Números 22

¹ And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab onBeing at Jericho, it was beyond the Jordan, but where the Israelites were, it was on this side.this side Jordan [by] Jericho.

² Now Balak the sonne of Zippor sawe all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

³ And the Moabites were sore afraide of the people, because they were many, and Moab fretted against the children of Israel.

⁴ And Moab said unto theWho were the heads and governors.elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all [that are] round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at that time.

⁵ He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which [is] by theThat is, Euphrates, upon which stood this city Pethor.river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

⁶ Come now therefore, I pray thee, and curse me this people (for they are stronger then I) so it may be that I shall be able to smite them, and to driue them out of the land: for I knowe that hee, whome thou blessest, is blessed, and he whom thou cursest, shall be cursed.

⁷ And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed withThinking to bribe him with gifts to curse the Israelites.the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

⁸ And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: andWhom before he called elders: meaning the governors, and later calls them servants: that is, subjects to their king.the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

⁹ Then God came vnto Balaam, and sayde, What men are these with thee?

¹⁰ And Baalam said vnto God, Balak ye sonne of Zippor, king of Moab hath set vnto me, saying,

¹¹ Beholde, there is a people come out of Egypt and couereth the face of the earth: come nowe, curse them for my sake: so it may be that I shalbe able to ouercome them in battell, and to driue them out.

¹² And GodHe warned him by a dream, that he should not consent to the kings wicked request.said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they [are] blessed.

¹³ And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to giveOr else he would have been willing, covetousness had so blinded his heart.me leave to go with you.

¹⁴ So the princes of Moab rose vp, and went vnto Balak, & sayd, Balaam hath refused to come with vs.

¹⁵ Balak yet sent againe moe princes, and more honourable then they.

¹⁶ And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor,The wicked seek by all means to further their naughty enterprises, though they know that God is against them.Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

¹⁷ For I wil promote thee vnto great honour, and wil do whatsoeuer thou sayest vnto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

¹⁸ And Balaam answered, and sayde vnto the seruants of Balak, If Balak woulde giue me his house full of siluer and golde, I can not goe beyonde the worde of the Lorde my God, to doe lesse or more.

¹⁹ Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto meBecause he tempted God to require him contrary to his commandment, his petition was granted, but it turned to his own condemnation.more.

²⁰ And God came vnto Balaam by night, and sayd vnto him, If the men come to call thee, rise vp, and goe with them: but onely what thing I say vnto thee, that shalt thou doe.

²¹ So Balaam rose vp early, and sadled his asse, and went with the princes of Moab.

²² And God's anger was kindled because heMoved rather with covetousness than to obey God.went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him.

²³ And when the asse saw the Angel of the Lord stand in the way, and his sworde drawen in his hand, the asse turned out of the way and went into the field, but Balaam smote the asse, to turne her into the way.

²⁴ The second time.But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that side.

²⁵ And when the asse sawe the Angel of the Lord, she thrust her selfe vnto the wall, and dasht Balaams foote against the wall: wherefore hee smote her againe.

²⁶ Then the Angel of the Lord went further, & stoode in a narowe place, where was no way to turne, either to the right hand, or to the left.

²⁷ And when the asse sawe the Angell of the Lorde, she lay downe vnder Balaam: therefore Balaam was very wroth, and smote the asse with a staffe.

²⁸ And the LORDGave her power to speak.opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

²⁹ And Balaam saide vnto the asse, Because thou hast mocked me: I woulde there were a sworde in mine hand, for nowe would I kill thee.

³⁰ And the ass said unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden everSince you have been my master.since [I was] thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

³¹ Then the LORDFor if the Lord does not open your eyes, you can see neither his anger or his love.opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

³² And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because [thy]Both your heart is corrupt and your enterprise wicked.way is perverse before me:

³³ But the asse sawe me, and turned fro me now three times: for els, if she had not turned fro me, surely I had euen nowe slaine thee, and saued her aliue.

³⁴ Then Balaam saide vnto the Angel of the Lorde, I haue sinned: for I wist not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore if it displease thee, I will turne home againe.

³⁵ And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only theBecause his heart was evil, his charge was renewed, that he should not pretend ignorance.word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

³⁶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which [is] in theNear the place where the Israelites camped.border of Arnon, which [is] in the utmost coast.

³⁷ Then Balak saide vnto Balaam, Did I not sende for thee to call thee? Wherefore camest thou not vnto me? am I not able in deede to promote thee vnto honour?

³⁸ And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to sayOn my own I can say nothing, I will only speak what God reveals, whether it is good or bad.any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

³⁹ So Balaam went with Balak, & they came vnto the citie of Huzoth.

⁴⁰ Then Balak offred bullockes, and sheepe, and sent thereof to Balaam, & to the princes that were with him.

⁴¹ And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places ofWhere the idol Baal was worshipped.Baal, that thence he might see the utmost [part] of the people.