The Koine Bible

And the sons of Israel set out and encamped in the west of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho

And Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel did to the Amorite.

And Moab was greatly afraid of the people, because they were many, and Moab was vexed because of the presence of the sons of Israel.

And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now this assembly will lick up all around us, as a calf licks up the green things from the field. And Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

And he sent ambassadors to Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the river, the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people has come out from Egypt, and behold, it has covered the face of the land, and he is dwelling opposite me.

And now come, curse this people for me, because it is stronger than we, if perhaps we may be able to strike some of them and I will drive them out from the land, because I know whomsoever you bless are blessed, and whomsoever you curse are cursed.

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, and the divinations were in their hands, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak

And he said to them, Lodge here the night, and I will answer you the matters whatever the Lord may speak to me; and the rulers of Moab remained beside Balaam.

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

And Balaam said to God, Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent them to me, saying,

Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and behold, it has covered the face of the earth, and this one is dwelling near me; and now come, curse him for me, if I may be able to strike him and drive him out from the land.

And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them, nor shall you curse the people, for it is blessed.

And Balaam rose up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, Go back to your lord; God does not permit me to go with you.

And the princes of Moab arose and came to Balak and said, Balaam does not want to go with us.

And Balak again added to send more and more distinguished rulers than these

And they came to Balaam and say to him, Thus says Balak son of Zippor, I ask you, do not hesitate to come to me.

For I will surely honor you, and whatever you may say I will do for you; and come, curse this people for me.

And Balaam answered and said to the princes of Balak, If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I shall not be able to transgress the word of the Lord God, to do it small or great in my mind.

And now, wait here yourselves also for this night, and I shall know what the Lord will add to speak to me.

And God came to Balaam by night and said to him, If these men are present to call you, having risen, follow them; but the word which I may speak to you, this you shall do.

And Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab

And God was angry with anger because he himself had gone, and the angel of God stood to oppose him, and he himself was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

And when the donkey saw the angel of God standing against in the way and the sword drawn in his hand, the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field, and he struck the donkey with the rod to make her go straight in the way.

And the angel of God stood in the vineyards’ paths, a fence on this side and a fence on that side

And when the donkey saw the angel of God, she pressed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot, and he added to beat her again

And the angel of God went on and stood in a narrow place, into which there was no turning aside to the right or to the left.

And when the ass saw the angel of God, she crouched down beneath Balaam, and Balaam was angry and was striking the ass with the rod.

And God opened the mouth of the donkey, and she says to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have struck me this third time?

And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, and if I had a sword in my hand, now I would have pierced you through.

And the donkey says to Balaam, Am not I your donkey, on which you have been riding from your youth until this present day? Was I at all accustomed to do so to you? And he said, No.

Then God uncovered Balaam’s eyes, and he sees the angel of the Lord standing against him in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and bending down, he bowed to his face.

And the angel of God said to him, Why have you struck your donkey this third time? And behold, I came out as an adversary to you, because your way is not acceptable before me.

And the donkey, seeing me, turned aside from me these three times; and if she had not turned aside, now indeed I would have killed you, but I would have spared her.

And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know that you had stood against me in the way to meet me; and now, if it is not pleasing to you, I will turn back.

And the angel of God said to Balaam, Go along with the men; only the word which I may speak to you, that you shall keep to speak. And Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

And Balak, having heard that Balaam had come, went out to meet him to the city of Moab, which is on the borders of Arnon, which is at the edge of the borders.

And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Indeed, am I not able to honor you?

And Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you now; shall I be able at all to speak a word? The word that God may put into my mouth, that I will speak.

And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to the cities of the farms.

And Balak sacrificed sheep and calves, and he sent to Balaam and to the rulers who were with him.

And it came to pass in the morning, and Balak took Balaam and brought him up onto the pillar of Baal, and showed him from there a certain part of the people.