He sent messengers therefore to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, by the river of the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, Behold! A people come out from Egypt. Behold! They cover the face of the earth, and they are staying across from me.

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian pulled up stakes with the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and spoke the words of Balak to him.

And he said to them, Stay here tonight, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak to me. And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.

And God came to Balaam and said, What men are these with you?

And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.

And Balaam rose up in the morning and said to the leaders of Balak, Go into your land, for Jehovah refuses to let me go with you.

And the leaders of Moab rose up. And they went to Balak and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.

And they came to Balaam and said to him, So says Balak the son of Zippor, Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me.

And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.

And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up, go with them. But still, the word which I shall say to you, that you shall do.

And Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his ass, and went with the rulers of Moab.

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 struck the ass, to turn her into the way.

And when the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, she pushed herself into the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. And he struck her again.

And when the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, she fell down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the ass with a staff.

And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have beaten me these three times?

And Balaam said to the ass, Because you have mocked me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you.

And the ass said to Balaam, Am I not your ass, upon which you have ridden ever since I was yours, to this day? Was I ever known to do so to you? And he said, No.

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 down his head, and fell on his face.

And Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned. For I did not know that You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will go back again.

And the Angel of Jehovah said to Balaam, Go with the men. But only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the leaders of Balak.

And when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him, to a city of Moab, in the border of Arnon, which is in the outermost border.

And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able indeed to lift you up to honor?

And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.

And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath-huzoth.

And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and to the leaders that were with him.

And it happened on the next day Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Baal, so that from there he might see the edge of the people.

And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare here seven oxen and seven rams for me.

And Balak did as Balaam had spoken. And Balak and Balaam offered on the altar a bull and a ram.

And Balaam said to Balak, Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps Jehovah will come to meet me. And whatever He reveals to me I will tell you. And he went to a high place.

And God met Balaam. And he said to Him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon the altar a bull and a ram.

And Jehovah put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, Return to Balak, and so you shall speak.

And Balak said to Balaam, What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have kept on blessing them!

And Jehovah met Balaam and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again to Balak and say this.

And Balak said to Balaam, Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all.

But Balaam answered and said to Balak, Did I not tell you, saying, All that Jehovah speaks, that I must do?

And Balak said to Balaam, Please, come. I will bring you into another place. Perhaps it will please God that you will curse them for me from there.

And Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor that looks toward Jeshimon.

And Balaam said to Balak, Build seven altars here for me, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams here for me.

And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on the altar.

And Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, and he did not go, as at other times, to seek for secret arts, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel pitched, according to their tribes. And the Spirit of God came upon him.

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said;

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam. And he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have kept on blessing these three times.

And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not speak also to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said;

And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place. And Balak also went his way.

And they killed the kings of Midian, besides the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit sin against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and the plague was on the congregation of Jehovah.

because they did not meet you with bread and with water in the way when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor, of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

But Jehovah your God would not listen to Balaam, but Jehovah your God turned the curse to a blessing to you, because Jehovah your God loved you.

The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner, with the sword, among their slain.

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.

But I would not listen to Balaam. And he still blessed you. And I delivered you out of his hand.

because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them so that he should curse them. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.

O My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab planned, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may know the righteous acts of Jehovah.

who have forsaken the right way and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

Woe to them! For they went the way of Cain, and gave themselves up to the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication.