Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024
the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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Read the Bible

Christian Standard Bible ®

Numbers 22:38

Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.”

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Minister, Christian;   Prophets;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Desert, Journey of Israel through the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Midianites;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Micaiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Vision;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ass;   Balaam;   Balak;   Kiriath-Huzoth;   Moab, Moabites;   Prophecy, Prophets;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Balak;   Midian;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Word;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Hafá¹­arah;   Joshua, the Samaritan Book of;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak."
Update Bible Version
And Balaam said to Balak, Look, I have come to you: do I now have any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.
English Revised Version
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 God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
New Century Version
But Balaam answered, "I have come to you now, but I can't say just anything. I can only say what God tells me to say."
New English Translation
Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able to speak just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth."
Webster's Bible Translation
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
World English Bible
Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Amplified Bible
So Balaam said to Balak, "Indeed I have come to you now, but am I able to say anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
To whom Balaam answeride, Lo! Y am present, whethir Y schal mow speke other thing than that, that God schal putte in my mouth?
Young's Literal Translation
And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Lo, I have come unto thee; now -- am I at all able to speak anything? the word which God setteth in my mouth -- it I do speak.'
Berean Standard Bible
"See, I have come to you," Balaam replied, "but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth."
Contemporary English Version
"I'm here now," Balaam answered. "But I will say only what God tells me to say."
American Standard Version
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Bible in Basic English
Then Balaam said to Balak, Now I have come to you; but have I power to say anything? Only what God puts into my mouth may I say.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Balaam made aunswere vnto Balac, Lo, I am come vnto thee, and can I nowe say any thyng at all? The worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speake.
Complete Jewish Bible
Bil‘am replied to Balak, "Here, I've come to you! But I have no power of my own to say anything. The word that God puts in my mouth is what I will say."
Darby Translation
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to thee; but shall I now be able at all to say anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Easy-to-Read Version
Balaam answered, "Well, I am here now. I came, but I might not be able to do what you asked. I can only say the words God tells me to say."
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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 God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.'
King James Version (1611)
And Balaam saide vnto Balak, Loe, I am come vnto thee: haue I now any power at all to say any thing? the worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speake.
New Life Bible
Balaam said to Balak, "See, I have come to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The Word that God puts in my mouth is what I must speak."
New Revised Standard
Balaam said to Balak, "I have come to you now, but do I have power to say just anything? The word God puts in my mouth, that is what I must say."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Balaam said unto Balak - Lo! I am come unto thee, Now, can, I, possibly, promise any-thing? The word that God shall put in my mouth, that, must I speak.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Balaam made answere vnto Balak, Lo, I am come vnto thee, and can I nowe say any thing at all? the worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shal I speake.
George Lamsa Translation
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to you; have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Good News Translation
Balaam answered, "I came, didn't I? But now, what power do I have? I can say only what God tells me to say."
Douay-Rheims Bible
He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?
Revised Standard Version
Balaam said to Balak, "Lo, I have come to you! Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak."
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Balaam said to Balac, Behold, I am now come to thee: shall I be able to say anything? the word which God shall put into my mouth, that I shall speak.
Hebrew Names Version
Bil`am said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
King James Version
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Lexham English Bible
Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I came to you now. Am I really able to speak anything at all? I speak the word that God puts in my mouth."
Literal Translation
And Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you. Now am I able to speak anything at all? The word which God puts in my mouth, that I will speak.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Balaam answered him: Lo, I am come vnto ye But how can I saye eny thinge els, the yt God putteth in my mouth? yt I must speake
THE MESSAGE
Balaam said to Balak, "Well, I'm here now. But I can't tell you just anything. I can speak only words that God gives me—no others."
New American Standard Bible
So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you now! Am I really able to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that only shall I speak."
New King James Version
And Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak."
New Living Translation
Balaam replied, "Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
Legacy Standard Bible
So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."

Contextual Overview

36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. 37Balak asked Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?” 38Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.” 39So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40Balak sacrificed cattle, sheep, and goats and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him to Bamoth-baal. From there he saw the outskirts of the people’s camp.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

have I: Numbers 22:18, Psalms 33:10, Psalms 76:10, Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 44:25, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 47:12

the word: Numbers 23:16, Numbers 23:26, Numbers 24:13, 1 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 18:13

Reciprocal: Exodus 4:15 - and I Numbers 23:12 - General Numbers 23:20 - I cannot Numbers 24:12 - General Judges 7:14 - his fellow Jeremiah 1:7 - for thou shalt Acts 4:20 - we cannot

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Balaam said unto Balak, lo, I am come unto thee,.... And therefore let nothing more be said of what is past: and as for future things,

have I now any power at all to say anything? that would be agreeable to the king, and answer his purpose in sending for him, namely, to curse the people of Israel; he suggests that he had not, he was under the powerful restraint of God; he could not say what he himself was inclined to say, and what the king would have him say, and he expected he should; he could not say as some in Psalms 12:4: the word

that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak; whether agreeable to Balak's will and design or not, and whether for or against Israel: however, it being expressed in such indefinite terms might leave room for Balak to hope it might answer his expectations and wishes.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 22:38. The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. — Here was a noble resolution, and he was certainly faithful to it: though he wished to please the king, and get wealth and honour, yet he would not displease God to realize even these bright prospects. Many who slander this poor semi-antinomian prophet, have not half his piety.


 
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