1 And the sons of Israel journeyed on and set up camp in the plains of Moab {Moav: neighboring territory}, beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho {Yerecho: ancient city}.
2 Balak {balak: devastator}, son of Zippor, took note of all that Israel had done to the Amorite {emori: highland people}.
3 And Moab was greatly afraid {yagar: deep dread} of the people because they were many, and Moab was sickened {quts: overwhelmed with loathing and dread} because of the sons of Israel.
4 Now Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This assembly will lick up all our surroundings {sevivoteinu: nearby territories} as the ox licks up the green {yerek: fresh growth} of the field.” At that time, Balak son of Zippor was king over Moab.
5 And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor by the river in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the land {ein: surface, expanse}, and it is dwelling across from me {mimuli: directly opposite}.”
6 And now, please go curse these people for me, because they are mightier {atzum: stronger than I} than I; perhaps I shall strike them and drive them out from the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed {yuar: put under a curse}.
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went with divination fees {kesamim: means of securing omens} in their hand. Then they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak {Balaq: Moabite king}.
8 And he said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will return a word to you as the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Voice} will speak to me.” Then the princes of Moab {sarei-moav: tribal chiefs} remained with Balaam.
9 And God {Elohim, Divine Interrogator} came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men {anashim: male persons} with you?”
10 Balaam said to God {Elohim, Oracle Provider}, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent {shalach: formal dispatch} to me."
11 Behold, the people who came out of Egypt cover the face of the land {ayin: visible surface}. Now come and curse {kabah-li: call down judgment} them for me—perhaps I will be able to fight them and drive them away.
12 And God {Elohim, Divine Commander} said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse {ta'or: pronounce harm} the people, for they are blessed.”
13 And Balaam arose in the morning and said to the officials of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD {YHWH, Divine Guide} has refused to give me permission {letitti: grant, allow} to go with you.”
14 So the princes of Moab arose and came to Balak, and they said, “Balaam has refused {me-en: resolute refusal} to go {halokh: literal movement} with us.”
15 And Balak again sent officials, more numerous {rabbim: abundant numbers} and more distinguished {nikhbadim: elevated status} than these.
16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not withhold yourself {timana: restrain} from coming to me {elai: personal summons}.’”
17 For I will surely honor you greatly {meod: exceedingly}, and I will do everything that you say to me. And now, please go and curse {kavah: pronounce judgment} for me this people.
18 And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me the fullness of his house, silver and gold, I could not transgress the command {pi: spoken will} of the LORD my God {YHWH Elohai, Supreme Authority} to do the smallest or the greatest.”
19 And now, please stay here tonight, and let me know what the LORD {YHWH, Divine Communicator} will speak {dabber: direct speech} to me.
20 And God {Elohim, Sovereign Speaker} came to Balaam by night, and He said to him, “If these men have come to summon you, rise and go with them; but only the word {davar: divine utterance} which I speak to you you shall do.”
21 And Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey {aton: riding animal}, and he went with the officials of Moab {Moav: territory east of the Jordan}.
22 And the anger of God {Elohim, Sovereign Judge} was kindled because he was going, and the angel of the LORD stationed himself in the way to oppose {lisṭān: adversary} him. He was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Messenger} standing in the road, and his sword {cherev: weapon of judgment} was drawn in his hand. The donkey turned aside from the road and went into the field, and Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back to the road.
24 And the angel {malʼâkh: divine messenger} of the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Guide} stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
25 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD {YHWH, Heavenly Guardian}, and she pressed herself against the wall, and she pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, and he struck {hakkotah: forceful strike} her again.
26 And the angel of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Guardian} continued on and stood in a narrow place {maqom: confined passage}, where there was no way to turn right or left.
27 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Messenger}, and she lay down under Balaam; then Balaam’s anger {af: flaring wrath} was kindled, and he struck the donkey with the staff.
28 And the LORD {YHWH, Divine Speaker} opened the mouth {pi: speaking organ} of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked {hitʿallalt: treated me cruelly} me, if only there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed {haragtikh: utterly struck down} you.”
30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey {atonkha: personal animal}, which you have ridden upon me from your beginnings {meodkha: since your existence} until this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do thus for you?” And he said, “No.”
31 And the LORD {YHWH, Divine Revealer} uncovered the eyes {einei: perceptive faculties} of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword was drawn in his hand. Then he bowed down and prostrated himself upon his face.
32 The angel of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Messenger} said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey {aton: female donkey} these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary because the way has become perverse before me.”
33 The donkey saw {ra’ah: perceived with understanding} me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from before me, surely by now I would have killed you, and I would have kept her alive {hecheyeti: spared from death}.
34 And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD {YHWH, Judgment Messenger}, "I have sinned {khatati: acknowledged guilt}, for I did not know that you were standing to meet me on the road. Now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will turn back."
35 The angel of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Commander} said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word {davar: declared message} that I speak to you; you shall speak it.” So Balaam went with Balak’s princes.
36 And Balak heard that Balaam had come, and he went out to meet him at the city of Moab {Moav: Transjordan region}, which is on the border of Arnon, which is at the edge of the territory {gevul: boundary line}.
37 And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not surely send to summon {liqro: urgent call} you? Why did you not come to me? Indeed, am I not able to honor {kabdeka: grant esteem} you?”
38 And Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you now. Am I truly able{yakhol: to have capability} to speak anything at all? The word that God{Elohim, Sovereign Controller} puts in my mouth, that I will speak.”
39 And Balaam {bilam: non-Israelite seer} went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth {qiryat chutzot: settlement name}.
40 And Balak {Balak: Moabite king} sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he sent {vayishlach: formal dispatch} portions to Balaam and to the officials who were with him.
41 And it happened in the morning that Balak took Bilaam and brought him up to the high places {bamot: cultic hilltops} of Baal; and from there he saw the edge {ketzeh: outermost boundary} of the people.