Numbers Chapter 22
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
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And there was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
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And the people strove with Moses, and spake, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!
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And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?
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And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
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And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces: and the glory of Jehovah appeared unto them.
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And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
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Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink.
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And Moses took the rod from before Jehovah, as he commanded him.
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And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?
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And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.
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And Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.
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These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Jehovah, and he was sanctified in them.
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And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
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how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:
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and when we cried unto Jehovah, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border.
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Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells; we will go along the king’s highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.
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And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.
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And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without
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doing anything
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else, pass through on my feet.
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And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
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Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
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And they journeyed from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto mount Hor.
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And Jehovah spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,
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Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.
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Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor;
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and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered
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unto his people, and shall die there.
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And Moses did as Jehovah commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
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And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
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And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
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And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.
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And Israel vowed a vow unto Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.
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And Jehovah hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and the name of the place was called Hormah.
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And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
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And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
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And Jehovah sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
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And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Jehovah, and against thee; pray unto Jehovah, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
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And Jehovah said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a standard: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live.
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And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the standard: and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived.
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And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in Oboth.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho.
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And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
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And Moab was much afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
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And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this company lick up all that is round about us, as an ox licks up the green herb of the field. Now Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
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And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is on the river in the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people is come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the land, and they abide over against me.
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And now come, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are mightier than I: perhaps I may be able to smite them, and drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
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And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed, having the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
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And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, according as Jehovah shall speak unto me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
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AndGod came to Balaam, and said, Who are these men with thee?
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And Balaam said toGod, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me,
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Behold, a people is come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the land. Now come, curse me them: perhaps I may be able to fight against them, and drive them out.
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AndGod said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.
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And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go into your land; for Jehovah refuses to give me leave to go with you.
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And the princes of Moab rose up; and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam has refused to come with us.
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Then sent Balak yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
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And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Suffer not thyself, I pray thee, to be restrained from coming to me;
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for very highly will I honour thee, and whatever thou shalt say to me will I do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
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And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah myGod, to do less or more.
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And now, I pray you, abide ye also here this night, and I shall know what Jehovah will say to me further.
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ThenGod came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men have come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but only what I shall say unto thee shalt thou do.
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And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
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AndGod's anger was kindled because he went; and the Angel of Jehovah set himself in the way to withstand him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two young men were with him.
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And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah 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.
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And the Angel of Jehovah stood in a hollow of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
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And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and she pressed herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.
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Then the Angel of Jehovah went still further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
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And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.
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And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
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And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee!
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And the ass said to Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine to this day? was I ever wont to do so to thee? And he said, No.
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Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed and prostrated himself on his face.
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And the Angel of Jehovah said to him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, it was I who came forth to withstand thee, for the way [thou walkest in] is for ruin before me.
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And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times; had she not turned from me, I had now certainly slain thee, and saved her alive.
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And Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; and now, if it be evil in thine eyes, I will get me back again.
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And the Angel of Jehovah said to Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak. And Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
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And when Balak heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him, to the city of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is at the extremity of the border.
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And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to thee to call thee? why didst thou not come to me? am I not surely able to honour thee?
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And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to thee; but shall I now be able at all to say anything? the word thatGod puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
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And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath-huzoth.
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And Balak offered oxen and small cattle, and sent to Balaam and to the princes that were with him.
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And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from thence the extremity of the people.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
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And the children of Israel departed, and encamped on the west of Moab by Jordan toward Jericho.
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And when Balac son of Sepphor saw all that Israel did to the Amorite,
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then Moab feared the people exceedingly because they were many; and Moab was grieved before the face of the children of Israel.
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And Moab said to the elders of Madiam, Now shall this assembly lick up all that are round about us, as a calf would lick up the green [herbs] of the field:—and Balac son of Sepphor was king of Moab at that time.
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And he sent ambassadors to Balaam the son of Beor, to Phathura, which is on a river of the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people is come out of Egypt, and behold it has covered the face of the earth, and it has encamped close to me.
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And now come, curse me this people, for it is stronger than we; if we may be able to smite some of them, and I will cast them out of the land: for I know that whomsoever thou dost bless, they are blessed, and whomsoever thou dost curse, they are cursed.
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And the elders of Moab went, and the elders of Madiam, and their divining [instruments were] in their hands; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balac.
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And he said to them, Tarry here the night, and I will answer you the things which the Lord shall say to me; and the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
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And God came to Balaam, and said to him, Who are these men with thee?
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And Balaam said to God, Balac son of Sepphor, king of Moab, sent them to me, saying,
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Behold, a people has come forth out of Egypt, and has covered the face of the land, and it has encamped near to me; and now come, curse it for me, if indeed I shall be able to smite it, and cast it out of the land.
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And God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them, neither shalt thou curse the people; for they are blessed.
