1And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3And Moab was greatly afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5And he sent messengers to 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, a people has come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6Come now therefore, please curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me: perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. 7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yehovah shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you? 10And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt, it covers the face of the earth: now, come curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out. 12And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people; for they are blessed. 13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go to your land; for Yehovah refuses to give me leave to go with you. 14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. 15And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me: 17for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do: come therefore, please curse this people for me. 18And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Yehovah my God, to do less or more. 19Now therefore, please stay here also this night, that I may know what more Yehovah will speak to me. 20And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do. 21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22And God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Yehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23And the donkey saw the angel of Yehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way. 24Then the angel of Yehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25And the donkey saw the angel of Yehovah, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he struck her again. 26And the angel of Yehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27And the donkey saw the angel of Yehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28And Yehovah opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times? 29And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me: I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you. 30And the donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? was I ever accustomed to do so to you? And he said, No. 31Then Yehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32And the angel of Yehovah said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me: 33and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would even have slain you, and saved her alive. 34And Balaam said to the angel of Yehovah, I have sinned; for I did not know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again. 35And the angel of Yehovah said to Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36And when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? why did you not come to me? am I not able indeed to promote you to honor? 38And Balaam said to Balak, Look, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak. 39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him. 41And it happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.