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 children of Israel departed, and encamped on the west of Moab by Jordan toward 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 when Balac son of Sepphor saw all that Israel did to the Amorite,
3 摩押人因以色列民甚多，就大大懼怕，心內憂急，
then Moab feared the people exceedingly because they were many; and Moab was grieved before the face of the children 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 Madiam, Now shall this assembly lick up all that are round about us, as a calf would lick up the green [herbs] of the field: —and Balac son of Sepphor 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 ambassadors to Balaam the son of Beor, to Phathura, which is on a river of the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people is come out of Egypt, and behold it has covered the face of the earth, and it has encamped close to 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。」
And now come, curse me this people, for it is stronger than we; if we may be able to smite some of them, and I will cast them out of the land: for I know that whomsoever thou dost bless, they are blessed, and whomsoever thou dost curse, they are 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 went, and the elders of Madiam, and their divining [instruments were] in their hands; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balac.
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, Tarry here the night, and I will answer you the things which the Lord shall say to me; and the princes of Moab stayed 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 to him, Who are these men 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, Balac son of Sepphor, king of Moab, sent them 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, a people has come forth out of Egypt, and has covered the face of the land, and it has encamped near to me; and now come, curse it for me, if indeed I shall be able to smite it, and cast it out of the land.
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 shalt not go with them, neither shalt thou 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 princes of Balac, Depart quickly to your lord; God does not permit me 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 princes of Moab rose, and came to Balac, and said, Balaam will not come with us.
15 巴勒又差遣使臣，比先前的又多又尊貴。
And Balac yet again sent more princes and more honourable 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 they say to him, Thus says Balac the son of Sepphor: I beseech thee, delay not to come 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 greatly honour thee, and will do for thee whatsoever thou shalt say; come then, curse me this people.
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 princes of Balac, If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I shall not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord God, to make it little or great in my mind.
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。」
And now do ye also tarry here this night, and I shall know what the Lord will yet say to me.
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 by night, and said to him, If these men are come to call thee, rise and follow them; nevertheless the word which I shall speak to thee, it shalt 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 ass, and went with the princes 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 was very angry because he went; and the angel of the Lord rose up to withstand him. Now he had mounted his ass, 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 when the ass saw the angel of God standing opposite in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, then the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and [Balaam] smote the ass with his staff to direct her in 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。
And the angel of the Lord stood in the avenues of the vines, a fence [being] on this side and a fence on that.
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 when the ass saw the angel of God, she thrust herself against 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 angel of the Lord went farther, and came and stood in a narrow place where it was impossible to turn to the right or 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 when the ass saw the angel of God, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam was angry, and struck the ass 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 God opened the mouth of the ass, and she says to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me this third time?
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 ass, Because thou hast mocked me; and if I [had] had a sword in my hand, I would now 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 ass says to Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass on which thou hast ridden since thy youth till this day? did I ever do thus to thee, utterly disregarding [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。
And God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he sees the angel of the Lord withstanding [him] in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and he stooped down and worshipped 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 angel of God said to him, Why hast thou smitten thine ass this third time? and, behold, I came out to withstand thee, for thy way was not seemly before me; and when the ass saw me, she turned away from me this third time.
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 if she had not turned out of the way, surely now, I should have slain thee, and should have 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 angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know that thou wert standing opposite in the way to meet [me]; and now if it shall not be pleasing to thee [for me to go on], I will return.
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 angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men: nevertheless the word which I shall speak to thee, that thou shalt take heed to speak. And Balaam went with the princes of Balac.
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 Balac heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him, to a city of Moab, which is on the borders of Arnon, which is on the [extreme] part of the borders.
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 Balac said to Balaam, Did I not send to thee to call thee? why hast thou not come to me? shall I not indeed be able to honour thee?
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 Balac, Behold, I am now come to thee: shall I be able to say anything? the word which God shall put into my mouth, that I shall speak.
39 巴蘭和巴勒同行，來到基列‧胡瑣。
And Balaam went with Balac, and they came to the cities of streets.
40 巴勒宰了牛羊，送給巴蘭和陪伴的使臣。
And Balac offered sheep and calves, and sent to Balaam and to his princes who 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 was morning; and Balac took Balaam, and brought him up to the pillar of Baal, and shewed him thence a part of the people.