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And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balac, Depart quickly to your lord; God does not permit me to go with you.
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And the princes of Moab rose, and came to Balac, and said, Balaam will not come with us.
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And Balac yet again sent more princes and more honourable than they.
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And they came to Balaam, and they say to him, Thus says Balac the son of Sepphor: I beseech thee, delay not to come to me.
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For I will greatly honour thee, and will do for thee whatsoever thou shalt say; come then, curse me this people.
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And Balaam answered and said to the princes of Balac, If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I shall not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord God, to make it little or great in my mind.
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And now do ye also tarry here this night, and I shall know what the Lord will yet say to me.
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And God came to Balaam by night, and said to him, If these men are come to call thee, rise and follow them; nevertheless the word which I shall speak to thee, it shalt thou do.
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And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
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And God was very angry because he went; and the angel of the Lord rose up to withstand him. Now he had mounted his ass, and his two servants were with him.
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And when the ass saw the angel of God standing opposite in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, then the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and [Balaam] smote the ass with his staff to direct her in the way.
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And the angel of the Lord stood in the avenues of the vines, a fence [being] on this side and a fence on that.
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And when the ass saw the angel of God, she thrust herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he smote her again.
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And the angel of the Lord went farther, and came and stood in a narrow place where it was impossible to turn to the right or the left.
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And when the ass saw the angel of God, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam was angry, and struck the ass with his staff.
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And God opened the mouth of the ass, and she says to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me this third time?
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And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me; and if I [had] had a sword in my hand, I would now have killed thee.
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And the ass says to Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass on which thou hast ridden since thy youth till this day? did I ever do thus to thee, utterly disregarding [thee]? and he said, No.
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And God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he sees the angel of the Lord withstanding [him] in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and he stooped down and worshipped on his face.
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And the angel of God said to him, Why hast thou smitten thine ass this third time? and, behold, I came out to withstand thee, for thy way was not seemly before me; and when the ass saw me, she turned away from me this third time.
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And if she had not turned out of the way, surely now, I should have slain thee, and should have saved her alive.
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And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know that thou wert standing opposite in the way to meet [me]; and now if it shall not be pleasing to thee [for me to go on], I will return.
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And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men: nevertheless the word which I shall speak to thee, that thou shalt take heed to speak. And Balaam went with the princes of Balac.
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And when Balac heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him, to a city of Moab, which is on the borders of Arnon, which is on the [extreme] part of the borders.
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And Balac said to Balaam, Did I not send to thee to call thee? why hast thou not come to me? shall I not indeed be able to honour thee?
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And Balaam said to Balac, Behold, I am now come to thee: shall I be able to say anything? the word which God shall put into my mouth, that I shall speak.
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And Balaam went with Balac, and they came to the cities of streets.
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And Balac offered sheep and calves, and sent to Balaam and to his princes who were with him.
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And it was morning; and Balac took Balaam, and brought him up to the pillar of Baal, and shewed him thence a part of the people.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Profectique castrametati sunt in campestribus Moab, ubi trans Iordanem Iericho sita est.
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Videns autem Balac filius Sephor omnia quæ fecerat Israel Amorrhæo,
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et quod pertimuissent eum Moabitæ, et impetum eius ferre non possent,
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dixit ad maiores natu Madian: Ita delebit hic populus omnes, qui in nostris finibus commorantur, quo modo solet bos herbas usque ad radices carpere. Ipse erat eo tempore rex in Moab.
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Misit ergo nuncios ad Balaam filium Beor ariolum, qui habitabat super flumen terræ filiorum Ammon, ut vocarent eum, et dicerent: Ecce egressus est populus ex Ægypto, qui operuit superficiem terræ, sedens contra me.
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Veni igitur, et maledic populo huic, quia fortior me est: siquo modo possim percutere et eiicere eum de terra mea. novi enim quod benedictus sit cui benedixeris, et maledictus in quem maledicta congesseris.
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Perrexeruntque seniores Moab, et maiores natu Madian, habentes divinationis pretium in manibus. Cumque venissent ad Balaam, et narrassent ei omnia verba Balac:
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ille respondit: Manete hic nocte, et respondebo quidquid mihi dixerit Dominus. Manentibus illis apud Balaam, venit Deus, et ait ad eum:
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Quid sibi volunt homines isti apud te?
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Respondit: Balac filius Sephor rex Moabitarum misit ad me,
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dicens: Ecce populus qui egressus est de Ægypto, operuit superficiem terræ: veni, et maledic ei, siquo modo possim pugnans abigere eum.
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Dixitque Deus ad Balaam: Noli ire cum eis, neque maledicas populo: quia benedictus est.
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Qui mane consurgens dixit ad principes: Ite in terram vestram, quia prohibuit me Dominus venire vobiscum.
