1The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
1摩押王巴勒召巴兰
2Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
2以色列人向亚摩利人所行的一切事，西拨的儿子巴勒都看见了。
3Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
3摩押人十分惧怕这民，因为他们众多；摩押人因以色列人的缘故，十分恐慌。
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.
4摩押人对米甸的长老说：“现在这群人要吞并我们四周的一切，好像牛吞吃田间的草一样。”那时西拨的儿子巴勒，作摩押王；
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.
5他就派使者到比珥的儿子巴兰那里去，就是到大河的毗夺，亚扪人的地那里，去叫巴兰来，说：“你看，有一个民族从埃及出来，遮满了全地，如今住在我的对面。
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.”
6现在请你来，替我咒诅这民，因为他们比我强盛，或者我能够击败他们，把他们从这地赶出去；因为我知道你给谁祝福，谁就得福；你咒诅谁，谁就受咒诅。”
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.
7摩押的长老和米甸的长老，手里带着礼金去了；他们到了巴兰那里，把巴勒的话告诉他。
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.
8巴兰对他们说：“今夜你们留在这里，我必照着耶和华吩咐我的话答复你们。”于是，摩押的领袖就与巴兰同住。
9God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
9 神来到巴兰那里，说：“与你在一起的这些人是谁？”
10Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,
10巴兰对 神说：“是摩押王西拨的儿子巴勒派到我这里来的人，他们说：
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.’”
11‘你看，从埃及出来的民族，遮满了全地；现在请你来，替我咒诅他们，或者我能够战胜他们，把他们赶走。’”
12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed.”
12 神对巴兰说：“你不可与他们同去，也不可咒诅那民，因为他们是蒙福的。”
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.”
13巴兰早晨起来，对巴勒的领袖说：“你们回本地去吧，因为耶和华不准我与你们同去。”
14The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
14摩押的领袖起来，回到巴勒那里，说：“巴兰不肯与我们同来。”
15Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.
15于是，巴勒又派比先前更多、更尊贵的领袖去，
16They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me:
16他们来到巴兰那里，对他说：“西拨的儿子巴勒这样说：‘求你不要推辞不到我这里来，
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.’”
17因为我必使你大得尊荣；你向我说什么，我都照办；只求你替我咒诅这民。’”
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.
18巴兰回答巴勒的臣仆说：“巴勒就算把他满屋的金银给我，但我不论作大事小事，也不能越过耶和华我 神的命令。
19Now therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may know what Yahweh will speak to me more.”
19现在请你们今夜也住在这里，等我得知耶和华还要向我说什么。”
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.”
20当夜， 神来到巴兰那里，对他说：“这些人既然来请你，你就起程与他们同去，但是你只要遵行我吩咐你的事。”
21Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
21天使与巴兰的驴子巴兰早晨起来，备上驴，与摩押的领袖一同去了。
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.
22 神因为巴兰去就发怒；耶和华的使者站在路上敌挡他。那时他骑着驴，有两个仆人同行。
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.
23驴看见了耶和华的使者站在路上，手里拿着拔出来的刀，就转离正路，走入田中去；巴兰就打驴，要叫它转回路上。
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.
24耶和华的使者站在葡萄园间的窄路上，两边都有围墙。
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.
25驴看见了耶和华的使者，就紧挤在墙上，把巴兰的脚挤伤了，巴兰又打驴。
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.
26耶和华的使者又往前行，站在狭窄之处，左右都没有转身的地方。
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.
27驴看见了耶和华的使者，就卧在巴兰身下；巴兰大怒，就用自己的杖打驴。
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?”
28耶和华开了驴的口，驴就对巴兰说：“我向你作了什么，你竟打我这三次呢？”
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.”
29巴兰对驴说：“因为你作弄我。但愿我手中有刀，现在就把你杀死。”
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.”
30驴对巴兰说：“我不是你从起初一直所骑的驴吗？我以前曾向你这样行过吗？”巴兰说：“没有。”
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.
31责备巴兰那时，耶和华开了巴兰的眼睛，他就看见耶和华的使者站在路上，手里拿着拔出来的刀，巴兰就低头俯伏在地。
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:
32耶和华的使者对他说：“你为什么这三次打你的驴呢？看哪，是我来敌挡你，因为你走的路在我面前邪僻。
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.”
33驴看见了我，就三次从我面前转开；驴若是没有从我面前转开，我早已把你杀了，而留它活着。”
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.”
34巴兰对耶和华的使者说：“我有罪了，我不知道是你站在路上阻挡我；现在你若是不喜欢我去，我就回去。”
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.
35耶和华的使者对巴兰说：“你与这些人同去吧，但是你只要说我吩咐你的话。”于是巴兰与巴勒的领袖一同去了。
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.
36巴勒迎接巴兰巴勒听见巴兰来了，就出去到摩押的京城迎接他；这城是在亚嫩河旁，在边界的尽头。
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?”
37巴勒对巴兰说：“我不是急切地派人到你那里去请你吗？你为什么不到我这里来呢？难道我不能使你得尊荣吗？”
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.”
38巴兰对巴勒说：“看哪，我已经来到你这里，现在我怎能说什么呢？ 神把什么话放在我口里，我就说什么。”
39Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
39巴兰与巴勒同行，来到基列．胡琐。
40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
40巴勒宰了牛羊，送给巴兰和与他在一起的领袖。
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.
41到了早晨，巴勒带着巴兰上了巴力的高冈；巴兰就从那里观看以色列民的边界。