Balak Sends For Balaam
1Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab. They camped along the Jordan River across from Jericho.
2Balak saw everything that Israel had done to the Amorites. Balak was the son of Zippor. 3The Moabites were terrified because there were so many Israelites. In fact, the Moabites were filled with panic because of the Israelites.
4The Moabites spoke to the elders of Midian. They said, “This huge mob is going to destroy everything around us. They’ll lick it up as an ox licks up all the grass in the fields.”
Balak, the son of Zippor, was the king of Moab at that time. 5He sent messengers to get Balaam. Balaam was the son of Beor. Balaam was at the city of Pethor near the Euphrates River. Pethor was in the land where Balaam had been born. Balak told the messengers to say to Balaam,
“A nation has come out of Egypt. They are covering the face of the land. They’ve set up camp next to me. 6So come and put a curse on these people. They are too powerful for me. Maybe I’ll be able to win the battle over them. Maybe I’ll be able to drive them out of the land. I know that whoever you bless is blessed. And I know that whoever you cursed is cursed.”
7The elders of Moab and Midian left. They took with them the money they knew Balaam would ask for. They wanted him to use evil magic to figure things out for them. They came to where Balaam was. And they told him what Balak had said.
8“Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them. “I’ll report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9God came to Balaam. He asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10Balaam said to God, “Balak king of Moab, the son of Zippor, sent me a message. 11He said, ‘A nation has come out of Egypt. They are covering the whole surface of the land. So come and put a curse on them for me. Maybe I’ll be able to fight them. Maybe I’ll be able to drive them away.’ ”
12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people. I have blessed them.”
13The next morning Balaam got up. He said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country. The Lord won’t let me go with you.”
14So the Moabite officials returned to Balak. They said, “Balaam wouldn’t come with us.”
15Then Balak sent other officials. They were more important than the first ones. And there were more of them. 16They came to Balaam. They said,
“Balak, the son of Zippor, says, ‘Don’t let anything keep you from coming to me. 17I’ll make you very rich. I’ll do anything you say. So come and put a curse on those people for me.’ ”
18But Balaam gave them his answer. He said, “Balak could give me all the silver and gold in his palace. Even then, I still couldn’t do anything at all that goes beyond what the Lord my God commands. 19Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”
20That night God came to Balaam. He said, “These men have come to get you. So go with them. But do only what I tell you to do.”
Balaam’s Donkey
21Balaam got up in the morning. He put a saddle on his donkey. Then he went with the Moabite officials. 22But God was very angry when Balaam went. So the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey. His two servants were with him. 23The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road. The angel was holding a sword. He was ready for battle. So the donkey left the road and went into a field. Balaam hit the donkey. He wanted to get it back on the road.
24Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path. The path went through the vineyards. There were walls on both sides. 25The donkey saw the angel of the Lord. So it moved close to the wall. It crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he hit the donkey again.
26Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead. He stood in a narrow place. There was no room to turn, either right or left. 27The donkey saw the angel of the Lord. So it lay down under Balaam. That made him angry. He hit the donkey with his walking stick. 28Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth. It said to Balaam, “What have I done to you? Why did you hit me these three times?”
29Balaam answered the donkey. He said, “You have made me look foolish! I wish I had a sword in my hand. If I did, I’d kill you right now.”
30The donkey said to Balaam, “I’m your own donkey. I’m the one you have always ridden. Haven’t you been riding me to this very day? Have I ever made you look foolish before?”
“No,” he said.
31Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes. He saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road. He saw that the angel was holding a sword. The angel was ready for battle. So Balaam bowed down. He fell with his face to the ground.
32The angel of the Lord spoke to him. He asked him, “Why have you hit your donkey three times? I have come here to oppose you. What you are doing is foolish. 33The donkey saw me. It turned away from me three times. Suppose it had not turned away. Then I would certainly have killed you by now. But I would have spared the donkey.”
34Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Tell me whether you are pleased with me. If you aren’t, I’ll go back.”
