King James Version, Updated™

(1) The children of Israel set out, and camped in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.

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

(3) Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

(4) And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this company shall 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 the Moabites at that time.

(5) He sent messengers to 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 who came out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they are settling in front of me;

(6) Come now therefore, please curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me; perhaps I shall prevail, that we may defeat 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) So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.

(8) And he said to them, "Lodge here tonight, and I will bring YOU word back, as the LORD shall speak to me;" and the rulers of Moab stayed with Balaam.

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

(10) Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

(11) 'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt, who covers the face of the earth; come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.' "

(12) And God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people; for they are blessed."

(13) So Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the rulers of Balak, "YOU, go back to YOUR land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with YOU."

(14) So the rulers of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."

(15) Then Balak yet again sent rulers, more, and more honorable than they.

(16) They came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Please, let nothing hinder you from coming to me;

(17) For I will promote you to very great honor, and I will do whatever you say to me; therefore please come, curse this people for me.' "

(18) But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

(19) Now therefore, please, YOU also stay here this night, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me."

(20) God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, "If the men come to call you, rise up, and go with them; but only the word which I say to you, that shall you do."

(21) So Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the rulers of Moab.

(22) God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

(23) The donkey saw the angel of the LORD 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 back to the road.

(24) Then the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on one side, and a wall on the other side.

(25) And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; and he struck her again.

(26) Then the angel of the LORD 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) When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with a staff.

(28) Then the LORD 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) Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me; I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you."

(30) And the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden ever since I was yours to this day? Was I ever in the habit to do so to you?" And he said, "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.

(32) And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I came out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.

(33) The donkey saw me, and turned from me these three times; if she had not turned from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her life."

(34) Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned; for I did not know that you stood in the way against me; now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again."

(35) And the angel of the LORD 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 rulers of Balak.

(36) When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is on the outskirts of his territory.

(37) Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Indeed am I not able to promote you to honor?"

(38) And Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you; have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."

(39) So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjathhuzoth.

(40) Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam, and to the rulers that were with him.

(41) And it came to pass on the next day, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to the high places of Baal, that from there he might see the outskirts of the people.