4
And Moabsaid unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5
He sentmessengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is 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:
6
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
7
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midiandeparted with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you wordagain, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moababode with Balaam.
11
Behold, there is 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.
18
And Balaamanswered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his housefull of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to doless or more.
20
And Godcame unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the mencome to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
22
And God'sanger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORDstood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his twoservants were with him.
23
And the asssaw the angel of the LORDstanding in the way, and his sworddrawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaamsmote the ass, to turn her into the way.
30
And the asssaid unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I everwont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
31
Then the LORDopened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORDstanding in the way, and his sworddrawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32
And the angel of the LORDsaid unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these threetimes? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
34
And Balaamsaid unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the wayagainst me: now therefore, if it displease thee*, I will get me back again.
35
And the angel of the LORDsaid unto Balaam,Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaamwent with the princes of Balak.
36
And when Balakheard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmostcoast.
37
And Balaksaid unto Balaam, Did I not earnestlysend unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not ableindeed to promote thee to honour?
38
And Balaamsaid unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that Godputteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
41
And it came to pass on the morrow, that BalaktookBalaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.