35The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men. But say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
36Balak heard that Balaam was coming. So he went out to meet him. They met at a Moabite town near the Arnon River. The town was on the border of Balak’s territory. 37Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I send messengers to you? I wanted you to come quickly. So why didn’t you come? I can make you very rich.”
38“Well, I’ve come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I can only speak the words God puts in my mouth.”
39Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep. He gave some to Balaam. He also gave some to the officials with him. 41The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal. From there he could see the outer edges of the Israelite camp.
Balaki ránṣẹ́ sí Balaamu
122.1: Nu 33.48.Nígbà náà àwọn ọmọ Israẹli rin ìrìnàjò lọ sí pẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀ Moabu wọ́n sì pa ibùdó lẹ́gbẹ̀ẹ́ Jordani tí ó kọjá lọ sí Jeriko.
2Nísinsin yìí, Balaki ọmọ Sippori rí gbogbo ohun tí àwọn Israẹli ti ṣe sí àwọn ará Amori, 3ẹ̀rù sì ba Moabu nítorí pé ọ̀pọ̀ ènìyàn wà níbẹ̀ nítòótọ́, Moabu kún fún ẹ̀rù nítorí àwọn ọmọ Israẹli.
4Moabu sọ fún àwọn àgbàgbà Midiani pé, “Nísinsin yìí ni àwọn wọ̀nyí yóò lá gbogbo ohun tí ó yí wa ká, bí màlúù ṣe ń jẹ koríko tí ó wà nínú oko.”
Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni Balaki ọmọ Sippori, tí ó jẹ́ ọba Moabu nígbà náà, 5rán oníṣẹ́ pé Balaamu ọmọ Beori, tí ó wà ní Petori, ní ẹ̀bá odò Eufurate, ti ilẹ̀ àwọn ènìyàn rẹ. Balaki sọ pé:
“Àwọn ènìyàn kan jáde wá láti Ejibiti; wọ́n bo gbogbo ilẹ̀ ayé wọ́n sì pa ibùdó súnmọ́ ọ̀dọ̀ mi. 6Nísinsin yìí, wá fi àwọn ènìyàn wọ̀nyí bú, nítorí wọ́n ní agbára jù fún mi. Nípa ṣíṣe èyí èmi ó ṣẹ́gun wọn, kí n sì lé wọn kúrò ní ilẹ̀ yìí. Nítorí tí mo mọ̀ pé ìbùkún ni fún àwọn tí ìwọ bá bùkún, ìfibú sì ni ẹni tí ìwọ bá fi bú.”
7Àti àwọn àgbàgbà Moabu àti Midiani sì lọ pẹ̀lú owó àyẹ̀wò lọ́nà wọn, Nígbà tí wọ́n dé ọ̀dọ̀ Balaamu, wọ́n sọ nǹkan tí Balaki sọ fún wọn.
8“Ẹ sùn níbí lálẹ́ yìí” Balaamu sọ fún un pé, “Èmi ó padà wá fún un yín ní èsì nǹkan tí Olúwa bá wí fún mi.” Nítorí tí àwọn ìjòyè Moabu dúró sọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀.
9Ọlọ́run tọ Balaamu wá ó sì wí pé, “Ta ni àwọn ọkùnrin tí ó wà pẹ̀lú rẹ yìí?”
10Balaamu sọ fún Ọlọ́run pé, “Balaki ọmọ Sippori, ọba Moabu, rán iṣẹ́ yìí sí mi pé: 11‘Àwọn ènìyàn kan ti ilẹ̀ Ejibiti jáde wá tí wọ́n bo ojú ilẹ̀. Nísinsin yìí, wá, kí o wá fi wọ́n bú fún mi. Bóyá Èmi yóò lè bá wọn jà, èmi ó sì lé wọn jáde.’ ”
12Ṣùgbọ́n Ọlọ́run sọ fún Balaamu pé, “Má ṣe bá wọn lọ. Ìwọ kò gbọdọ̀ gé ègún lé àwọn ènìyàn náà lórí, nítorí a ti bùkún wọn.”
