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。
The children of Israel traveled, 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。
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，
Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because 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。
Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” 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。
He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying 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。」
Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you 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。
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. 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。
He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me.” 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？」
God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men 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：
Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said 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。』」
‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface 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。」
God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You 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。」
Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for Yahweh refuses to 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。」
The princes 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。
Balak again sent princes, 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，
They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you 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 you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and 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。
Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of Yahweh 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 please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else Yahweh will speak 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。」
God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”
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 saddled his donkey, 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。
God’s anger burned because he went; and Yahweh’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on 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。
The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into 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。
Then Yahweh’s angel 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。
The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck 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。
Yahweh’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there 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。
The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck 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？」
Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck 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。」
Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed 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 to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” 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 Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw Yahweh’s angel 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。
Yahweh’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your 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。」
The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, 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。」
Balaam said to Yahweh’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go 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。
Yahweh’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” So Balaam went with the 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。
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost 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？」
Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you 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。」
Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39 巴蘭和巴勒同行，來到基列‧胡瑣。
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。
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the 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。
In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.
