< Numbers 22 >
1 And they set out [the] people of Israel and they encamped in [the] plains of Moab from [the] other side of [the] Jordan of Jericho.
Abako-Israyeli basuka lapho baya emagcekeni aseMowabi bamisa izihonqo zabo zisekele umfula iJodani ngaphetsheya kweJerikho.
2 And he saw Balak [the] son of Zippor all that it had done Israel to the Amorite[s].
UBhalaki indodana kaZiphori wabona konke okwenziwa ngu-Israyeli kuma-Amori,
3 And it was afraid Moab because of the people exceedingly for [was] numerous it and it felt dread Moab because of [the] people of Israel.
ngakho uMowabi wesaba ngoba abantu bako-Israyeli babebanengi kakhulu. Ngempela uMowabi watshaywa luvalo ngenxa yokwesaba abako-Israyeli.
4 And it said Moab to [the] elders of Midian now they will lick up the company all around us as licks up the ox [the] greenery of the field and Balak [the] son of Zippor [was] king of Moab at the time that.
AmaMowabi athi ebadaleni bamaMidiyani, “Ixuku leli lizahuquluza konke esilakho, njengenkabi isidla utshani emadlelweni.” Ngakho uBhalaki indodana kaZiphori, owayeyinkosi yamaMowabi ngalesosikhathi,
5 And he sent messengers to Balaam [the] son of Beor Pethor towards which [was] at the river [the] land of [the] sons of people his to summon him saying here! a people it has come out from Egypt here! it has covered [the] eye of the land and it [is] dwelling from in front of me.
wathumela izithunywa ukuyabiza uBhalamu indodana kaBheyori, owayehlala ePhethori eduzane lomfula iYufrathe elizweni lakibo lomdabuko. UBhalaki wathi, “Kulabantu abanengi kakhulu abavela eGibhithe; bagcwele ilizwe lonke njalo bahlezi eduze kwami.
6 And therefore come! please curse! for me the people this for [is too] mighty it for me perhaps I will be able to strike it and I will drive out it from the land for I know [the one] whom you bless [is] blessed and [the one] whom you curse he is cursed.
Woza khathesi uzeletha isithuko phezu kwabo, ngoba balamandla kulami. Mhlawumbe ngalokho ngingabehlula ngibaxotshe elizweni. Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi labo obabusisayo bayabusiseka, njalo labo obaqalekisayo bayaqalekiswa.”
7 And they went [the] elders of Moab and [the] elders of Midian and divinations [were] in hand their and they came to Balaam and they spoke to him [the] words of Balak.
Abadala bamaMowabi labamaMidiyani basuka, bathatha imbadalo yokuhlahlula. Bathe befika kuBhalamu, bamtshela lokho okwatshiwo nguBhalaki.
8 And he said to them lodge here this night and I will bring back you word just as he will speak Yahweh to me and they remained [the] leaders of Moab with Balaam.
“Lalani lapha okwalamuhla,” watsho uBhalamu kubo, “Ngizalilethela impendulo engizayiphiwa nguThixo.” Ngakho amakhosana amaMowabi ahlala laye.
9 And he came God to Balaam and he said who? [are] the men these with you.
UNkulunkulu weza kuBhalamu wambuza wathi, “Amadoda la olawo ngobani?”
10 And he said Balaam to God Balak [the] son of Zippor [the] king of Moab he sent to me.
UBhalamu wathi kuNkulunkulu, “UBhalaki indodana kaZiphori inkosi yamaMowabi ungithumele lelizwi elithi:
11 Here! the people which has come out from Egypt and it has covered [the] eye of the land now come! curse! for me it perhaps I will be able to engage in battle against it and I will drive out it.
‘Kulabantu abavele eGibhithe abagcwele elizweni lonke. Woza masinyane uzongiqalekisela lababantu. Mhlawumbe ngingaba lakho ukubalwisa ngibaxotshe lapha.’”
12 And he said God to Balaam not you will go with them not you will curse the people for [is] blessed it.
Kodwa uNkulunkulu wathi kuBhalamu, “Ungahambi labo. Ungabaqalekisi lababantu, ngoba babusisiwe.”
13 And he arose Balaam in the morning and he said to [the] leaders of Balak go to land your for he has refused Yahweh to permit me to go with you.
Ekuseni ngosuku olulandelayo uBhalamu wavuka esithi kumakhosana kaBhalaki, “Buyelani ezweni lenu, ngoba uThixo walile ukuthi ngihambe lani.”
