Numbers 22
1 The Israelites moved on and camped on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan, opposite Jericho.
以色列子民再起程出發，在約旦東邊的摩阿布曠野中，對著耶利哥城紮了營。
2 Balak, son of Zippor, had seen all that the Israelites had done to the Amorites.
漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，見了以色列對阿摩黎所做的一切；
3 The Moabites were terrified of the Israelites because there were so many of them. The Moabites dreaded the arrival of the Israelites
摩阿布人十分怕這民族，因為他們眾多；摩阿布人對以色列子民大起恐慌，
4 and told the leaders of Midian, “This horde will eat up everything we have, just like an ox eats up grass in the field!” (Balak son of Zippor, was king of Moab at that time.)
於是對米德揚的長老說：「現在這些人要吞併我們四周的一切，有如牛吃盡田間的青草」。漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，其時正是摩阿布的君王，
5 He sent messengers to call Balaam, son of Beor, who lived in Pethor near the Euphrates River in his own country. “Listen, a group of people has arrived here who came from Egypt,” Balak said in his message to Balaam. “There are hordes of them and they present a real threat to me.
遂遺使者往幼發拉的河阿瑪伍人之地的培托爾去，見貝敖爾的兒子巴郎，請他說：「看，由埃及來了一個民族，遮蓋了地面，現今正住在我的對面。
6 Please come immediately and curse these people for me, because they are stronger than me. Maybe then I'll be able to attack them and drive them out of my country because I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
現在請你來，替我咒罵這民族，因為他們比我強大，或許這樣我能將他們擊敗，從此地趕走；因為我知道，你祝福的，必蒙祝福；你咒罵的，必蒙咒罵」。
7 The Moabite and Midianite leaders departed, taking payment for the fortune-telling with them. When they arrived they gave Balaam the message from Balak.
摩阿布和米德揚的長老於是帶著卜金去了；到了巴郎那裏，將巴拉克的話告訴了他。
8 “Stay the night and I'll let you know the answer the Lord gives me,” Balaam told them. So the Moabite leaders stayed there with Balaam.
他回答他們說：「今夜你們在這裏過夜，我要依照上主吩咐我的話答覆你們」。這樣，摩阿布的縉紳就在巴郎那裏住下了。
9 God came to Balaam and asked him, “Who are these men staying with you?”
天主來到巴郎那裏說：「與你在一起的是些什麼人﹖」
10 Balaam told God, “Balak, son of Zippor, the king of Moab, sent me this message:
巴郎答覆天主說：「是摩阿布的君王，漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，打發些人來告訴我說：
11 ‘Listen, a group of people has arrived here who came from Egypt. There are hordes of them. Please come immediately and curse these people for me. Maybe then I'll be able to fight them and drive them out of my country.’”
看，從埃及來了一個民族，遮蓋了地面，現在請你來替我咒罵他們，使我或許能與他們交戰，將他們驅逐」。
12 But God told Balaam, “You are not to go back with them. You must not curse this people, for they are blessed.”
天主對巴郎說：「你不可與他們同去，你不可咒罵這，因為他們是受祝福的」。
13 In the morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's messengers, “Go back to where you came from because the Lord has refused to allow me to go with you.”
巴郎早晨起來就對巴拉克的縉紳說：「你們回本國去吧! 因為上主不許我同你們一起去」。
14 The Moabite leaders left. They returned to Balak, and told him, “Balaam refused to come back with us.”
摩阿布的縉紳就起身回到巴拉克那裏說：「巴郎不願同我們一起來」。
15 Then Balak sent even more leaders who were more prestigious than before.
巴拉克於是又派比以前更多更貴的縉紳去。
16 When they arrived they told Balaam, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please don't let anything stop you from coming to see me,
他們去見巴郎，對他說：「漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克這樣說：請你不要推辭到我這裏來，
17 because I will pay you a great deal and follow all the advice you give me. Please come and curse these people for me!’”
因為我必豐富地酬謝你。凡你要的，我都照辦；只有你前來，替我咒罵這民族」。
18 But Balaam told Balak's officials, “Even if Balak gave me his whole palace full of silver and gold, I couldn't disobey the command of the Lord my God in any way.
巴郎答覆巴拉克的使臣說：「既使巴拉克給我滿屋的金銀，我也不能做任何大小的事，違犯上主我天主的命令。
19 Now you should also stay the night so I can see if the Lord has anything else to tell me.”
現在，請你們今夜也在這裏住下，看看上主還要什麼」。
20 God came to Balaam during the night and told him, “Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But only do what I tell you.”
