Numbers

Tells about the Israelites' 40 years in the desert, including their travels and the census of their tribes.

Chapter 22

1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.

*The Israelite kids traveled and camped in Moab's flat land, near the Jordan River and Jericho city.

2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

*Balak, Zippor's son, saw how Israel dealt with the Amorites.

3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

*Moab was very scared of the large group of people because of how many there were, and he was also troubled by the children of Israel.

4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

*Moab told Midian's leaders, "This group will take everything around us, just like an ox eats grass in a field." At that time, Balak, Zippor's son, was the ruler of the Moabites.

5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

*God sent messengers to Balaam, son of Beor, in Pethor near the river. They said, "A large group of people has come from Egypt. They cover the land and are against us."

6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; 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 wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

*Please curse these people for me, as they are too powerful. Maybe I can overcome them, allowing us to defeat them and expel them from our land. I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.

7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

*The leaders from Moab and Midian left after getting money from fortune-telling. They went to Balaam and told him what Balak wanted.

8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

*He told them, "Stay here tonight, and I'll tell you more when God speaks to me; meanwhile, the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

*And God talked to Balaam and asked, Who are those people with you?

10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

*And Balaam told God, "Balak, son of Zippor, the ruler of Moab, sent me a message."

11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

*Look, there's a group of people coming from Egypt that's spreading all over the land. Go ahead, curse them for me. Maybe I can beat them and make them leave.

12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

*And God told Balaam, "Don't go with them and don't curse the people, because they have been blessed."

13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

*In the morning, Balaam told Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land. The Lord won't let me join you."

14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

*The leaders of Moab stood up, went to Balak, and said, Balaam won't come with us.

15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

*Balak sent even more princes, who were even more respected than the previous ones.

16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

*And they went to Balaam, telling him, Balak, son of Zippor, says this: Please come to me without any delay. Don't let anything stop you.

17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

*For I will greatly honor you, and I will do whatever you tell me; so go ahead, please, and curse these people for me.

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

*Balaam told Balak's helpers, "Even if Balak gives me his entire house filled with money, I won't do anything beyond what the LORD my God wants. I can't do less or more."

19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.

*So please stay here tonight so I can find out what else the LORD wants to tell me.

20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

*At night, God talked to Balaam and said, "If people come for you, get up and go with them, but follow the instructions I give you exactly."

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

*In the morning, Balaam got on his donkey and left with the Moabite leaders.

22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

*God got angry when he went, and an angel opposed him. He was riding a donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD 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 smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

*The donkey saw an angel of God standing with a sword, so it swerved from the path and went into a field. Balaam hit the donkey to try to make it go back on track.

24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

*But the angel of God stood in a vineyard path, with walls on both sides.

25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

*When the donkey saw the angel, it pushed itself against the wall, hurting Balaam's foot, and he hit the donkey back.

26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

*The angel of God moved forward and stood in a tight spot with no choices to go right or left.

27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

*When the donkey saw the angel, it fell down where Balaam was sitting. Balaam got angry and hit the donkey with a stick.

28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

*And the LORD made the donkey talk, and it asked Balaam, "Why have you hit me three times?"

29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

*Balaam told the donkey, "Because you made fun of me, I wish I had a sword right now so I could kill you."

30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

*And the donkey asked Balaam, "Aren't I the one who has carried you all this time? Haven't you owned me from the start? Why haven't you ridden me before?" And he replied, "No."

31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

*Then God made Balaam see the angel, who was holding a sword and standing in the path. Balaam bowed his head and lay flat on the ground.

32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

*And the angel asked him, "Why did you hit your donkey three times?" He replied, "I was going to stop you because your path is twisted and not right."

33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

*The donkey noticed me and avoided me three times. If it hadn't, I would have killed you and saved the animal.

34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

*Balaam told the angel, "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were in my way. If it upsets you, I'll go back."

35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

*The angel told Balaam to go with the men, but only to say what the angel tells him. So, Balaam went with Balak's leaders.

36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.

*When Balak learned that Balaam arrived, he went to greet him in a Moabite city near the Arnon river, at its furthest edge.

37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?

*Balak asked Balaam, "Didn't I really ask you to come here? Why haven't you arrived? Can't I definitely give you a high position?"

38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

*Balaam told Balak, "I'm here! Can I speak freely now? Whatever God tells me to say, that's what I will speak."

39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.

*Balaam went with Balak, and they traveled to the place called Kirjathhuzoth.

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

*Balak provided cows and sheep, then sent them to Balaam and his important friends.

41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.

*The next day, Balak brought Balaam to the high places of Baal so he could see all parts of the people from there.

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