摩押王召巴兰
以色列人起行，在摩押平原，约旦河东，对着耶利哥安营。
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2西拨的儿子巴勒看见以色列向亚摩利人所做的一切。And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3摩押因以色列百姓这么多，非常惧怕。摩押因以色列人的缘故就忧惧。And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4摩押对米甸的长老说：“现在这群人要舔尽我们四围的一切，好像牛舔尽田间的草一样。”那时，西拨的儿子巴勒作摩押王。
And Moab said 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他派使者往大河附近的毗夺去，到比珥的儿子巴兰的家乡☛“家乡”：有古译本是“亚茅人的地”。，召巴兰来，说：“看哪，有一群百姓从埃及出来；看哪，他们遮满地面，住在我的对面。He sent messengers 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现在请你来，为我诅咒这百姓，因为他们比我强大，或许我能打败他们，把他们赶出此地。因为我知道，你为谁祝福，谁就得福；你诅咒谁，谁就受诅咒。”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摩押的长老和米甸的长老手里拿着占卜的礼金到巴兰那里，将巴勒的话告诉他。And 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.
8巴兰对他们说：“今晚你们在这里过夜，我必照着耶和华向我说的话给你们答覆。”摩押的官员就在巴兰那里住下。And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9神临到巴兰那里，说：“你这里的这些人是谁？”And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10巴兰对神说：“摩押王西拨的儿子巴勒送信给我：And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11‘看哪，从埃及出来的百姓遮满了地面，现在请你来，为我诅咒他们，或许我能打败他们，把他们赶走。’”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.
12神对巴兰说：“你不可跟他们去，也不可诅咒这百姓，因为他们是蒙福的。”And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13巴兰早晨起来，对巴勒的官员说：“你们回本地去吧，因为耶和华不允许我和你们一起去。”And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14摩押的官员就起来，到巴勒那里，说：“巴兰不肯和我们一起来。”And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15巴勒又差遣比这些更多，更尊贵的官员。And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16他们来到巴兰那里，对他说：“西拨的儿子巴勒这样说：‘请你不要再推辞到我这里来！And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
17我必使你得极大的尊荣，无论你向我要什么，我都给你。只求你来为我诅咒这百姓。’”For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18巴兰回答巴勒的臣仆说：“巴勒就是将他满屋的金银给我，我也不能做任何大小的事，违背耶和华－我神的指示。And 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 LORD my God, to do less or more.
19现在请你们今晚也在这里住下，我好知道耶和华还要对我说什么。”Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
20神在夜里临到巴兰那里，说：“这些人若来求你，你就起来跟他们去吧，只是你必须照着我对你说的话去做。”巴兰和他的驴
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21巴兰早晨起来，备了驴，就和摩押的官员一同去了。And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22神因他去就怒气发作；耶和华的使者站在路中间敌对他。他骑着驴，有两个仆人跟随他。And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23驴看见耶和华的使者站在路中间，手里有拔出来的刀，就离开了路，岔入田间。巴兰就打驴，要它回到路上。And the ass saw the angel of the LORD 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.
24耶和华的使者站在葡萄园的窄路上，这边有墙，那边也有墙。But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25驴看见耶和华的使者，就往墙挤去，把巴兰的脚挤到墙上；巴兰再打驴。And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26耶和华的使者又往前去，站在狭窄的地方，那里左右都无路可转。And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27驴看见耶和华的使者，就伏在巴兰底下。巴兰怒气发作，用杖打驴。And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28耶和华使驴开口，对巴兰说：“我向你做了什么，你竟打我这三次呢？”And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29巴兰对驴说：“因为你戏弄我，我恨不得手中有刀，现在就把你杀了。”And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30驴对巴兰说：“我不是你从小直到今天所骑的驴吗？我平时有这样待过你吗？”巴兰说：“没有。”And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
31耶和华使巴兰的眼目明亮，他看见耶和华的使者站在路中间，手里有拔出来的刀；巴兰就低头俯伏下拜。Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32耶和华的使者对他说：“你为什么这三次打你的驴呢？看哪，我出来敌对你，因为这路在我面前已经偏离了。And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33驴看见我就从我面前回避了这三次；驴若没有回避我，我早把你杀了，留它存活。”And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34巴兰对耶和华的使者说：“我有罪了。我不知道你站在路中间阻挡我；现在你若看为不好，我就回去。”And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
35耶和华的使者对巴兰说：“你和这些人去吧！你只要说我对你说的话。”于是巴兰和巴勒的官员一同去了。巴勒欢迎巴兰
And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36巴勒听见巴兰来了，就到摩押的城☛“摩押的城”：原文另译“亚珥．摩押”。去迎接他；这城是在边界的亚嫩河旁。And when Balak heard 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 utmost coast.
37巴勒对巴兰说：“我不是急切地派人到你那里去召你吗？你为何不到我这里来呢？我岂不能使你得尊荣吗？”And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
38巴兰对巴勒说：“看哪，我已经到你这里来了！现在我岂能擅自说什么呢？神将什么话放在我口中，我就说什么。”And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39巴兰和巴勒同去，来到基列．胡琐。And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.
40巴勒宰了牛羊为祭物，送给巴兰和陪伴他的官员。巴兰首次预言
And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41到了早晨，巴勒领巴兰到巴末．巴力，从那里可以看到一部分以色列的百姓。And 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 part of the people.