1摩押王巴勒召巴蘭以色列人起行，在摩押平原安營，就是在約旦河東邊，耶利哥的對面。
1The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2以色列人向亞摩利人所行的一切事，西撥的兒子巴勒都看見了。
2Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3摩押人十分懼怕這民，因為他們眾多；摩押人因以色列人的緣故，十分恐慌。
3Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4摩押人對米甸的長老說：“現在這群人要吞併我們四周的一切，好像牛吞吃田間的草一樣。”那時西撥的兒子巴勒，作摩押王；
4Moab 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他就派使者到比珥的兒子巴蘭那裡去，就是到大河的毗奪，亞捫人的地那裡，去叫巴蘭來，說：“你看，有一個民族從埃及出來，遮滿了全地，如今住在我的對面。
5He 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 from Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
6現在請你來，替我咒詛這民，因為他們比我強盛，或者我能夠擊敗他們，把他們從這地趕出去；因為我知道你給誰祝福，誰就得福；你咒詛誰，誰就受咒詛。”
6Please come now therefore curse me this people; 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摩押的長老和米甸的長老，手裡帶著禮金去了；他們到了巴蘭那裡，把巴勒的話告訴他。
7The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8巴蘭對他們說：“今夜你們留在這裡，我必照著耶和華吩咐我的話答覆你們。”於是，摩押的領袖就與巴蘭同住。
8He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 神來到巴蘭那裡，說：“與你在一起的這些人是誰？”
9God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10巴蘭對 神說：“是摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒派到我這裡來的人，他們說：
10Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,
11‘你看，從埃及出來的民族，遮滿了全地；現在請你來，替我咒詛他們，或者我能夠戰勝他們，把他們趕走。’”
11‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt, it covers the surface of the earth: now, come curse me them; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
12 神對巴蘭說：“你不可與他們同去，也不可咒詛那民，因為他們是蒙福的。”
12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed.”
13巴蘭早晨起來，對巴勒的領袖說：“你們回本地去吧，因為耶和華不准我與你們同去。”
13Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for Yahweh refuses to permit me to go with you.”
14摩押的領袖起來，回到巴勒那裡，說：“巴蘭不肯與我們同來。”
14The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15於是，巴勒又派比先前更多、更尊貴的領袖去，
15Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.
16他們來到巴蘭那裡，對他說：“西撥的兒子巴勒這樣說：‘求你不要推辭不到我這裡來，
16They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me:
17因為我必使你大得尊榮；你向我說甚麼，我都照辦；只求你替我咒詛這民。’”
17for 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.’”
18巴蘭回答巴勒的臣僕說：“巴勒就算把他滿屋的金銀給我，但我不論作大事小事，也不能越過耶和華我 神的命令。
18Balaam 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 Yahweh my God, to do less or more.
19現在請你們今夜也住在這裡，等我得知耶和華還要向我說甚麼。”
19Now therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may know what Yahweh will speak to me more.”
20當夜， 神來到巴蘭那裡，對他說：“這些人既然來請你，你就起程與他們同去，但是你只要遵行我吩咐你的事。”
20God 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天使與巴蘭的驢子巴蘭早晨起來，備上驢，與摩押的領袖一同去了。
21Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 神因為巴蘭去就發怒；耶和華的使者站在路上敵擋他。那時他騎著驢，有兩個僕人同行。
22God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23驢看見了耶和華的使者站在路上，手裡拿著拔出來的刀，就轉離正路，走入田中去；巴蘭就打驢，要叫牠轉回路上。
23The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.
24耶和華的使者站在葡萄園間的窄路上，兩邊都有圍牆。
24Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25驢看見了耶和華的使者，就緊擠在牆上，把巴蘭的腳擠傷了，巴蘭又打驢。
25The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he struck her again.
26耶和華的使者又往前行，站在狹窄之處，左右都沒有轉身的地方。
26The angel of Yahweh went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27驢看見了耶和華的使者，就臥在巴蘭身下；巴蘭大怒，就用自己的杖打驢。
27The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28耶和華開了驢的口，驢就對巴蘭說：“我向你作了甚麼，你竟打我這三次呢？”
28Yahweh 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?”
29巴蘭對驢說：“因為你作弄我。但願我手中有刀，現在就把你殺死。”
29Balaam 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驢對巴蘭說：“我不是你從起初一直所騎的驢嗎？我以前曾向你這樣行過嗎？”巴蘭說：“沒有。”
30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”
31責備巴蘭那時，耶和華開了巴蘭的眼睛，他就看見耶和華的使者站在路上，手裡拿著拔出來的刀，巴蘭就低頭俯伏在地。
31Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32耶和華的使者對他說：“你為甚麼這三次打你的驢呢？看哪，是我來敵擋你，因為你走的路在我面前邪僻。
32The angel of Yahweh said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come forth as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me:
33驢看見了我，就三次從我面前轉開；驢若是沒有從我面前轉開，我早已把你殺了，而留牠活著。”
33and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”
34巴蘭對耶和華的使者說：“我有罪了，我不知道是你站在路上阻擋我；現在你若是不喜歡我去，我就回去。”
34Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, “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耶和華的使者對巴蘭說：“你與這些人同去吧，但是你只要說我吩咐你的話。”於是巴蘭與巴勒的領袖一同去了。
35The angel of Yahweh 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 princes of Balak.
36巴勒迎接巴蘭巴勒聽見巴蘭來了，就出去到摩押的京城迎接他；這城是在亞嫩河旁，在邊界的盡頭。
36When 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巴勒對巴蘭說：“我不是急切地派人到你那裡去請你嗎？你為甚麼不到我這裡來呢？難道我不能使你得尊榮嗎？”
37Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send to you to call you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”
38巴蘭對巴勒說：“看哪，我已經來到你這裡，現在我怎能說甚麼呢？ 神把甚麼話放在我口裡，我就說甚麼。”
38Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.”
39巴蘭與巴勒同行，來到基列．胡瑣。
39Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
40巴勒宰了牛羊，送給巴蘭和與他在一起的領袖。
40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
41到了早晨，巴勒帶著巴蘭上了巴力的高岡；巴蘭就從那裡觀看以色列民的邊界。
41It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.