, 30 “Am I not your own donkey, the one you have ridden since you were young, to this day? Have I ever once treated you like this?” 30 And he said, “No.”

31 And God opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the messenger of the Lord standing against him in the road with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down and worshiped, face to the ground. 32 And the messenger of God said to him, 32 “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look — I came out to stand against you, because your way is not right before me. 33 And when the donkey saw me she turned away from me these three times; and if she had not turned aside, then by now I would have killed you and let her live.” 34 And Balaam said to the messenger of the Lord, 34 “I have sinned, because I did not know you were standing in the road against me. And now, if it does not please you for me to go on, I will go back.” 35 And the messenger of God said to Balaam, 35 “Go with the men — but the word I speak to you, that is what you are to be careful to say.” 35 And Balaam went with the leaders of Balak.

36 And when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at a city of Moab on the border of the Arnon, at the far edge of his territory. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, 37 “Did I not send to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to honor you?” 38 And Balaam said to Balak, 38 “Here I am, I have come to you. Am I able to say anything at all? The word God puts in my mouth — that is what I will speak.” 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to the towns of the farmsteads. [c] 40 And Balak sacrificed sheep and cattle and sent some to Balaam and to the leaders who were with him. 41 And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the pillar of Baal, and showed him part of the people from there. [d]