13Ní òwúrọ̀ ọjọ́ kejì Balaamu dìde ó sì sọ fún àwọn ìjòyè Balaki pé, “Ẹ padà sí orílẹ̀-èdè yín, nítorí tí Olúwa ti kọ̀ láti jẹ́ kí n tẹ̀lé yín.”
14Nígbà náà àwọn ìjòyè Moabu sì padà tọ Balaki lọ wọ́n sì wí pé, “Balaamu kọ̀ láti tẹ̀lé wa.”
15Nígbà náà Balaki rán àwọn ìjòyè mìíràn tí wọ́n pọ̀ àwọn tí wọ́n sì níyì ju alákọ́kọ́ lọ. 16Wọ́n lọ sí ọ̀dọ̀ Balaamu wọ́n sì sọ pé:
“Èyí ni ohun tí Balaki ọmọ Sippori sọ: Má ṣe jẹ́ kí ohunkóhun kí ó dè ọ́ lọ́nà láti wá sí ọ̀dọ̀ mi, 17Nítorí pé èmi yóò fún ọ ní ẹ̀bùn dáradára, èmi yóò sì ṣe ohunkóhun tí ìwọ bá sọ. Wá, kí o sì wá fi àwọn ènìyàn wọ̀nyí bú fún mi.”
18Ṣùgbọ́n Balaamu dá wọn lóhùn pé, “Kódà tí Balaki bá fún mi ní ààfin rẹ̀ tí ó kún fún fàdákà àti wúrà, èmi kò ní ṣe ohunkóhun tí ó tóbi tàbí kéré tí ó kọjá òfin Olúwa Ọlọ́run mi. 19Nísinsin yìí ẹ dúró níbí di ọjọ́ kejì gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwọn tókù ti ṣe nígbà náà èmi yóò mọ ohun tí Olúwa yóò tún sọ fún mi.”
20Ní alẹ́ ọjọ́ náà Ọlọ́run sì tọ Balaamu wá ó sì sọ wí pé, “Nígbà tí ọkùnrin yìí ti wá pè ọ́, lọ pẹ̀lú wọn, ṣùgbọ́n ẹnu nǹkan tí mo sọ fún ọ ni kí o ṣe.”
Kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ Balaamu
21Balaamu dìde ní òwúrọ̀, ó sì di ẹrù lé kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rẹ̀ òun pẹ̀lú àwọn ìjòyè Moabu. 22Ṣùgbọ́n Ọlọ́run bínú gidigidi, angẹli Olúwa sì dúró lójú ọ̀nà láti dojú ìjà kọ ọ́. Balaamu ń gun kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rẹ̀ lọ, àwọn ìránṣẹ́ rẹ̀ méjì sì wà pẹ̀lú rẹ̀. 23Nígbà tí kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ náà sì rí angẹli Olúwa tí ó dúró ní ojú ọ̀nà pẹ̀lú idà tí a fàyọ ní ọwọ́ rẹ̀, ó kọjú kúrò ní ọ̀nà lọ sínú oko. Balaamu sì lù ú pé kí ó gbé òhun padà lọ sí ojú ọ̀nà.
24Nígbà náà angẹli Olúwa dúró ní ojú ọ̀nà tóóró láàrín ọgbà àjàrà, pẹ̀lú ògiri ní ọ̀nà méjèèjì. 25Nígbà tí kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rí angẹli Olúwa, ó lẹ̀ mọ́ ẹ̀gbẹ́ ògiri, ó sì rún ẹsẹ̀ Balaamu mọ́ ògiri. Nígbà náà, ó tún nà án, lẹ́ẹ̀kan sí i.
