1
And the sons of Israel journey and encamp in the plains of Moab , beyond the Jordan , [by] Jericho .
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And Balak son of Zippor seeth all that Israel hath done to the Amorite,
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and Moab is exceedingly afraid of the presence of the people, for it [is] numerous; and Moab is vexed by the presence of the sons of Israel ,
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and Moab saith unto the elders of Midian , `Now doth the assembly lick up all that is round about us , as the ox licketh up the green thing of the field .' And Balak son of Zippor [is] king of Moab at that time ,
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and he sendeth messengers unto Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which [is] by the River of the land of the sons of his people, to call for him, saying, `Lo, a people hath come out of Egypt ; lo, it hath covered the eye of the land , and it is abiding over-against me;
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and now, come, I pray thee, curse for me this people, for it [is] mightier than I; it may be I prevail -- we smite it -- and I cast it out from the land ; for I have known -- that which thou blessest is blessed , and that which thou cursest is cursed.'
7
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian go, and divinations in their hand , and they come in unto Balaam , and speak unto him the words of Balak,
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and he saith unto them, `Lodge here to-night , and I have brought you back word , as Jehovah speaketh unto me;' and the princes of Moab abide with Balaam .
9
And God cometh in unto Balaam , and saith , `Who [are] these men with thee?'
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And Balaam saith unto God , `Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab , hath sent unto me:
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Lo, the people that is coming out from Egypt and covereth the eye of the land , -- now come, pierce it for me; it may be I am able to fight against it, and have cast it out;'
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and God saith unto Balaam , `Thou dost not go with them; thou dost not curse the people; for it [is] blessed .'
13
And Balaam riseth in the morning , and saith unto the princes of Balak, `Go unto your land , for Jehovah is refusing to suffer me to Go with you;'
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and the princes of Moab rise , and come in unto Balak, and say , `Balaam is refusing to come with us .'
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And Balak addeth yet to send princes , more numerous and honoured than these,
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and they come in unto Balaam , and say to him, `Thus said Balak son of Zippor, Be not, I pray thee, withheld from coming unto me,
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for very greatly I honour thee, and all that thou sayest unto me I do; and come, I pray thee, pierce for me this people.'
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And Balaam answereth and saith unto the servants of Balak, `If Balak doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold , I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah my God , to do a little or a great thing;
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and, now, abide, I pray you, in this [place], you also, to-night ; and I know what Jehovah is adding to speak with me.'
20
And God cometh in unto Balaam , by night , and saith to him, `If to call for thee the men have come , rise , go with them, and only the thing which I speak unto thee -- it thou dost do.'
21
And Balaam riseth in the morning , and saddleth his ass, and goeth with the princes of Moab ,
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and the anger of God burneth because he is going, and a messenger of Jehovah stationeth himself in the way for an adversary to him, and he is riding on his ass, and two of his servants [are] with him,
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and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way , and his drawn sword in his hand , and the ass turneth aside out of the way , and goeth into a field , and Balaam smiteth the ass to turn it aside into the way .
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And the messenger of Jehovah standeth in a narrow path of the vineyards -- a wall on this [side ] and a wall on that --
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and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah , and is pressed unto the wall , and presseth Balaam 's foot unto the wall , and he addeth to smite her;
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and the messenger of Jehovah addeth to pass over, and standeth in a strait place where there is no way to turn aside -- right or left --
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and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah , and croucheth under Balaam , and the anger of Balaam burneth, and he smiteth the ass with a staff.
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And Jehovah openeth the mouth of the ass, and she saith to Balaam , `What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?'
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and Balaam saith to the ass, `Because thou hast rolled thyself against me; oh that there were a sword in my hand , for now I had slain thee;'
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and the ass saith unto Balaam , `Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden since [I was] thine unto this day ? have I at all been accustomed to do to thee thus?' and he saith , `No.'
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And Jehovah uncovereth the eyes of Balaam , and he seeeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way , and his drawn sword in his hand , and he boweth and doth obeisance, to his face;
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and the messenger of Jehovah saith unto him, `Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? lo, I -- I have come out for an adversary, for [thy] way hath been perverse before me,
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and the ass seeth me, and turneth aside at my presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from my presence, surely now also, thee I had slain , and her kept alive.'
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And Balaam saith unto the messenger of Jehovah , `I have sinned, for I did not know that thou [art] standing to meet me in the way ; and now, if evil in thine eyes -- I turn back by myself.'
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And the messenger of Jehovah saith unto Balaam , `Go with the men; and only the word which I speak unto thee -- it thou dost speak ;' and Balaam goeth with the princes of Balak.
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And Balak heareth that Balaam hath come , and goeth out to meet him, unto a city of Moab , which [is] on the border of Arnon, which [is] in the extremity of the border ;
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and Balak saith unto Balaam , `Did I not diligently sent unto thee to call for thee? why didst thou not come unto me? am I not truly able to honour thee?'
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And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Lo, I have come unto thee; now -- am I at all able to speak anything? the word which God setteth in my mouth -- it I do speak .'
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And Balaam goeth with Balak, and they come to Kirjath-Huzoth,
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and Balak sacrificeth oxen and sheep , and sendeth to Balaam , and to the princes who [are] with him;
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and it cometh to pass in the morning , that Balak taketh Balaam , and causeth him to go up the high places of Baal, and he seeth from thence the extremity of the people.