1 And the sons of Israel journeyed and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan, by Jericho. 2 And Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorite, 3 and Moab was exceedingly afraid of the presence of the people, for it was numerous. And Moab was distressed by the presence of the sons of Israel, 4 and Moab said to the elderly of Midian, “Now the assembly will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the green thing 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, to Pethor, which was by the River of the land of the sons of his people, to call for him, saying, “Look, a people have come out of Egypt. Look, it have covered the eye of the land, and it are abiding in front of me. 6 And now, come, please curse this people for me, for it are mightier than I. It may be I prevail, and we strike it, and I throw it out from the land. For I know that which you bless is blessed, and that which you curse is cursed.” 7 And the elderly of Moab and the elderly of Midian went with divinations in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke the words of Balak to him, 8 and he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring you back word, as YHWH speaks to me.” And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me: 11 Look, the people that are coming out from Egypt and cover the eye of the land—now come, pierce it for me. It may be I am able to fight against it and throw it out.” 12 And God said to Balaam, “You will not go with them. You will not curse the people, for it are blessed.” 13 And Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land, for YHWH is refusing to permit me to go with you.” 14 And the princes of Moab rose, and came to Balak, and said, “Balaam is refusing to come with us.” 15 And Balak continued yet to send princes, more numerous and honored than these, 16 and they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus said Balak son of Zippor: Please do not be withheld from coming to me, 17 for I honor you very greatly, and all that you say to me I do. And come, please pierce this people for me.” 18 And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “If Balak gives to me the fullness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of my God YHWH, to do a little or a great thing. 19 And now, please abide in this place, you also, tonight, then I will know what YHWH is continuing to speak with me.” 20 And God came to Balaam by night and said to him, “If the men have come to call for you, rise, go with them, and only the thing which I speak to you—do it.” 21 And Balaam rose in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab, 22 And the anger of God burned because he was going, and the Messenger of YHWH stationed Himself in the way for an adversary to him, and he was riding on his donkey, and two of his servants were with him, 23 and the donkey saw the Messenger of YHWH standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into a field, and Balaam struck the donkey to turn it aside into the way. 24 And the Messenger of YHWH stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side, 25 and the donkey saw the Messenger of YHWH, and was pressed to the wall, and pressed Balaam’s foot to the wall, and he continued to strike her. 26 and the Messenger of YHWH continued on to pass over, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn aside to the right or left, 27 and the donkey saw the Messenger of YHWH, and crouched under Balaam, and the anger of Balaam burned, and he struck the donkey with a staff. 28 And YHWH opened the mouth of the donkey, and she 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 rolled yourself against me. Oh that there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden since I became yours, even to this day? Have I at all been accustomed to do thus to you?” And he said, “No.” 31 And YHWH uncovered the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Messenger of YHWH standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and he bowed and payed respect, to his face. 32 And the Messenger of YHWH said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come out for an adversary, for your way has been perverse before Me, 33 and the donkey saw Me and turned aside at My presence these three times. Unless she had turned aside from My presence, surely I would also kill you now, and keep her alive.” 34 And Balaam said to the Messenger of YHWH, “I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing to meet me in the way. And now, if it is evil in Your eyes, I will turn back by myself.” 35 And the Messenger of YHWH said to Balaam, “Go with the men. And only the word which I speak to you—it you speak.” And Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 And Balak heard that Balaam had come, and went out to meet him, to a city of Moab, which was on the border of Arnon, which was in the extremity of the border. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not diligently send to you to call for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not truly able to honor you?” 38 And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able to speak anything at all? The word which God sets in my mouth—it I speak.” 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath-Huzoth, 40 and Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. 41 And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam and causes him to go up to the high places of Ba‘al, and he saw the extremity of the people from there.