26Nígbà náà angẹli Olúwa súnmọ́ wájú ó sì dúró níbi ọ̀nà tóóró níbi tí kò ti sí ọ̀nà láti yípadà, bóyá ní ọ̀tún tàbí òsì. 27Nígbà tí kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rí angẹli Olúwa, ó sì jókòó ní abẹ́ Balaamu, inú sì bí i tó sì nà án pẹ̀lú ọ̀pá rẹ̀. 28Nígbà náà Olúwa ṣí ẹnu kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́, ó sì sọ fún Balaamu pé, “Kí ni mo ṣe fún ọ tí o fi nà mí lẹ́ẹ̀mẹ́ta?”
29Balaamu sọ fún kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ pé, “Nítorí ìwọ fi mí ṣẹ̀sín! Bí mo bá ní idà ní ọwọ́ ni èmi ìbá pa ọ́ nísinsin yìí.”
30Kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ sọ fún Balaamu pé, “Ṣé mi kì í ṣe kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rẹ ni, tí o máa ń gùn ní gbogbo ìgbà, láti ìgbà pípẹ́ wá? Ǹjẹ́ mo hu irú ìwà báyìí sí ọ rí?”
“Rárá,” Ó dáhùn.
31Nígbà náà Olúwa ṣí ojú Balaamu, ó sì rí angẹli Olúwa tí ó dúró ní ojú ọ̀nà pẹ̀lú idà rẹ̀ tí ó fàyọ. Ó sì tẹ orí rẹ̀ ba.
32Nígbà náà angẹli Olúwa béèrè lọ́wọ́ rẹ̀ pé, “Kí ni ó dé tí o fi na kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rẹ nígbà mẹ́ta yìí? Mo wá síbí láti kọ ojú ìjà sí ọ nítorí ọ̀nà rẹ kò tọ́ níwájú mi. 33Kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ rí mi ó sì yà kúrò fún mi lẹ́ẹ̀mẹ́ta yìí. Tí ó bá jẹ́ wí pé kò yà kúrò. Èmi kì ìbá ti pa ọ́ pátápátá nísinsin yìí, ṣùgbọ́n Èmi yóò sì dá òun sí.”
34Balaamu sọ fún angẹli Olúwa pé, “Mo ti dẹ́ṣẹ̀, èmi kò mọ̀ pé o dúró níwájú ọ̀nà láti dojúkọ mí, Nísinsin yìí tí inú rẹ kò bá dùn, èmi ó padà.”
35Angẹli Olúwa sọ fún Balaamu pé, “Lọ pẹ̀lú àwọn arákùnrin náà, ṣùgbọ́n nǹkan tí mo sọ fún ọ nìkan ni kí o sọ.” Nígbà náà Balaamu lọ pẹ̀lú àwọn ìjòyè Balaki.
36Nígbà tí Balaki gbọ́ pé Balaamu ń bọ̀ wá, ó jáde lọ láti lọ pàdé rẹ̀ ní ìlú Moabu tí ó wà ní agbègbè Arnoni, ní ẹ̀gbẹ́ ilẹ̀ rẹ̀. 37Balaki sì sọ fún Balaamu pé, “Ǹjẹ́ èmi kò a ránṣẹ́ kánjúkánjú sí ọ? Kí ló dé tí ìwọ kò fi wá sí ọ̀dọ̀ mi? Ṣé èmi kò tó láti sọ ọ́ di ẹni ńlá?”
38Balaamu sì wí fún Balaki pé “Kíyèsi, èmi tọ̀ ọ́ wá, èmi kò ha ní agbára kan nísinsin yìí rárá láti wí ohun kan? Mo gbọdọ̀ sọ nǹkan tí Ọlọ́run fi sí mi lẹ́nu.”
39Nígbà náà Balaamu lọ pẹ̀lú Balaki sí Kiriati-Hosotia. 40Balaki rú ẹbọ akọ màlúù pẹ̀lú àgùntàn, ó sì fún Balaamu ní díẹ̀ pẹ̀lú àwọn ìjòyè tí ó wà ní ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ̀. 41Ní òwúrọ̀ ọjọ́ kejì Balaki gbé Balaamu lọ sí Bamoti Baali, láti ibẹ̀ ló ti rí apá kan àwọn ènìyàn.
