1Then the sons of Israel set out and encamped in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan across from Jericho.
2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many; Moab was filled with loathing before the sons of Israel.
4So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this assembly will lick up all our surroundings, as the ox licks up the greenery of the field.” Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to summon him, saying: “Look, a people has come out of Egypt; look, it has covered the face of the land, and it is settling right opposite me.
6So now, please come, curse this people for me, for they are mightier than I. Perhaps I will be able to strike them and drive them out of the land, for I know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed.”
7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, with fees for divination in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back to you a word, according to what Yahweh speaks to me.” So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me:
11‘Look, the people who came out of Egypt has covered the face of the land. Now come, curse them for me; perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”
12But God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the officials of Balak, “Go to your land, for Yahweh has refused to let me go with you.”
14So the officials of Moab arose and came to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15Then Balak sent yet again officials, more numerous and more honored than these.
16They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hold you back from coming to me,
17for I will surely honor you very greatly, and whatever you say to me I will do. So please come, curse this people for me.’”
18But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak gives me his houseful of silver and gold, I could not transgress the mouth of Yahweh my God, to do anything small or great.
19Now then, please stay here also tonight, and let me learn what more Yahweh will say to me.”
20And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to summon you, rise, go with them; but only the word that I speak to you—that you shall do.”
21So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.
22But the anger of God burned because he was going, and the angel of Yahweh stationed himself in the road as 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 Yahweh stationed in the road, his sword drawn in his hand; so the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn it back to the road.
24Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
25And the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again.
26Then the angel of Yahweh went ahead again and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn aside, to the right or to the left.
27And the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh and lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with the staff.
28Then Yahweh 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 made a fool of me! If only there were a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
30And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on whom you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing this to you?” And he said, “No.”
31Then Yahweh uncovered Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head and prostrated himself on his face.
32And the angel of Yahweh said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I myself came out as an adversary, for the way is reckless before me.
33The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. Had she not turned aside from me, by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”
34And Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now then, if it is evil in your eyes, I will turn back.”
35And the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you — that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the officials of Balak.
36When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, at the edge of the territory.
37And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to honor you?”
38And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you now. Am I able at all to say 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 cattle and sheep, and sent portions to Balaam and to the officials who were with him.
41And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw the edge of the people.
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