民數記 22
1 以色列人起行，在摩押平原、約旦河東，對着耶利哥安營。
And the sons of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2 以色列人向亞摩利人所行的一切事，西撥的兒子巴勒都看見了。
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 摩押人因以色列民甚多，就大大懼怕，心內憂急，
And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people, because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the sons of Israel.
4 對米甸的長老說：「現在這眾人要把我們四圍所有的一概餂盡，就如牛餂盡田間的草一般。」那時西撥的兒子巴勒作摩押王。
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 他差遣使者往大河邊的毗奪去，到比珥的兒子巴蘭本鄉那裏，召巴蘭來，說：「有一宗民從埃及出來，遮滿地面，與我對居。
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 這民比我強盛，現在求你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能得勝，攻打他們，趕出此地。因為我知道，你為誰祝福，誰就得福；你咒詛誰，誰就受咒詛。」
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 摩押的長老和米甸的長老手裏拿着卦金，到了巴蘭那裏，將巴勒的話都告訴了他。
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8 巴蘭說：「你們今夜在這裏住宿，我必照耶和華所曉諭我的回報你們。」摩押的使臣就在巴蘭那裏住下了。
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.
9 上帝臨到巴蘭那裏，說：「在你這裏的人都是誰？」
And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 巴蘭回答說：「是摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒打發人到我這裏來，說：
And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
11 『從埃及出來的民遮滿地面，你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能與他們爭戰，把他們趕出去。』」
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 上帝對巴蘭說：「你不可同他們去，也不可咒詛那民，因為那民是蒙福的。」
And God said to Balaam, Thou shall not go with them. Thou shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.
13 巴蘭早晨起來，對巴勒的使臣說：「你們回本地去吧，因為耶和華不容我和你們同去。」
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 摩押的使臣就起來，回巴勒那裏去，說：「巴蘭不肯和我們同來。」
And the rulers of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.
15 巴勒又差遣使臣，比先前的又多又尊貴。
And Balak sent yet again rulers, more, and more honorable than they.
16 他們到了巴蘭那裏，對他說：「西撥的兒子巴勒這樣說：『求你不容甚麼事攔阻你不到我這裏來，
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 因為我必使你得極大的尊榮。你向我要甚麼，我就給你甚麼；只求你來為我咒詛這民。』」
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 巴蘭回答巴勒的臣僕說：「巴勒就是將他滿屋的金銀給我，我行大事小事也不得越過耶和華－我上帝的命。
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 現在我請你們今夜在這裏住宿，等我得知耶和華還要對我說甚麼。」
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak to me more.
20 當夜，上帝臨到巴蘭那裏，說：「這些人若來召你，你就起來同他們去，你只要遵行我對你所說的話。」
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 巴蘭早晨起來，備上驢，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 上帝因他去就發了怒；耶和華的使者站在路上敵擋他。他騎着驢，有兩個僕人跟隨他。
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 驢看見耶和華的使者站在路上，手裏有拔出來的刀，就從路上跨進田間，巴蘭便打驢，要叫牠回轉上路。
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 耶和華的使者就站在葡萄園的窄路上；這邊有牆，那邊也有牆。
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 驢看見耶和華的使者，就貼靠牆，將巴蘭的腳擠傷了；巴蘭又打驢。
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 耶和華的使者又往前去，站在狹窄之處，左右都沒有轉折的地方。
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 驢看見耶和華的使者，就臥在巴蘭底下，巴蘭發怒，用杖打驢。
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 耶和華叫驢開口，對巴蘭說：「我向你行了甚麼，你竟打我這三次呢？」
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 巴蘭對驢說：「因為你戲弄我，我恨不能手中有刀，把你殺了。」
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 驢對巴蘭說：「我不是你從小時直到今日所騎的驢嗎？我素常向你這樣行過嗎？」巴蘭說：「沒有。」
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 當時，耶和華使巴蘭的眼目明亮，他就看見耶和華的使者站在路上，手裏有拔出來的刀，巴蘭便低頭俯伏在地。
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 耶和華的使者對他說：「你為何這三次打你的驢呢？我出來敵擋你，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 驢看見我就三次從我面前偏過去；驢若沒有偏過去，我早把你殺了，留牠存活。」
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 巴蘭對耶和華的使者說：「我有罪了。我不知道你站在路上阻擋我；你若不喜歡我去，我就轉回。」
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 耶和華的使者對巴蘭說：「你同這些人去吧！你只要說我對你說的話。」於是巴蘭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 巴勒聽見巴蘭來了，就往摩押京城去迎接他；這城是在邊界上，在亞嫩河旁。
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 巴勒對巴蘭說：「我不是急急地打發人到你那裏去召你嗎？你為何不到我這裏來呢？我豈不能使你得尊榮嗎？」
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 巴蘭說：「我已經到你這裏來了！現在我豈能擅自說甚麼呢？上帝將甚麼話傳給我，我就說甚麼。」
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.
39 巴蘭和巴勒同行，來到基列‧胡瑣。
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 巴勒宰了牛羊，送給巴蘭和陪伴的使臣。
And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the rulers that were with him.
41 到了早晨，巴勒領巴蘭到巴力的高處；巴蘭從那裏觀看以色列營的邊界。
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.
