¹The children of Israel travelled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho .

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

³Moab was very afraid of the people , because they were many . Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel .

⁴Moab said to the elders of Midian , “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us , as the ox licks up the grass of the field .”

Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time .

⁵He 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 , there is a people who came out of Egypt . Behold , they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me .

⁶Please come now therefore , and curse this people for me ; for they are too mighty for me . Perhaps I shall prevail , that we may strike 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 .”

⁷The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand . They came to Balaam , and spoke to him the words of Balak .

⁸He said to them , “Lodge here this night , and I will bring you word again , as the LORD shall speak to me .” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam .

⁹God came to Balaam , and said, “Who are these men with you ?”

¹⁰Balaam said to God , “Balak the son of Zippor , king of Moab , has said to me ,

¹¹‘Behold , the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now , come curse them for me . Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them , and shall drive them out .’”

¹²God said to Balaam , “You shall not go with them . You shall not curse the people , for they are blessed .”

¹³Balaam rose up in the morning , and said to the princes of Balak , “Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you .”

¹⁴The princes of Moab rose up , and they went to Balak , and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us .”

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

¹⁶They came to Balaam , and said to him , “Balak the son of Zippor says , ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me ,

¹⁷for I will promote you to very great honour , and whatever you say to me I will do . Please come therefore , and curse this people for me .’”

¹⁸Balaam answered the servants of Balak , “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold , I can ’t go beyond the word of the LORD my God , to do less or more .

¹⁹Now therefore please stay here tonight as well , that I may know what else the LORD will speak to me .”

²⁰God 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 .”

²¹Balaam rose up in the morning , and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab .

²²God ’s anger burnt because he went ; and the LORD ’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him . Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him .

²³The donkey saw the LORD ’s angel standing in the way , with his sword drawn in his hand ; and the donkey turned out of the path , and went into the field . Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path .

²⁴Then the LORD ’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards , a wall being on this side , and a wall on that side .

²⁵The donkey saw the LORD ’s angel , and she thrust herself to the wall , and crushed Balaam ’s foot against the wall . He struck her again .

²⁶The LORD ’s angel went further , and stood in a narrow place , where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left .

²⁷The donkey saw the LORD ’s angel , and she lay down under Balaam . Balaam ’s anger burnt, and he struck the donkey with his staff .

²⁸The LORD 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 ?”

²⁹Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me , I wish there were a sword in my hand , for now I would have killed you .”

³⁰The donkey said to Balaam , “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today ? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you ?”

He said, “No .”

³¹Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam , and he saw the LORD ’s angel standing in the way , with his sword drawn in his hand ; and he bowed his head , and fell on his face .

³²The LORD ’s angel said to him , “Why have you struck your donkey these three times ? Behold , I have come out as an adversary , because your way is perverse before me .

³³The donkey saw me , and turned away before me these three times . Unless she had turned away from me , surely now I would have killed you , and saved her alive .”

³⁴Balaam said to the LORD ’s angel , “I have sinned ; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me . Now therefore , if it displeases you , I will go back again .”

³⁵The LORD ’s angel said to Balaam , “Go with the men ; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you .”

So Balaam went with the princes of Balak .

³⁶When Balak heard that Balaam had come , he went out to meet him to the City of Moab , which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border .

³⁷Balak said to Balaam , “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you ? Why didn’t you come to me ? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honour ?”

³⁸Balaam said to Balak , “Behold , I have come to you . Have I now any power at all to speak anything ? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth .”

³⁹Balaam went with Balak , and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.

⁴⁰Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep , and sent to Balaam , and to the princes who were with him .

⁴¹In the morning , Balak took Balaam , and brought him up into the high places of Baal ; and he saw from there part of the people .