King James Version

1 And the children of Israel traveled and camped in the plains of Moab across from Jericho. 2 And Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was very afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was overcome with fear because of the children of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now the congregation will lick up all around us like the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the river in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the eye of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me." 6 And now, please let me speak to this people, for it is too strong for me; perhaps I will be able to strike him and we will drive him out from the land, for I know what you bless is blessed, and what you curse is cursed. 7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went with diviners in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 And he said to them, "Stay here tonight, and I will bring you word, as the Lord speaks to me." And the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" 10 And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me." 11 Behold, the people who came out of Egypt now cover the eye of the land; perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out. 12 And God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." 13 And Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." 14 And the leaders of Moab rose up and went to Balak and said, "Do not let Balaam go with us." 15 And Balak continued to send numerous and honorable officials from these. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak son of Zippor: Do not let anything prevent you from going to me." 17 For I will honor you very much, and all that you say to me I will do; and please, come and let me know this people. 18 And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God to do anything small or great.” 19 And now, stay here with me this night, and I will know what more the Lord will say to me. 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall do." 21 And Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. 22 And God's anger was kindled because he was going; and the angel of the Lord stationed himself in the way as an adversary to him, and he was riding on his donkey, and his two young men were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and the donkey turned aside from the way and went into the field, and Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back to the way. 24 And the angel of the Lord stood at the crossroads of the vineyards, a fence on this side and a fence on that side. 25 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, and she pressed against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he continued to beat her. 26 And Joseph was the angel of the Lord to go through, and he stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right or to the left. 27 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord and lay down under Balaam, and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with the staff. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it 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 me; if there were a sword in my hand, I would have killed you now." 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden from your youth until this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" And he said, "No." 31 And the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way and his sword drawn in his hand, and he bowed down and prostrated himself to the ground. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to me, "Why have you struck this donkey? She has three legs. Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me." 33 And you showed me the donkey and it turned to face me, it had three legs; perhaps you turned it away from me because now I have also killed it and I have brought it back to life. 34 And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me, and now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will turn back." 35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak." And Balaam went with the officials of Balak. 36 And Balak heard that Balaam had come, and he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border of Arnon, at the edge of the border. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to honor you?" 38 And Balaam said to Balak, "Indeed, I have come to you now; am I able to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak." 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiryat Huzot. 40 And Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and sent to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. 41 And it was in the morning, and Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there the end of the people.