14 And they arose [the] leaders of Moab and they went to Balak and they said he has refused Balaam to come with us.
Ngakho amakhosana amaMowabi abuyela kuBhalaki athi, “UBhalamu walile ukubuya lathi.”
15 And he repeated again Balak to send leaders many and honored more than these.
Ngakho uBhalaki wathumela amanye amakhosana amanengi njalo adumileyo kulawakuqala.
16 And they came to Balaam and they said to him thus he says Balak [the] son of Zippor do not please let yourself be restrained from coming to me.
Eza kuBhalamu afika athi: “Nanku okutshiwo nguBhalaki indodana kaZiphori: Akungabi lalutho olungakuvimbela ukuza kimi,
17 For surely I will honor you exceedingly and all that you will say to me I will do and come! please curse! for me the people this.
ngoba ngizakunika umvuzo omuhle njalo ngenze konke okutshoyo. Woza uzongiqalekisela lababantu.”
18 And he answered Balaam and he said to [the] servants of Balak if he will give to me Balak [the] fullness of house his silver and gold not I will be able to transgress [the] mouth of Yahweh God my by doing a small [thing] or a large [thing].
Kodwa uBhalamu wabaphendula wathi, “Loba uBhalaki enganginika isigodlo sakhe sigcwele isiliva legolide, angingeke ngenze ulutho olukhulu loba oluncane oluphambene lelizwi likaThixo uNkulunkulu wami.
19 And now remain please in this [place] also you this night so let me know what? will he increase Yahweh to speak with me.
Khathesi hlalani lapha okwalobubusuku njengalokhu okwenziwe ngabanye, mina ngizadingisisa ukuthi kuyini okunye uThixo azangitshela khona.”
20 And he came God - to Balaam night and he said to him if to summon you they have come the men arise go with them and only the word which I will speak to you it you will do.
Ngalobobusuku uNkulunkulu weza kuBhalamu wathi, “Njengoba ethunywe ukuzakubiza, hamba lawo, kodwa wenze lokho kuphela engizakutshela khona.”
21 And he arose Balaam in the morning and he saddled donkey his and he went with [the] leaders of Moab.
UBhalamu wavuka ekuseni, wagada ubabhemi wakhe wahle wahamba lamakhosana amaMowabi.
22 And it burned [the] anger of God for [was] going he and he stood [the] angel of Yahweh in the road to an adversary to him and he [was] riding on donkey his and two of servants his [were] with him.
Kodwa uNkulunkulu wathukuthela kakhulu ngokuhamba kwakhe, ngakho ingilosi kaThixo yajama phambi kwakhe yamvimbela. UBhalamu wayegade ubabhemi wakhe elezinceku zakhe ezimbili.
23 And it saw the donkey [the] angel of Yahweh standing in the road and sword his [was] drawn in hand his and it turned aside the donkey from the road and it went in the field and he struck Balaam the donkey to turn it the road.
Kwathi ubabhemi ebona ingilosi kaThixo imi endleleni iphethe inkemba esandleni sayo, waphambuka endleleni waqonda iganga. UBhalamu wamtshaya ubabhemi embuyisela endleleni.
24 And he stood [the] angel of Yahweh in [the] narrow way of the vineyards a wall from this and a wall from this.
Ngakho ingilosi kaThixo yayakuma emkhandlwini phakathi kwezivini ezimbili, kulemiduli inxa zonke.
25 And it saw the donkey [the] angel of Yahweh and it squeezed itself to the wall and it squeezed [the] foot of Balaam to the wall and he repeated to strike it.
Kwathi ubabhemi ebona ingilosi kaThixo, ubabhemi wasondela emdulini, ehluzulela unyawo lukaBhalamu emdulini. Ngalokho wamtshaya njalo ubabhemi.
26 And he increased [the] angel of Yahweh to pass on and he stood in a place narrow where there not [was] a way to turn aside right [hand] and left [hand].
Ngakho ingilosi kaThixo yaya phambili yema emkhandlwini onciphileyo lapho okwakungelandlela yokuphendukela kwesokudla loba esenxele.
27 And it saw the donkey [the] angel of Yahweh and it lay down under Balaam and it burned [the] anger of Balaam and he struck the donkey with the stick.
Kwathi ubabhemi ebona ingilosi kaThixo, ubabhemi walala phansi, uBhalamu wathukuthela kakhulu wamtshaya ubabhemi ngentonga yakhe.
28 And he opened Yahweh [the] mouth of the donkey and it said to Balaam what? have I done to you that you have struck me this three feet.