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Reversi principes dixerunt ad Balac: Noluit Balaam venire nobiscum.
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Rursum ille multo plures et nobiliores quam ante miserat, misit.
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Qui cum venissent ad Balaam, dixerunt: Sic dicit Balac filius Sephor: Ne cuncteris venire ad me:
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paratus sum honorare te, et quidquid volueris dabo tibi: veni, et maledic populo isti.
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Respondit Balaam: Si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri, non potero immutare verbum Domini Dei mei, ut vel plus, vel minus loquar.
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Obsecro ut hic maneatis etiam hac nocte, et scire queam quid mihi rursum respondeat Dominus.
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Venit ergo Deus ad Balaam nocte, et ait ei: Si vocare te venerunt homines isti, surge, et vade cum eis: ita dumtaxat, ut quod tibi præcepero, facias.
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Surrexit Balaam mane, et strata asina sua profectus est cum eis.
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Et iratus est Deus. Stetitque angelus Domini in via contra Balaam, qui insidebat asinæ, et duos pueros habebat secum.
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Cernens asina angelum stantem in via, evaginato gladio, avertit se de itinere, et ibat per agrum. Quam cum verberaret Balaam, et vellet ad semitam reducere,
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stetit angelus in angustiis duarum maceriarum, quibus vineæ cingebantur.
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Quem videns asina, iunxit se parieti, et attrivit sedentis pedem. At ille iterum verberabat eam:
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et nihilominus angelus ad locum angustum transiens, ubi nec ad dexteram, nec ad sinistram poterat deviare, obvius stetit.
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Cumque vidisset asina stantem angelum, concidit sub pedibus sedentis. qui iratus, vehementius cædebat fuste latera eius.
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Aperuitque Dominus os asinæ, et locuta est: Quid feci tibi? cur percutis me? ecce iam tertio?
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Respondit Balaam: Quia commeruisti, et illusisti mihi: utinam haberem gladium, ut te percuterem.
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Dixit asina: Nonne animal tuum sum, cui semper sedere consuevisti usque in præsentem diem? dic quid simile umquam fecerim tibi. At ille ait: Numquam.
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Protinus aperuit Dominus oculos Balaam, et vidit angelum stantem in via evaginato gladio, adoravitque eum pronus in terram.
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Cui angelus: Cur, inquit, tertio verberas asinam tuam? Ego veni ut adversarer tibi, quia perversa est via tua, mihique contraria:
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et nisi asina declinasset de via, dans locum resistenti, te occidissem, et illa viveret.
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Dixit Balaam: Peccavi, nesciens quod tu stares contra me: et nunc si displicet tibi ut vadam, revertar.
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Ait angelus: Vade cum istis, et cave ne aliud quam præcepero tibi loquaris. Ivit igitur cum principibus.
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Quod cum audisset Balac, egressus est in occursum eius in oppido Moabitarum, quod situm est in extremis finibus Arnon.
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Dixitque ad Balaam: Misi nuncios ut vocarent te, cur non statim venisti ad me? an quia mercedem adventui tuo reddere nequeo?
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Cui ille respondit: Ecce adsum: numquid loqui potero aliud, nisi quod Deus posuerit in ore meo?
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Perrexerunt ergo simul, et venerunt in urbem, quæ in extremis regni eius finibus erat.
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Cumque occidisset Balac boves et oves, misit ad Balaam, et principes qui cum eo erant, munera.
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Mane autem facto duxit eum ad excelsa Baal, et intuitus est extremam partem populi.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2
Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3
Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4
Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5
He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
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Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8
He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9
God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10
Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,
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‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
12
God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13
Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you.”
14
The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15
Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they.
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They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
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for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’”
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Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
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Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the LORD will speak to me.”
20
God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”
21
Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22
God’s anger burned because he went; and the LORD’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.
24
Then the LORD’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.
26
The LORD’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
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The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
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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?”
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Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”
30
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”
31
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32
The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.
33
The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”
34
Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”
35
The LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
37
Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”
38
Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39
Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
40
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
41
In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And the sons of Israel journey and encamp in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan, <FI>by<Fi> Jericho.
2
And Balak son of Zippor seeth all that Israel hath done to the Amorite,
3
and Moab is exceedingly afraid of the presence of the people, for it <FI>is<Fi> numerous; and Moab is vexed by the presence of the sons of Israel,
4
and Moab saith unto the elders of Midian, `Now doth the assembly lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the green thing of the field.' And Balak son of Zippor <FI>is<Fi> king of Moab at that time,
5
and he sendeth messengers unto Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which <FI>is<Fi> by the River of the land of the sons of his people, to call for him, saying, `Lo, a people hath come out of Egypt; lo, it hath covered the eye of the land, and it is abiding over-against me;
6
and now, come, I pray thee, curse for me this people, for it <FI>is<Fi> mightier than I; it may be I prevail--we smite it--and I cast it out from the land; for I have known--that which thou blessest is blessed, and that which thou cursest is cursed.'
