1And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan of Jericho.
2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorite.
3And Moab was greatly afraid from before the people, because they were many; and Moab dreaded from before the children of Israel.
4And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this assembly will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the green 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, it has covered the eye of the land, and it is dwelling opposite me.
6And now, come, please, curse for me this people, for it is mightier than I; perhaps I will be able to strike it, and I will drive it out from the land; for I know that whom you bless is blessed, and whom you curse is cursed."
7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, with divinations 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 back to you a word, just as YHWH may speak to me." And the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9And God came to Balaam, and said, "Who are these men (ish) with you?"
10And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me:
11'Behold, the people that is coming out from Egypt, and it has covered the eye of the land; now, come, curse it for me; perhaps I will be able to fight against it, and I will drive it out.'"
12And God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for it is blessed."
13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your land, for YHWH has refused to let me go with you."
14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they came to Balak, and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
15And Balak again sent princes, more, and more honored than these.
16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing, please, hinder you from coming to me;
17for I will greatly honor you indeed, and all that you say to me I will do; so come, please, curse for me this people."
18And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me the fullness of his house of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the mouth of YHWH my God, to do small or great.
19And now, please stay here, you also, this night, that I may know what YHWH will speak with me more."
20And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, "If the men (ish) have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall do."
21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his she-donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22And the anger of God was kindled because he was going; and the messenger of YHWH stationed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his she-donkey, and his two young men were with him.
23And the she-donkey saw the messenger of YHWH standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the she-donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the she-donkey, to turn her into the way.
24And the messenger of YHWH stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, a fence on this side, and a fence on that side.
25And the she-donkey saw the messenger of YHWH, and she pressed herself against the wall, and crushed the foot of Balaam against the wall; and he struck her again.
26And the messenger of YHWH went on further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or to the left.
27And the she-donkey saw the messenger of YHWH, and she lay down under Balaam; and the anger of Balaam was kindled, and he struck the she-donkey with the staff.
28And YHWH opened the mouth of the she-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 she-donkey, "Because you have mocked me; if only there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you."
30And the she-donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your she-donkey, upon which you have ridden from your beginning until this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No."
31And YHWH uncovered the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the messenger of YHWH standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and prostrated himself on his face.
32And the messenger of YHWH said to him, "Why have you struck your she-donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because the way is contrary before me.
33And the she-donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times; if she had not turned aside from before me, surely now I would even have killed you, and let her live."
34And Balaam said to the messenger of YHWH, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing to meet me in the way; and now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will return for myself."
35And the messenger of YHWH said to Balaam, "Go with the men (ish); but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak." And Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36And Balak heard that Balaam had come, and he went out to meet him to the city of Moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is at the edge 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 truly not able to honor you?"
38And Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you; now, am I able at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I will 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 came to pass in the morning that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and he saw from there the edge of the people.