Numbers 22

1And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan Jericho. 2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor king of the Moabites at that time. 5He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which 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: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: 6Come now therefore, I pray you, curse me this people; for they too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, we may smite them, and I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom you blessest blessed, and he whom you cursest is cursed. 7And the elders of Moab 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. 8And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Yahuah shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9And Elohim came unto Balaam, and said, What men these with you? 10And Balaam said unto Elohim, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent unto me, , 11Behold, a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. 12And Elohim said unto Balaam, you shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people: for they blessed. 13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Yahuah refuseth to give me leave to go with you. 14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 15And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray you, hinder you from coming unto me: 17For I will promote you unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever you sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray you, curse me this people. 18And 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 the Yahuah my Elohim, to do less or more. 19Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Yahuah will say unto me more. 20And Elohim came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call you, rise up, go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto you, that shall you do. 21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22And Elohim's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Yahuah stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants with him. 23And the ass saw the angel of the Yahuah 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. 24But the angel of the Yahuah stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side, and a wall on that side. 25And when the ass saw the angel of the Yahuah, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26And the angel of the Yahuah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27And when the ass saw the angel of the Yahuah, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28And the Yahuah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto you, that you hast smitten me these three times? 29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because you hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill you. 30And the ass said unto Balaam, not I your ass, upon which you hast ridden ever since your unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto you? And he said, no. 31Then the Yahuah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Yahuah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 32And the angel of the Yahuah said unto him, therefore hast you smitten your ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand you, because way is perverse before me: 33And 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. 34And Balaam said unto the angel of the Yahuah, I have sinned; for I knew not that you stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again. 35And the angel of the Yahuah said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which in the border of Arnon, which in the utmost coast. 37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto you to call you? therefore camest you not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote you to honour? 38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto you: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that Elohim putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. 39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth. 40And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that with him. 41And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost of the people.