1 ¶ And the children of Israel moved forward, and pitched camp in the plains of Moab on the east side of the Jordan by Jericho.

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

3 And Moab was dreadfully 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 horde will lick up all that are around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

5 So he sent messengers to summon Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the river in the land of the children of his people, saying, Look, a people has come out of Egypt: they cover the face of the land, and they are living right across from me:

6 Therefore come right away, I pray you, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me: perhaps then I may 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 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left with the fees for divination in their hand; and they went to Balaam, and repeated to him the words of Balak.

8 And he said to them, Stay here tonight, and I will bring you word, as the LORD may speak to me: and the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9 And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?

10 And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent for me, saying,

11 Look, a people has come out of Egypt, that covers the face of the land: 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 And Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Return to your land: for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.

14 So the princes of Moab arose, and returned to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.

15 ¶ Then Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than the first.

16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, This says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray you, hinder you from coming to me:

17 For I will promote you to very great honor, and I will do whatever you tell me: therefore come, I pray you, curse this people for me.

18 And Balaam answered and said to 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.

19 Now therefore, I pray you, remain here tonight also, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.

20 And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up, and go with them; but still, you may do only what I tell you.

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

22 ¶ And 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 on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 And 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 road, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.

24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.

25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he struck her again.

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

27 And 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 his staff.

28 And 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 And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me: I wish there was a sword in my hand, for I would kill you now.

30 And the donkey said to Balaam, Am not I your donkey, upon which you have ridden ever since I was yours to this day? was I ever known 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, with a drawn sword 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? look, I went out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before me:

33 And the donkey saw me, and turned from me these three times: if she had not turned from me, I surely would have slain you, and saved her alive.

34 And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I did not know that you stood in the way against me: but now, if my going displeases you, I will return.

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

36 ¶ And when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is by the Arnon river, which is at the border of his land.

37 And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to you to summon you? Why did you not come? am I not able to promote you to honor?

38 And Balaam said to Balak, But look, I have come to you: but do I now have any power at all to say anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.

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

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

41 And it came to pass on the next day, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, that from there he might see the outskirts of Israel’s camp.