1: And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the
plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. |
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2: And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the
Amorites. |
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3:
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and
Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. |
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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. |
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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: |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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9: And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
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10: And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath
sent unto me, saying, |
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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. |
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12: And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not
curse the people: for they are blessed. |
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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. |
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14: And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said,
Balaam refuseth to come with us. |
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15: And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than
they. |
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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: |
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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. |
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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. |
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19: Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may
know what the LORD will say unto me more. |
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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. |
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21: And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with
the princes of Moab. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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.
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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? |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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: |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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? |
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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. |
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39: And Balaam went with lak, and they came unto Kirjath-huzoth.
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40: And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the
princes that were with him. |
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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. |