JPS - Numbers - 22

22:1  And the children of Israel journeyed, and pitched in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

22:2  And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

22:3  And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was overcome with dread because of the children of Israel.

22:4  And Moab said unto the elders of Midian: 'Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.' --And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.--

22:5  And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to 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.

22:6  Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me; peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.'

22:7  And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.

22:8  And he said unto them: 'Lodge here this night, and I will bring you back word, as HaShem may speak unto me'; and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

22:9  And G-d came unto Balaam, and said: 'What men are these with thee?'

22:10  And Balaam said unto G-d: 'Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me saying:

22:11  Behold the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth; now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'

22:12  And G-d said unto Balaam: 'Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.'

22:13  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak: 'Get you into your land; for HaShem refuseth to give me leave to go with you.'

22:14  And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said: 'Balaam refuseth to come with us.'

22:15  And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

22:16  And they came to Balaam, and said to him: 'Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me;

22:17  for I will promote thee unto very great honour, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.'

22:18  And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak: 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of HaShem my G-d, to do any thing, small or great.

22:19  Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what HaShem will speak unto me more.'

22:20  And G-d came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him: 'If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.'

22:21  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

22:22  And G-d's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of HaShem placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. --Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.--

22:23  And the ass saw the angel of HaShem standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

22:24  Then the angel of HaShem stood in a hollow way between the vineyards, a fence being on this side, and a fence on that side.

22:25  And the ass saw the angel of HaShem, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.

22:26  And the angel of HaShem went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

22:27  And the ass saw the angel of HaShem, and she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.

22:28  And HaShem 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?'

22:29  And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.'

22:30  And the ass said unto Balaam: 'Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?' And he said: 'Nay.'

22:31  Then HaShem opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of HaShem standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

22:32  And the angel of HaShem said unto him: 'Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is contrary unto me;

22:33  and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times; unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.'

22:34  And Balaam said unto the angel of HaShem: 'I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back.'

22:35  And the angel of HaShem said unto Balaam: 'Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak.' So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

22:36  And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto Ir-moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.

22:37  And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?'

22:38  And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Lo, I am come unto thee; have I now any power at all to speak any thing? the word that G-d putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.'

22:39  And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth.

22:40  And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.

22:41  And it came to pass in the morning that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into Bamoth-baal, and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.