1 And the children of Yisrael set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moav on this side Jordan (Yarden) by Yericho.

2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Yisrael had done to the Amorites.

3 And Moav was sore afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moav was distressed because of the children of Yisrael.

4 And Moav said unto the elders of Midian, “Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moavites at that time.

5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt (Mitsrayim). Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide opposite me!

6 Please come now therefore, curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure 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 blessest is blessed, and he whom you cursest is cursed.”

7 And the elders of Moav and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

8 And he said unto them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as יהוה shall speak unto me.” And the princes of Moav abode with Balaam.

9 And God (Elohim) came unto Balaam, and said, “What men are these with you?”

10 And Balaam said unto God (Elohim), “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moav, hath sent unto me, saying,

11 ‘Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt (Mitsrayim), who covereth the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.”

12 And God (Elohim) said unto Balaam, “You shalt not go with them; you shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, “Get you into your land, for יהוה refuseth to give me leave to go with you.”

14 And the princes of Moav rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, “Balaam refuseth to come with us.”

15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming unto me;

17 For I will promote you unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever you sayest unto me. Please come therefore, curse this people for me.’”

18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of יהוה my God (Elohim), to do less or more.

19 Now therefore, please tarry you also here this night, that I may know what יהוה will say unto me more.”

20 And God (Elohim) came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, “If the men come to call you, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto you, that shalt you do.”

21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moav.

22 And God (Elohim)’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of יהוה stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

23 And the ass saw the angel of יהוה standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

24 But the angel of יהוה stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

25 And when the ass saw the angel of יהוה, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; and he smote her again.

26 And the angel of יהוה 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 when the ass saw the angel of יהוה, she fell down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

28 And יהוה opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, “What have I done unto you, that you have smitten me these three times?”

29 And Balaam said unto the ass, “Because you have mocked me. I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill you!”

30 And the ass said unto Balaam, “Am not I your ass, upon which you have ridden ever since I was yours unto this day? Was I ever been accustomed to do so unto you?” And he said, “Nay.”

31 Then יהוה opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of יהוה standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

32 And the angel of יהוה said unto him, “Wherefore have you smitten your ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand you, because your way is perverse before me.

33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times; unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain you, and saved her alive.”

34 And Balaam said unto the angel of יהוה, “I have sinned, for I knew not that you stoodest in the way against me; now therefore, if it displeases you, I will get me back again.”

35 And the angel of יהוה said unto Balaam, “Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto you, that you shalt speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moav, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.

37 And Balak said unto Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send unto you to call you? Wherefore camest you not unto me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”

38 And Balaam said unto Balak, “Lo, I am come unto you; have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God (Elohim) putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.”

39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Qiryat-Chutsot.

40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.

41 And it came to pass on the next day, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of the Bamot-Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.