< 民数记 22 >
1 以色列人起行,在摩押平原、约旦河东,对着耶利哥安营。
And the sons of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2 以色列人向亚摩利人所行的一切事,西拨的儿子巴勒都看见了。
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people, because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the sons of Israel.
4 对米甸的长老说:“现在这众人要把我们四围所有的一概舔尽,就如牛舔尽田间的草一般。”那时西拨的儿子巴勒作摩押王。
And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5 他差遣使者往大河边的毗夺去,到比珥的儿子巴兰本乡那里,召巴兰来,说:“有一宗民从埃及出来,遮满地面,与我对居。
And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people came out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide opposite me.
6 这民比我强盛,现在求你来为我咒诅他们,或者我能得胜,攻打他们,赶出此地。因为我知道,你为谁祝福,谁就得福;你咒诅谁,谁就受咒诅。”
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse for me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps 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 bless is blessed, and he whom thou curse is cursed.
7 摩押的长老和米甸的长老手里拿着卦金,到了巴兰那里,将巴勒的话都告诉了他。
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8 巴兰说:“你们今夜在这里住宿,我必照耶和华所晓谕我的回报你们。”摩押的使臣就在巴兰那里住下了。
And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak to me. And the rulers of Moab abode with Balaam.
And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 巴兰回答说:“是摩押王西拨的儿子巴勒打发人到我这里来,说:
And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
11 ‘从埃及出来的民遮满地面,你来为我咒诅他们,或者我能与他们争战,把他们赶出去。’”
Behold, the people came out of Egypt, it covers the face of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.
12 神对巴兰说:“你不可同他们去,也不可咒诅那民,因为那民是蒙福的。”
And God said to Balaam, Thou shall not go with them. Thou shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.
13 巴兰早晨起来,对巴勒的使臣说:“你们回本地去吧,因为耶和华不容我和你们同去。”
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the rulers of Balak, Get into your land, for Jehovah refuses to give me leave to go with you.
14 摩押的使臣就起来,回巴勒那里去,说:“巴兰不肯和我们同来。”
And the rulers of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.
And Balak sent yet again rulers, more, and more honorable than they.
16 他们到了巴兰那里,对他说:“西拨的儿子巴勒这样说:‘求你不容什么事拦阻你不到我这里来,
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming to me.
17 因为我必使你得极大的尊荣。你向我要什么,我就给你什么;只求你来为我咒诅这民。’”
For I will promote thee to very great honor, and whatever thou say to me I will do. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse this people for me.
18 巴兰回答巴勒的臣仆说:“巴勒就是将他满屋的金银给我,我行大事小事也不得越过耶和华—我 神的命。
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 Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
19 现在我请你们今夜在这里住宿,等我得知耶和华还要对我说什么。”
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak to me more.
20 当夜, 神临到巴兰那里,说:“这些人若来召你,你就起来同他们去,你只要遵行我对你所说的话。”
And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, go with them, but only the word which I speak to thee, that shall thou do.
21 巴兰早晨起来,备上驴,和摩押的使臣一同去了。
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the rulers of Moab.
22 神因他去就发了怒;耶和华的使者站在路上敌挡他。他骑着驴,有两个仆人跟随他。
And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the agent of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 驴看见耶和华的使者站在路上,手里有拔出来的刀,就从路上跨进田间,巴兰便打驴,要叫它回转上路。
And the donkey saw the agent of Jehovah 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 smote the donkey, to turn her into the way.
24 耶和华的使者就站在葡萄园的窄路上;这边有墙,那边也有墙。
Then the agent of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 驴看见耶和华的使者,就贴靠墙,将巴兰的脚挤伤了;巴兰又打驴。
And the donkey saw the agent of Jehovah, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. And he smote her again.
26 耶和华的使者又往前去,站在狭窄之处,左右都没有转折的地方。
And the agent 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 驴看见耶和华的使者,就卧在巴兰底下,巴兰发怒,用杖打驴。
And the donkey saw the agent of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the donkey with his staff.
28 耶和华叫驴开口,对巴兰说:“我向你行了什么,你竟打我这三次呢?”
And Jehovah opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou have smitten me these three times?
29 巴兰对驴说:“因为你戏弄我,我恨不能手中有刀,把你杀了。”
And Balaam said to the donkey, Because thou have mocked me. I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed thee.
30 驴对巴兰说:“我不是你从小时直到今日所骑的驴吗?我素常向你这样行过吗?”巴兰说:“没有。”
And the donkey said to Balaam, Am not I thy donkey, upon which thou have ridden all thy life long to this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to thee? And he said, No.
31 当时,耶和华使巴兰的眼目明亮,他就看见耶和华的使者站在路上,手里有拔出来的刀,巴兰便低头俯伏在地。
Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the agent of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32 耶和华的使者对他说:“你为何这三次打你的驴呢?我出来敌挡你,因你所行的,在我面前偏僻。
And the agent of Jehovah said to him, Why have thou smitten thy donkey these three times? Behold, I have come forth as an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me.
33 驴看见我就三次从我面前偏过去;驴若没有偏过去,我早把你杀了,留它存活。”
And the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have even slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 巴兰对耶和华的使者说:“我有罪了。我不知道你站在路上阻挡我;你若不喜欢我去,我就转回。”
And Balaam said to the agent of Jehovah, I have sinned, for I knew not that thou stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get back again.
35 耶和华的使者对巴兰说:“你同这些人去吧!你只要说我对你说的话。”于是巴兰同着巴勒的使臣去了。
And the agent of Jehovah said to Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak to thee, that thou shall speak. So Balaam went with the rulers of Balak.
36 巴勒听见巴兰来了,就往摩押京城去迎接他;这城是在边界上,在亚嫩河旁。
And when Balak heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the outmost part of the border.
37 巴勒对巴兰说:“我不是急急地打发人到你那里去召你吗?你为何不到我这里来呢?我岂不能使你得尊荣吗?”
And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to thee to call thee? Why did thou not come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?
38 巴兰说:“我已经到你这里来了!现在我岂能擅自说什么呢? 神将什么话传给我,我就说什么。”
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the rulers that were with him.
41 到了早晨,巴勒领巴兰到巴力的高处;巴兰从那里观看以色列营的边界。
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 there the outmost part of the people.