民數記 22
1 以色列子民再起程出發，在約旦東邊的摩阿布曠野中，對著耶利哥城紮了營。
And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2 漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，見了以色列對阿摩黎所做的一切；
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 摩阿布人十分怕這民族，因為他們眾多；摩阿布人對以色列子民大起恐慌，
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4 於是對米德揚的長老說：「現在這些人要吞併我們四周的一切，有如牛吃盡田間的青草」。漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，其時正是摩阿布的君王，
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5 遂遺使者往幼發拉的河阿瑪伍人之地的培托爾去，見貝敖爾的兒子巴郎，請他說：「看，由埃及來了一個民族，遮蓋了地面，現今正住在我的對面。
And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to 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.
6 現在請你來，替我咒罵這民族，因為他們比我強大，或許這樣我能將他們擊敗，從此地趕走；因為我知道，你祝福的，必蒙祝福；你咒罵的，必蒙咒罵」。
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 know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
7 摩阿布和米德揚的長老於是帶著卜金去了；到了巴郎那裏，將巴拉克的話告訴了他。
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.
8 他回答他們說：「今夜你們在這裏過夜，我要依照上主吩咐我的話答覆你們」。這樣，摩阿布的縉紳就在巴郎那裏住下了。
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 天主來到巴郎那裏說：「與你在一起的是些什麼人﹖」
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 巴郎答覆天主說：「是摩阿布的君王，漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，打發些人來告訴我說：
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, [saying],
11 看，從埃及來了一個民族，遮蓋了地面，現在請你來替我咒罵他們，使我或許能與他們交戰，將他們驅逐」。
Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.
12 天主對巴郎說：「你不可與他們同去，你不可咒罵這，因為他們是受祝福的」。
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.
13 巴郎早晨起來就對巴拉克的縉紳說：「你們回本國去吧! 因為上主不許我同你們一起去」。
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14 摩阿布的縉紳就起身回到巴拉克那裏說：「巴郎不願同我們一起來」。
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15 巴拉克於是又派比以前更多更貴的縉紳去。
And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.
16 他們去見巴郎，對他說：「漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克這樣說：請你不要推辭到我這裏來，
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:
17 因為我必豐富地酬謝你。凡你要的，我都照辦；只有你前來，替我咒罵這民族」。
for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18 巴郎答覆巴拉克的使臣說：「既使巴拉克給我滿屋的金銀，我也不能做任何大小的事，違犯上主我天主的命令。
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 Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
19 現在，請你們今夜也在這裏住下，看看上主還要什麼」。
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more.
20 夜間天主來到巴郎那裏，對他說：「這些人既然來邀請你，你就起身同去吧! 但是你只應做我吩咐你的事」。
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21 巴郎早晨起來，備好驢，就同摩阿布的縉紳一起去了。
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 因為他起身走了，天主發了怒；上主的使者在那裏擋住他的去路。當時他騎著驢，兩個僮僕跟著。
And God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 那驢一看見上主的使者，持著拔出的刀站在路上，就離開正路，走入田中去了。巴郎便鞭打那驢，要牠回到路上。
And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with 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.
24 以後，上主的使者又站在葡萄園間的窄路上，兩面有牆。
Then the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 那驢一見上主的使者，就緊靠著牆，將巴郎腳擠在牆上，他又打了那驢。
And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26 上主的使者又往前行，站在窄狹的地方，左右無路可走，
And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 那驢又見上主的使者，遂扒在巴郎下；巴郎大怒，用棍杖打那驢。
And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.
28 上主遂開了驢的口，對巴郎說：「我給你做了什麼﹖你竟三次打我﹖」
And Jehovah 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?
29 巴郎回答那驢說：「因為你玩弄我。我若手中有刀，早殺了你」。
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.
30 那驢對巴郎說：「我不是你從起初直到今日騎的驢呢﹖平常我是否對你這樣做﹖」他回答說：「不。」
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
31 上主遂開了巴郎的眼，使他看見了上主的使者，手持拔出的刀站在路上，他就躬身俯伏在地。
Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32 上主的使者對他說：「你為什麼三次打你的驢﹖看，是我出來擋路，因為你走的這路，在我面前的邪路。
And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:
33 驢看見了我，就在我面前迴避了三次；幸虧牠迴避了我，不然我早殺了你，只留下了牠」。
and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 巴郎於是對上主的使者說：「我犯了罪，因為我不知道是你站在路上阻攔我。現在，如果你以為不對，我就回去好了」。
And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, 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.
35 上主的者對巴郎說：「你同這些人去吧! 但是你只應說我呆2你的話」。巴郎於是同巴拉克的縉紳一起去了。
And the angel of Jehovah 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.
And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
37 巴拉克對巴郎說：「我不是派遺了使者去請你﹖你為什麼不到我這裏來，莫非我不能酬報你﹖」
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 honor?
38 巴拉克聽說巴郎來了，就到阿爾摩阿布──此城臨近阿爾農河邊，在國界的盡頭，───去迎接他。 巴郎答覆巴拉克說：「看，我已到你這裏來了，但我能隨便說什麼嗎﹖我只能說天主吩咐我說的話」。
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39 巴郎遂同巴拉克起身，來到了克黎雅特胡祚特。
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth.
40 巴拉克殺了牛羊，餽送給巴郎和同他在一起的縉紳。
And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41 到了次日早晨，巴拉克領巴郎上了巴摩特巴耳去，從那裏能看到一部分以色列人民。
And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.
