< 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。
After, the children of Israel departed and pitched in the plaine of Moab on the other side of Iorden from Iericho.
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。
Now Balak the sonne of Zippor sawe all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
And the Moabites were sore afraide of the people, because they were many, and Moab fretted against 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。
Therfore Moab said vnto the Elders of Midian, Nowe shall this multitude licke vp all that are round about vs, as an oxe licketh vp ye grasse of the fielde: and Balak the sonne of Zippor was King of the Moabites 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。
Hee sent messengers therefore vnto Balaam the sonne of Beor to Pethor (which is by the riuer of the lande of the children of his folke) to call him, saying, Beholde, there is a people come out of Egypt, which couer the face of the earth, and lye ouer against 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, and curse me this people (for they are stronger then I) so it may be that I shall be able to smite them, and to driue them out of the land: for I knowe that hee, whome thou blessest, is blessed, and he whom thou cursest, 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 the Elders of Midian departed, hauing the reward of the soothsaying in their hande, and they came vnto Balaam, and tolde him the wordes 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。
Who answered them, Tary here this night, and I will giue you an answere, as the Lord shall say vnto mee. So the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 上帝臨到巴蘭那裏,說:「在你這裏的人都是誰?」
Then God came vnto Balaam, and sayde, 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 Baalam said vnto God, Balak ye sonne of Zippor, king of Moab hath set vnto 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。』」
Beholde, there is a people come out of Egypt and couereth the face of the earth: come nowe, curse them for my sake: so it may be that I shalbe able to ouercome them in battell, and to driue 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 vnto Balaam, Go not thou with them, neither 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 vp in the morning, and sayde vnto ye princes of Balak, Returne vnto your land: for the Lord hath refused to giue me leaue 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。」
So the princes of Moab rose vp, and went vnto Balak, and sayd, Balaam hath refused to come with vs.
Balak yet sent againe moe princes, and more honourable then 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,
Who came to Balaam, and sayde to him, Thus saith Balak the sonne of Zippor, Bee not thou staied, I pray thee, from comming vnto 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 wil promote thee vnto great honour, and wil do whatsoeuer thou sayest vnto me: come therefore, I pray thee, 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 sayde vnto the seruants of Balak, If Balak woulde giue me his house full of siluer and golde, I can not goe beyonde the worde of the Lord my God, to doe lesse 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。」
But nowe, I pray you, tary here this night, that I may wit, what the Lord will say vnto mee 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 vnto Balaam by night, and sayd vnto him, If the men come to call thee, rise vp, and goe with them: but onely what thing I say vnto thee, that shalt thou doe.
21 巴蘭早晨起來,備上驢,和摩押的使臣一同去了。
So Balaam rose vp early, and sadled his asse, 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 ye wrath of God was kindled, because he went: and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way to be against him, as he rode vpon his asse, and his two seruants 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 asse saw the Angel of the Lord stand in the way, and his sworde drawen in his hand, the asse turned out of the way and went into the field, but Balaam smote the asse, to turne 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。
Againe the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyardes, hauing a wall on the one side, and a wall on the other.
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 asse sawe the Angel of the Lord, she thrust her selfe vnto the wall, and dasht Balaams foote against the wall: wherefore hee smote her againe.
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。
Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stoode in a narowe place, where was no way to turne, 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 when the asse sawe the Angell of the Lord, she lay downe vnder Balaam: therefore Balaam was very wroth, and smote the asse with a staffe.
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?」
Then the Lord opened the mouth of the asse, and she saide vnto Balaam, What haue I done vnto thee, that thou hast smitten me nowe 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 saide vnto the asse, Because thou hast mocked me: I woulde there were a sworde in mine hand, for nowe would I kill 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 asse saide vnto Balaam, Am not I thine asse, which thou hast ridden vpon since thy first time vnto this day? haue I vsed at any time to doe thus vnto thee? Who said, Nay.
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 the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he sawe the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawen in his hande: then he bowed him selfe, and fell flat 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 the Lord said vnto him, Wherefore hast thou nowe smitten thine asse three times? beholde, I came out to withstande thee, because thy way is not straight 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。」
But the asse sawe me, and turned from me now three times: for els, if she had not turned from me, surely I had euen nowe slaine thee, and saued her aliue.
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。」
Then Balaam saide vnto the Angel of the Lord, I haue sinned: for I wist not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore if it displease thee, I will turne home againe.
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。
But the Angel said vnto Balaam, Go with the men: but what I say vnto thee, that shalt thou speake. So Balaam went with ye princes 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 meete him vnto a citie of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, euen in the vtmost coast.
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?」
Then Balak saide vnto Balaam, Did I not sende for thee to call thee? Wherefore camest thou not vnto me? am I not able in deede to promote thee vnto honour?
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 made answere vnto Balak, Lo, I am come vnto thee, and can I nowe say any thing at all? the worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speake.
So Balaam went with Balak, and they came vnto the citie of Huzoth.
Then Balak offred bullockes, and sheepe, and sent thereof to Balaam, and to the princes 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 on the morowe Balak tooke Balaam, and brought him vp into the hie places of Baal, that thence hee might see the vtmost part of the people.