民22:5sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land. Balak said: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.

民22:6Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed."

民22:7The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

民22:8Spend the night here, Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the answer the Lord gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him.

民22:9God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"

民22:10Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

民22:11'A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.' "

民22:12But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed."

民22:13The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's princes, "Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you."

民22:14So the Moabite princes returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

民22:15Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.

民22:16They came to Balaam and said: "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me,

民22:17because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me."

民22:18But Balaam answered them, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.

民22:19Now stay here tonight as the others did, and I will find out what else the Lord will tell me."

民22:20That night God came to Balaam and said, "Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you."

民22:21Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

民22:22But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

民22:23When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.

民22:24Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides.