Numbers 22
1 Then the Israelis traveled west to the area of Moab that was in the valley of the Jordan [River], across the river from Jericho [city].
Afei, Israelfoɔ no kɔɔ Moab tata so kɔtenaa Asubɔnten Yordan apueeɛ fam a ɛhɔ ne Yeriko di nhwɛanimu no.
2 But King Balak, the son of Zippor, who ruled Moab, found out what the Israelis had done to the Amor people-group.
Sipor babarima Moabhene Balak hunuu deɛ Israelfoɔ ayɛ Amorifoɔ.
3 [When he saw that] the Israelis were very numerous, he and his people became terrified.
Ɛberɛ a ɔhunuu Israelfoɔ dodoɔ a wɔwɔ hɔ no, ɔne ne nkurɔfoɔ bɔɔ huboa.
4 So the king of Moab [went to] the leaders of the Midian people-group and said to them, “This huge group [of Israelis] will (wipe out/destroy) everything around them, like an ox devours grass!” Balak was the king of Moab.
Ntɛm ara, wɔne Midian mpanimfoɔ tuu agyina. Wɔkaa sɛ, “Saa dɔm yi bɛwe biribiara a wɔhunu sɛdeɛ nantwie we serɛ.” Enti, Moab ɔhene Balak
5 He sent messengers to [a prophet named] Balaam, who was living in his own area, in Pethor [town], near the [Euphrates] River. He sent this message to request that Balaam would come [to help him]: “A huge group of people has arrived here from Egypt. [It looks like] they are covering the entire land! And they have begun to live close to us.
somaa nnipa ma wɔkɔɔ Beor babarima Balaam nkyɛn wɔ Petor a ɛbɛn Asubɔnten Eufrate ho. Ɔsrɛɛ Balaam sɛ ɔmmɛboa no. Ɔkaa sɛ, “Nnipadɔm bi firi Misraim aba. Wɔkata asase ani nyinaa na wɔrehunahuna me.
6 Because they are very powerful/numerous, [we are afraid of them. So] please come and curse them for me. Then my army may be able to defeat them and expel them from the land [where they are now living]. I know that good things will happen to the people whom you bless, and disasters will happen to the people whom you curse.”
Mɛsrɛ wo, bra na bɛdome wɔn ma me, ɛfiri sɛ wɔdɔɔso dodo. Ebia metumi adi wɔn so nkonim na mapam wɔn afiri asase no so. Na menim nhyira a ɛba wɔn a wohyira wɔn no so, ɛnna menim musuo a ɛba wɔn a wodome wɔn so.”
7 [Balak’s messengers, who were] leaders of both the Moab and Midian people-groups, took money with them to pay Balaam in order that he would [come and] curse the Israelis. They went to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.
Nnipa a ɔsomaa wɔn no yɛ atitire a wɔfiri Moab ne Midian. Wɔfaa sika sɛ wɔde rekɔtua Balaam ka ama wadome Israelfoɔ. Enti wɔkɔɔ Balaam nkyɛn kɔkaa deɛ ɛhia Balak kyerɛɛ no.
8 Balaam said, “Stay here tonight. [Tomorrow morning] I will tell you whatever Yahweh tells me that I should say to you.” So the leaders from Moab stayed there that night.
Balaam kaa sɛ, “Monna ma adeɛ nkye mo. Adeɛ kye a, deɛ Awurade bɛkyerɛ me sɛ menyɛ no, mɛka akyerɛ mo.” Enti wɔdaeɛ.
9 During the night, God appeared to Balaam and asked him, “(Who are/Tell me about) these men who are staying with you.”
Anadwo no, Onyankopɔn baa Balaam nkyɛn bɛbisaa no sɛ, “Saa nnipa yi yɛ ɛhefoɔ?”
10 Balaam replied, “Balak, the king of Moab, sent these men to tell me this:
Ɔbuaa sɛ, “Wɔfiri Moabhene Balak nkyɛn.
11 ‘A huge group of people has come from Egypt, and they have spread all over this area. Please come immediately to curse them. Then I may be able to defeat them and expel them [from this area].’”
Na nnipadɔm bi firi Misraim aba ne hyeɛ so, na ɔpɛ sɛ mekɔ hɔ ntɛm so na mekɔdome wɔn sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, ɔbɛtumi adi wɔn so.”
12 God replied to Balaam, “Do not go with them! I have blessed those people, so you must not curse them!”
Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Nkɔ. Ɛnsɛ sɛ wodome wɔn, ɛfiri sɛ, mahyira wɔn!”