夜間天主來到巴郎那裏，對他說：「這些人既然來邀請你，你就起身同去吧! 但是你只應做我吩咐你的事」。
21 In the morning Balaam got up, put a saddle on his donkey, and left with the Moabite leaders.
巴郎早晨起來，備好驢，就同摩阿布的縉紳一起去了。
22 God's got angry because Balaam had decided to go. The angel of the Lord came and stood in the road to confront him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and he was accompanied by his two servants.
因為他起身走了，天主發了怒；上主的使者在那裏擋住他的去路。當時他騎著驢，兩個僮僕跟著。
23 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword, so it turned from the road and went into a field. So Balaam beat it to make it go back to the road.
那驢一看見上主的使者，持著拔出的刀站在路上，就離開正路，走入田中去了。巴郎便鞭打那驢，要牠回到路上。
24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow part of the road that passed between two vineyards, with walls on both sides.
以後，上主的使者又站在葡萄園間的窄路上，兩面有牆。
25 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and tried to get past. It pushed up against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it. So he beat it again.
那驢一見上主的使者，就緊靠著牆，將巴郎腳擠在牆上，他又打了那驢。
26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to get past, either on the right or the left.
上主的使者又往前行，站在窄狹的地方，左右無路可走，
27 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and lay down under Balaam. He got angry and beat it with his walking stick.
那驢又見上主的使者，遂扒在巴郎下；巴郎大怒，用棍杖打那驢。
28 The Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you for you to beat me three times?”
上主遂開了驢的口，對巴郎說：「我給你做了什麼﹖你竟三次打我﹖」
29 “You made me look stupid!” Balaam told the donkey. “If I was holding a sword, I'd kill you now!”
巴郎回答那驢說：「因為你玩弄我。我若手中有刀，早殺了你」。
30 But the donkey asked Balaam, “Aren't I the donkey you've ridden all your life right up to today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he admitted.
那驢對巴郎說：「我不是你從起初直到今日騎的驢呢﹖平常我是否對你這樣做﹖」他回答說：「不。」
31 Then the Lord gave Balaam the ability to see the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword. Balaam bowed low and fell facedown on the ground.
上主遂開了巴郎的眼，使他看見了上主的使者，手持拔出的刀站在路上，他就躬身俯伏在地。
32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why did you beat your donkey three times? Listen, I have come to confront you because you're being obstinate.
上主的使者對他說：「你為什麼三次打你的驢﹖看，是我出來擋路，因為你走的這路，在我面前的邪路。
33 The donkey saw me and avoided me three times. If it had not avoided me, by now I definitely would have killed you and allowed the donkey to live.”
驢看見了我，就在我面前迴避了三次；幸虧牠迴避了我，不然我早殺了你，只留下了牠」。
34 “I have sinned because I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me,” Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “So if this isn't what you want, I'll go back home.”
巴郎於是對上主的使者說：「我犯了罪，因為我不知道是你站在路上阻攔我。現在，如果你以為不對，我就回去好了」。
35 The angel of the Lord told Balaam, “No, you can go with the men, but only say what I tell you.” So Balaam continued on with Balak's officials.
上主的者對巴郎說：「你同這些人去吧! 但是你只應說我呆2你的話」。巴郎於是同巴拉克的縉紳一起去了。
36 When Balak found out that Balaam was on his way, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the border at the Arnon River, the farthest point of his territory.
37 He said to Balaam, “Didn't you think my call for you to come was urgent? Why didn't you come to me straight away? Did you think I couldn't pay you enough?”
巴拉克對巴郎說：「我不是派遺了使者去請你﹖你為什麼不到我這裏來，莫非我不能酬報你﹖」
38 “Look, I'm here with you now, aren't I?” Balaam replied. “But do you think I can just say anything? I can only speak the words that God gives me to say.”
巴拉克聽說巴郎來了，就到阿爾摩阿布──此城臨近阿爾農河邊，在國界的盡頭，───去迎接他。 巴郎答覆巴拉克說：「看，我已到你這裏來了，但我能隨便說什麼嗎﹖我只能說天主吩咐我說的話」。
39 So Balaam went with Balak and they arrived at Kiriath-huzoth.
巴郎遂同巴拉克起身，來到了克黎雅特胡祚特。
40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he shared with meat with Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
巴拉克殺了牛羊，餽送給巴郎和同他在一起的縉紳。
41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the extent of the Israelite camp.
到了次日早晨，巴拉克領巴郎上了巴摩特巴耳去，從那裏能看到一部分以色列人民。
