~Numbers 22:1 And the children of Israel journeyed, and encampedin the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
~Numbers 22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel haddone to the Amorites.
~Numbers 22:3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because theywere many: and Moab was distressed because of the children ofIsrael.
~Numbers 22:4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now willthis multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh upthe grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moabat that time.
~Numbers 22:5 And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor,to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of hispeople, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out fromEgypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide overagainst me.
~Numbers 22:6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me thispeople; 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 know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thoucursest is cursed.
~Numbers 22:7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midiandeparted with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they cameunto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
~Numbers 22:8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and Iwill bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak unto me: and theprinces of Moab abode with Balaam.
~Numbers 22:9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men arethese with thee?
~Numbers 22:10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor,king of Moab, hath sent unto me, [saying],
~Numbers 22:11 Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, itcovereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them;peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drivethem out.
~Numbers 22:12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go withthem; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.
~Numbers 22:13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said untothe princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth togive me leave to go with you.
~Numbers 22:14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they wentunto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
~Numbers 22:15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and morehonorable than they.
~Numbers 22:16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thussaith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder theefrom coming unto me:
~Numbers 22:17 for I will promote thee unto very great honor, andwhatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee,curse me this people.
~Numbers 22:18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants ofBalak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, Icannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
~Numbers 22:19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here thisnight, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more.
~Numbers 22:20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said untohim, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but onlythe word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.
~Numbers 22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled hisass, and went with the princes of Moab.
~Numbers 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went; andthe angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversaryagainst him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servantswere with him.
~Numbers 22:23 And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in theway, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside outof the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turnher into the way.
~Numbers 22:24 Then the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow pathbetween the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on thatside.
~Numbers 22:25 And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she thrustherself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: andhe smote her again.
~Numbers 22:26 And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood ina narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand orto the left.
~Numbers 22:27 And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she laydown under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smotethe ass with his staff.
~Numbers 22:28 And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and shesaid unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smittenme these three times?
~Numbers 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hastmocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I hadkilled thee.
~Numbers 22:30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass,upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I everwont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
~Numbers 22:31 Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and hesaw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawnin his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
~Numbers 22:32 And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Whereforehast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forthfor an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:
~Numbers 22:33 and the ass saw me, and turned aside before methese three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now Ihad even slain thee, and saved her alive.
~Numbers 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I havesinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: nowtherefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
~Numbers 22:35 And the angel of Jehovah said unto Balaam, Go withthe men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shaltspeak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
~Numbers 22:36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, hewent out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the borderof the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
~Numbers 22:37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestlysend unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am Inot able indeed to promote thee to honor?
~Numbers 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come untothee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word thatGod putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
~Numbers 22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came untoKiriath-huzoth.
~Numbers 22:40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent toBalaam, and to the princes that were with him.
~Numbers 22:41 And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak tookBalaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he sawfrom thence the utmost part of the people
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