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¹ And the sons of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.² And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.³ And Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the sons of Israel.⁴ And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.⁵ And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the sons of Amav, to call him, saying, Look, there is a people come out from Egypt: see, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide across from me.⁶ Come now therefore, I pray you, curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me: perhaps I shall prevail, that we may smite 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.⁷ And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of fortune-telling in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.⁸ And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.⁹ And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?¹⁰ And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, [saying],¹¹ Look, a people has come out of Egypt, which 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.¹² And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people; for they are blessed.¹³ And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, You get into your land; for Yahweh refuses to give me leave to go with you.¹⁴ And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.

¹⁵ And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.¹⁶ And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray you, hinder you from coming to me:¹⁷ for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do: come therefore, I pray you, curse this people for me.¹⁸ And Balaam answered and said to the slaves of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.¹⁹ Now therefore, I pray you, you also tarry here this night, that I may know what Yahweh will speak to me more.²⁰ And 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.²¹ And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

²² And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two attendants were with him.²³ And the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh 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 smote the donkey, to turn her into the way.²⁴ Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.²⁵ And the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.²⁶ And the angel of Yahweh went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.²⁷ And the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the donkey with his staff.²⁸ And Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have smitten me these three times?²⁹ And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, If there were a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.³⁰ And 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 in the habit to do so to you? and he said, No.³¹ Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.³² And the angel of Yahweh said to him, Why have you smitten your donkey these three times? look, I have come forth for an adversary, because your way is precipitous before me:³³ and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely I would have even killed you by now, and saved her alive.³⁴ And Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get myself back again.³⁵ And the angel of Yahweh 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.

³⁶ And when Balak heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him to Ar of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.³⁷ And Balak said to Balaam, Didn't I earnestly send to you to call you? why didn't you come to me? am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?³⁸ 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.³⁹ And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.⁴⁰ And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.⁴¹ And it came to pass 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.