1Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan [opposite] Jericho.
1以色列人起行，在摩押平原、約但河東，對著耶利哥安營。
2Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
2以色列人向亞摩利人所行的一切事，西撥的兒子巴勒都看見了。
3So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel.
3摩押人因以色列民甚多，就大大懼怕，心內憂急，
4Moab said to the elders of Midian, 'Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.' And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
4對米甸的長老說：現在這眾人要把我們四圍所有的一概餂盡，就如牛餂盡田間的草一般。那時西撥的兒子巴勒作摩押王。
5So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, [in] the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, 'Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.
5他差遣使者往大河邊的毘奪去，到比珥的兒子巴蘭本鄉那裡，召巴蘭來，說：有一宗民從埃及出來，遮滿地面，與我對居。
6'Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.'
6這民比我強盛，現在求你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能得勝，攻打他們，趕出此地。因為我知道，你為誰祝福，誰就得福；你咒詛誰，誰就受咒詛。
7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the [fees for] divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's words to him.
7摩押的長老和米甸的長老手裡拿著卦金，到了巴蘭那裡，將巴勒的話都告訴了他。
8He said to them, 'Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me.' And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.
8巴蘭說：你們今夜在這裡住宿，我必照耶和華所曉諭我的回報你們。摩押的使臣就在巴蘭那裡住下了。
9Then God came to Balaam and said, 'Who are these men with you?'
9神臨到巴蘭那裡，說：在你這裡的人都是誰？
10Balaam said to God, 'Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent [word] to me,
10巴蘭回答說：是摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒打發人到我這裡來，說：
11'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.''
11從埃及出來的民遮滿地面，你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能與他們爭戰，把他們趕出去。
12God said to Balaam, 'Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.'
12神對巴蘭說：你不可同他們去，也不可咒詛那民，因為那民是蒙福的。
13So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, 'Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.'
13巴蘭早晨起來，對巴勒的使臣說：你們回本地去罷，因為耶和華不容我和你們同去。
14The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, 'Balaam refused to come with us.'
14摩押的使臣就起來，回巴勒那裡去，說：巴蘭不肯和我們同來。
15Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former.
15巴勒又差遣使臣，比先前的又多又尊貴。
16They came to Balaam and said to him, 'Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me;
16他們到了巴蘭那裡，對他說：西撥的兒子巴勒這樣說：求你不容甚麼事攔阻你不到我這裡來，
17for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.''
17因為我必使你得極大的尊榮。你向我要甚麼，我就給你甚麼；只求你來為我咒詛這民。
18Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, 'Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God.
18巴蘭回答巴勒的臣僕說：巴勒就是將他滿屋的金銀給我，我行大事小事也不得越過耶和華─我神的命。
19'Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me.'
19現在我請你們今夜在這裡住宿，等我得知耶和華還要對我說甚麼。
20God came to Balaam at night and said to him, 'If the men have come to call you, rise up [and] go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.'
20當夜，神臨到巴蘭那裡，說：這些人若來召你，你就起來同他們去，你只要遵行我對你所說的話。
21So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.
21巴蘭早晨起來，備上驢，和摩押的使臣一同去了。
22But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.
22神因他去就發了怒；耶和華的使者站在路上敵擋他。他騎著驢，有兩個僕人跟隨他。
23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way.
23驢看見耶和華的使者站在路上，手裡有拔出來的刀，就從路上跨進田間，巴蘭便打驢，要叫他回轉上路。
24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, [with] a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
24耶和華的使者就站在葡萄園的窄路上；這邊有牆，那邊也有牆。
25When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again.
25驢看見耶和華的使者，就貼靠牆，將巴蘭的腳擠傷了；巴蘭又打驢。
26The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left.
26耶和華的使者又往前去，站在狹窄之處，左右都沒有轉折的地方。
27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick.
27驢看見耶和華的使者，就臥在巴蘭底下，巴蘭發怒，用杖打驢。
28And the LORD 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?'
28耶和華叫驢開口，對巴蘭說：我向你行了甚麼，你竟打我這三次呢？
29Then Balaam said to the donkey, 'Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.'
29巴蘭對驢說：因為你戲弄我，我恨不能手中有刀，把你殺了。
30The donkey said to Balaam, 'Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?' And he said, 'No.'
30驢對巴蘭說：我不是你從小時直到今日所騎的驢麼？我素常向你這樣行過麼？巴蘭說：沒有。
31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.
31當時，耶和華使巴蘭的眼目明亮，他就看見耶和華的使者站在路上，手裡有拔出來的刀，巴蘭便低頭俯伏在地。
32The angel of the LORD said to him, 'Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me.
32耶和華的使者對他說：你為何這三次打你的驢呢？我出來敵擋你，因你所行的，在我面前偏僻。
33'But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.'
33驢看見我就三次從我面前偏過去；驢若沒有偏過去，我早把你殺了，留他存活。
34Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, 'I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.'
34巴蘭對耶和華的使者說：我有罪了。我不知道你站在路上阻擋我；你若不喜歡我去，我就轉回。
35But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, 'Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.' So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.
35耶和華的使者對巴蘭說：你同這些人去罷！你只要說我對你說的話。於是巴蘭同著巴勒的使臣去了。
36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, at the extreme end of the border.
36巴勒聽見巴蘭來了，就往摩押京城去迎接他；這城是在邊界上，在亞嫩河旁。
37Then Balak said to Balaam, 'Did I not urgently send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor you?'
37巴勒對巴蘭說：我不是急急的打發人到你那裡去召你麼？你為何不到我這裡來呢？我豈不能使你得尊榮麼？
38So Balaam said to Balak, 'Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.'
38巴蘭說：我已經到你這裡來了！現在我豈能擅自說甚麼呢？神將甚麼話傳給我，我就說甚麼。
39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
39巴蘭和巴勒同行，來到基列胡瑣。
40Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent [some] to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
40巴勒宰了（原文作獻）牛羊，送給巴蘭和陪伴的使臣。
41Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there a portion of the people.
41到了早晨，巴勒領巴蘭到巴力的高處；巴蘭從那裡觀看以色列營的邊界。