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 they set out and made camp in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan, where Jericho is situated.
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。
Then Balak, the son of Zippor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorite,
3 摩押人因以色列民甚多，就大大懼怕，心內憂急，
and that the Moabites had great fear of him, and that they were not able to bear his assault,
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。
said to those greater by birth of Midian: “So will this people wipe away all those who are dwelling within our borders, in the same way that the ox is accustomed to tear out grass, all the way to the roots.” At that time, he was king of Moab.
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。
Therefore, he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, a seer who lived above the river of the land of the sons of Ammon, to call him, and to say: “Behold, a people has gone forth from Egypt, which has covered the face of the earth. They are encamped 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。」
Therefore, come and curse this people, for they are stronger than I am. If only, in some way, I might be able to strike them and to drive them from my land. For I know that he whom you bless shall be blessed, and he whom you curse shall be 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 those greater by birth of Midian, continued on, holding the price of divination in their hands. And when they had come to Balaam, and had explained to him all 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。
he responded, “Remain for this night, and I will answer with whatever the Lord will say to me.” And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him,
9 上帝臨到巴蘭那裏，說：「在你這裏的人都是誰？」
“What do these men want with you?”
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：
He responded, “Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,
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。』」
saying: ‘Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt, has covered the face of the earth. Come and curse them, so that, in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
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, “Do not go with them, and do 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 he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders, “Go into your own land, for the Lord has prohibited me from going 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。」
Returning, the leaders said to Balak, “Balaam was not willing to come with us.”
15 巴勒又差遣使臣，比先前的又多又尊貴。
Again, he sent many more persons, and these were more noble than those he had sent before.
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 when these had come to Balaam, they said: “So says Balak, the son of Zippor. Do not hesitate 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 am ready to honor you, and whatever you would want, I shall give to you. Come and curse 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。
Balaam responded: “Even if Balak were to give to me his own house, filled with silver and gold, I still would not be able to change the word of the Lord my God, neither to say more, nor to say less.
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。」
I beg you to remain for this night also, so that I may know what the Lord will answer me again.”
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。」
Therefore, God came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: “If these men have arrived to call you, then rise up and go with them; yet only in so far as you shall do what I will command you.”
21 巴蘭早晨起來，備上驢，和摩押的使臣一同去了。
Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddling his donkey, he set out with them.
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 angry. And an Angel of the Lord stood in the way opposite Balaam, who was sitting on the donkey, and he had two servants 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。
The donkey, discerning that the Angel was standing in the way with a drawn sword, turned herself from the road and went through a field. And when Balaam beat her and intended to return her to the path,
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。
the Angel stood in a narrow place between the two walls, with which the vineyards were enclosed.
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, seeing this, drew herself close to the wall and scraped the foot of the rider. So he beat 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, nevertheless, the Angel passing on to a narrow place, where one would not be able to deviate either to the right or to the left, stood to meet him.
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 donkey had seen the Angel standing there, she fell under the feet of the rider, who, being angry, struck her sides more vehemently with a club.
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 the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said: “What have I done to you? Why do strike you me, behold now, for the 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。」
Balaam responded, “Because you have deserved it, and you have mistreated me. If only I had a sword, so that I might pierce you.”
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。」
The donkey said: “Am not I your animal, on which you have always been accustomed to sit, even until this present day? Tell me, when did I ever do the same thing to you.” But he said, “Never.”
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。
Immediately, the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he reverenced him prone on the ground.
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 said to him: “Why did you beat your donkey three times? I have come to be an adversary to you, because your way is perverse and contrary to 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 unless the donkey had turned aside from the way, allowing a place for my opposition, I would have killed you, and she would have lived.”
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。」
Balaam said: “I have sinned, not knowing that you stood against me. And now, if it displeases you for me to continue 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。
The Angel said, “Go with them, but be careful not to speak anything other than what I shall instruct you.” And so, he went with the leaders.
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 had heard it, he went out to meet him in a town of the Moabites, which is situated at the furthest borders of Arnon.
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 he said to Balaam: “I sent messengers to call you. Why did you not come to me immediately? Was it because I am not able to pay the cost for your arrival?”
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。」
He answered him: “Behold, here I am. Am I able to speak anything other than what God will put into my mouth?”
39 巴蘭和巴勒同行，來到基列‧胡瑣。
Therefore, they continued on together, and they arrived at a city, which was at the furthest borders of his kingdom.
40 巴勒宰了牛羊，送給巴蘭和陪伴的使臣。
And after Balak had killed oxen and sheep, he sent the gifts to Balaam, and to the leaders 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。
Then, when morning arrived, he led him to the heights of Baal, and he gazed upon the most distant portions of the population.
