Numbers 22
1 The children of Israel traveled, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at 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 the son of Zippor saw all that Israel 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 Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
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 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.
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 Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor on the river, to the land of the people of Ammon, to call him, saying, "Look, there is a people who came out from Egypt. Look, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite 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 And now please come, 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."
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 elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of 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 And he said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me." The princes of Moab stayed 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 And God came to Balaam, and said, "Who are these men with you?"
天主來到巴郎那裏說：「與你在一起的是些什麼人﹖」
10 And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
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 'Look, this people has come out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'"
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 And God said to Balaam, "You are not to go with them, and you are not to curse the 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 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your lord; for God refuses to permit 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 princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come 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 again sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.
巴拉克於是又派比以前更多更貴的縉紳去。
16 They came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Please let nothing hinder you from coming to 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 for I will greatly honor you, and whatever you say to me I will do for you. Please come therefore, and curse this 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 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the command of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
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 therefore, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what else the LORD will say to 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 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."
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 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
巴郎早晨起來，備好驢，就同摩阿布的縉紳一起去了。
22 God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
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 God standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.
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 God stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
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 God, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he struck her 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 The angel of God went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to 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 God, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
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 And God 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?"
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 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."
巴郎回答那驢說：「因為你玩弄我。我若手中有刀，早殺了你」。
30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?" He said, "No."
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 God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of God standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
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 God said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come forth as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me:
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 and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive."
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 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned; for I did not know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again."
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 God said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
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 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 Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?"
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 Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak."
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 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to 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 sent to Balaam, and to the princes 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 It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.
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。