7
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian go, and divinations in their hand, and they come in unto Balaam, and speak unto him the words of Balak,
8
and he saith unto them, `Lodge here to-night, and I have brought you back word, as Jehovah speaketh unto me;' and the princes of Moab abide with Balaam.
9
And God cometh in unto Balaam, and saith, `Who <FI>are<Fi> these men with thee?'
10
And Balaam saith unto God, `Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me:
11
Lo, the people that is coming out from Egypt and covereth the eye of the land, --now come, pierce it for me; it may be I am able to fight against it, and have cast it out;'
12
and God saith unto Balaam, `Thou dost not go with them; thou dost not curse the people; for it <FI>is<Fi> blessed.'
13
And Balaam riseth in the morning, and saith unto the princes of Balak, `Go unto your land, for Jehovah is refusing to suffer me to go with you;'
14
and the princes of Moab rise, and come in unto Balak, and say, `Balaam is refusing to come with us.'
15
And Balak addeth yet to send princes, more numerous and honoured than these,
16
and they come in unto Balaam, and say to him, `Thus said Balak son of Zippor, Be not, I pray thee, withheld from coming unto me,
17
for very greatly I honour thee, and all that thou sayest unto me I do; and come, I pray thee, pierce for me this people.'
18
And Balaam answereth and saith unto the servants of Balak, `If Balak doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah my God, to do a little or a great thing;
19
and, now, abide, I pray you, in this <FI>place<Fi> , you also, to-night; and I know what Jehovah is adding to speak with me.'
20
And God cometh in unto Balaam, by night, and saith to him, `If to call for thee the men have come, rise, go with them, and only the thing which I speak unto thee--it thou dost do.'
21
And Balaam riseth in the morning, and saddleth his ass, and goeth with the princes of Moab,
22
and the anger of God burneth because he is going, and a messenger of Jehovah stationeth himself in the way for an adversary to him, and he is riding on his ass, and two of his servants <FI>are<Fi> with him,
23
and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and the ass turneth aside out of the way, and goeth into a field, and Balaam smiteth the ass to turn it aside into the way.
24
And the messenger of Jehovah standeth in a narrow path of the vineyards--a wall on this <FI>side<Fi> and a wall on that--
25
and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah, and is pressed unto the wall, and presseth Balaam's foot unto the wall, and he addeth to smite her;
26
and the messenger of Jehovah addeth to pass over, and standeth in a strait place where there is no way to turn aside--right or left--
27
and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah, and croucheth under Balaam, and the anger of Balaam burneth, and he smiteth the ass with a staff.
28
And Jehovah openeth the mouth of the ass, and she saith to Balaam, `What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?'
29
and Balaam saith to the ass, `Because thou hast rolled thyself against me; oh that there were a sword in my hand, for now I had slain thee;'
30
and the ass saith unto Balaam, `Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden since <FI>I was<Fi> thine unto this day? have I at all been accustomed to do to thee thus?' and he saith, `No.'
31
And Jehovah uncovereth the eyes of Balaam, and he seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and he boweth and doth obeisance, to his face;
32
and the messenger of Jehovah saith unto him, `Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? lo, I--I have come out for an adversary, for <FI>thy<Fi> way hath been perverse before me,
33
and the ass seeth me, and turneth aside at my presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from my presence, surely now also, thee I had slain, and her kept alive.'
34
And Balaam saith unto the messenger of Jehovah, `I have sinned, for I did not know that thou <FI>art<Fi> standing to meet me in the way; and now, if evil in thine eyes--I turn back by myself.'
35
And the messenger of Jehovah saith unto Balaam, `Go with the men; and only the word which I speak unto thee--it thou dost speak;' and Balaam goeth with the princes of Balak.
36
And Balak heareth that Balaam hath come, and goeth out to meet him, unto a city of Moab, which <FI>is<Fi> on the border of Arnon, which <FI>is<Fi> in the extremity of the border;
37
and Balak saith unto Balaam, `Did I not diligently sent unto thee to call for thee? why didst thou not come unto me? am I not truly able to honour thee?'
38
And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Lo, I have come unto thee; now--am I at all able to speak anything? the word which God setteth in my mouth--it I do speak.'
39
And Balaam goeth with Balak, and they come to Kirjath-Huzoth,
40
and Balak sacrificeth oxen and sheep, and sendeth to Balaam, and to the princes who <FI>are<Fi> with him;
41
and it cometh to pass in the morning, that Balak taketh Balaam, and causeth him to go up the high places of Baal, and he seeth from thence the extremity of the people.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).