Ngalokho uThixo wavula umlomo kababhemi, wathi kuBhalamu, “Kanti ngenzeni na kuwe uze ungitshaye okwamahlandla amathathu?”
29 And he said Balaam to the donkey that you have dealt wantonly with me if there [were] a sword in hand my that now I killed you.
UBhalamu waphendula ubabhemi wathi, “Ungenze isiwula! Ngabe bengilenkemba esandleni sami bengizakubulala khathesi.”
30 And it said the donkey to Balaam ¿ not [am] I donkey your which you have ridden on me from duration your until the day this ¿ really have I had [the] habit to do to you thus and he said no.
Ubabhemi wathi kuBhalamu, “Kanti kangisubabhemi wakho na ovele uhlezi umgada insuku zonke kuze kube namhlanje? Kambe ngiyake ngikwenze lokhu kuwe na?” UBhalamu waphendula wathi, “Hatshi.”
31 And he uncovered Yahweh [the] eyes of Balaam and he saw [the] angel of Yahweh standing in the road and sword his [was] drawn in hand his and he bowed low and he bowed down to face his.
Ngakho uThixo wavula amehlo kaBhalamu, wabona ingilosi kaThixo imi endleleni iqaphise inkemba. Ngakho wakhothama wawa phansi ngobuso.
32 And he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh concerning what? did you strike female donkey your this three feet here! I I came out to an adversary for it is precipitate the way to before me.
Ingilosi kaThixo yambuza yathi, “Kungani utshaye ubabhemi wakho okwamahlandla amathathu na? Ngize lapha ukukuvimbela ngoba indlela yakho iyibutshapha phambi kwami.
33 And it saw me the donkey and it turned aside before me this three feet perhaps it had turned aside from before me if now also you I killed and it I preserved alive.
Ubabhemi ungibonile waphambuka okwamahlandla amathathu. Alubana kaphambukanga, ngabe khathesi sengikubulele wena, ngayekela ubabhemi.”
34 And he said Balaam to [the] angel of Yahweh I have sinned for not I knew that you [were] standing to meet me in the road and therefore if [it is] displeasing in view your I will turn back for myself.
UBhalamu wathi engilosini kaThixo, “Ngonile. Angizange nginanzelele ukuthi umi endleleni ukungivimbela. Nxa kungakuthokozisi khathesi, ngizabuyela emuva.”
35 And he said [the] angel of Yahweh to Balaam go with the men and only the word which I will speak to you it you will speak and he went Balaam with [the] leaders of Balak.
Ingilosi kaThixo yathi kuBhalamu, “Hamba lawo lamadoda, kodwa ukhulume lokho engikutshela khona kuphela.” Ngakho uBhalamu wahamba lamakhosana kaBhalaki.
36 And he heard Balak that he had come Balaam and he went out to meet him to [the] city of Moab which [is] on [the] border of Arnon which [is] at [the] end of the territory.
Kwathi uBhalaki esizwa ukuthi uBhalamu uyeza, waphuma ukumhlangabeza edolobheni lamaMowabi emngceleni wase-Arinoni emaphethelweni elizwe lakhe.
37 And he said Balak to Balaam ¿ not certainly did I send to you to summon you why? not did you come to me ¿ really not am I able to honor you.
UBhalaki wathi kuBhalamu, “Angikuthumelanga ilizwi lokuphangisa na? Kungani ungezanga kimi? Kambe kangenelisi ukukupha umvuzo na?”
38 And he said Balaam to Balak here! I have come to you now ¿ certainly am I able to speak anything the word which he will put God in mouth my it I will speak.
UBhalamu waphendula wathi, “Yebo, sengifikile kuwe khathesi. Kodwa angiyikukhuluma loba yini engiyifunayo. Ngizakhuluma lokho uNkulunkulu azakubeka emlonyeni wami kuphela.”
39 And he went Balaam with Balak and they came Kiriath-huzoth.
Ngakho uBhalamu wahamba loBhalaki eKhiriyathi-Huzothi.
40 And he sacrificed Balak cattle and sheep and he sent to Balaam and to the leaders who [were] with him.
UBhalaki wenza umhlatshelo wenkomo lezimvu, njalo ezinye wazipha uBhalamu ezinye wazipha amakhosana ayehamba lawo.
41 And it was in the morning and he took Balak Balaam and he brought up him Bamoth Baal and he saw from there [the] outskirt[s] of the people.
Ekuseni ngosuku olulandelayo uBhalaki wathatha uBhalamu waya eBhamothi-Bhali, kulapho abona khona izihonqo zabako-Israyeli.