13 The next morning, Balaam got up and told Balak’s men, “Go back home. [But go by yourselves, because] Yahweh is not allowing me to go with you.”
Adeɛ kyeeɛ no, anɔpa, Balaam ka kyerɛɛ nnipa no sɛ, “Monsane nkɔ fie! Awurade rempene mma mennyɛ saa.”
14 So the men from Moab returned to King Balak and they reported to him, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
Enti, ɔhene Balak ananmusifoɔ no sane wɔn akyi bɛbɔɔ amaneɛ sɛ ɔse ɔremma.
15 But Balak sent another [group of] leaders to Balaam. It was a group that was larger and they were more important [than the men in the first group].
Balak sɔ hwɛɛ bio. Saa ɛberɛ no deɛ, ɔsomaa nnipa dodoɔ pa ara a animuonyamfoɔ a wɔkyɛn kane dɔm no fra wɔn mu.
16 They went to Balaam and told him this: “This is what King Balak says: ‘Please do not allow anything to hinder you from coming here.
Wɔbaa Balaam nkyɛn bɛka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ɔhene Balak se ɔsrɛ wo sɛ bra.
17 I will pay you (a lot of money/very well) [if you come], and I will do anything that you ask me to do. Just come and curse these [Israeli] people for me!’”
Ɔbɛhyɛ wo animuonyam na sika biara a wɔbɛgye no no nso, ɔbɛtua. Ka sika a wobɛgye! Ɔse, wo deɛ, bra na bɛdome saa nnipa no ma yɛn.”
18 But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not do anything to disobey Yahweh, (my God/the God whom I [worship]).
Nanso, Balaam buaa sɛ, “Sɛ ɔma me ahemfie a wɔde dwetɛ ne sikakɔkɔɔ ahyɛ no ma tɔ koraa a, merentumi nyɛ biribiara mmu saa ahyɛdeɛ a Awurade a ɔyɛ me Onyankopɔn no ahyɛ no so.
19 But stay here one more night, like the other messengers did, and I will find out if Yahweh has anything more to say to me.”
Nanso, monna ha ma adeɛ nkye na yɛnhwɛ sɛ Awurade bɛka asɛm foforɔ bi aka deɛ waka dada no ho anaa.”
20 That night God appeared to Balaam again and said to him, “These men have come to request that you go back with them, so you may go with them, but do only what I tell you [to do]!”
Anadwo no, Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ Balaam sɛ, “Sɔre na wo ne saa nnipa no nkɔ na mmom, hwɛ yie na yɛ deɛ mɛkyerɛ wo sɛ yɛ no nko ara.”
21 So the next morning, Balaam put a saddle on his donkey and he departed [with two of his servants] along with the men from Moab.
Adeɛ kyee anɔpa no, ɔhyehyɛɛ nʼafunumu, tenaa ne so ne wɔn hyɛɛ aseɛ kɔeɛ.
22 [Even though God had given Balaam permission to go, he was still angry]. So he sent one of his angels to Balaam. This angel stood in the road to block Balaam’s path. As Balaam and the two servants were riding on their donkeys,
Nanso, Onyankopɔn bo fuu Balaam ahopere a ɔde kɔeɛ no; enti ɔsomaa ɔsoro Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ kɔgyinaa akwantemfi sɛ ɔnkum no wɔ hɔ. Ɛberɛ a Balaam ne asomfoɔ baanu rekorɔ no,
23 Balaam’s donkey saw the angel. The angel was standing in the road and was holding a sword in his hand, [but Balaam did not see him]. Balaam’s donkey turned off the road into a field. So Balaam struck the donkey and forced it to go back onto the road.
prɛko pɛ, Balaam afunumu no hunuu Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ no sɛ ɔkura sekan gyina ɛkwan no mfimfini. Aboa no kwae faa wiram nanso Balaam kaa ne so sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, ɔbɛfa ɛkwan mu.
24 Then the angel stood in a place where the road was very narrow, between two vineyards, with walls on each side of the road.
Baabi a na Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ no gyina hɔ no yɛ bobefuo afasuo mmienu ntam.
25 When the donkey saw the angel standing there, it walked very close to the wall [to try to get past the angel]. As a result, it bashed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam struck the donkey again.
Ɛberɛ a afunumu no hunuu Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ no, ɔde ne ho twee ɔfasuo no ho maa Balaam nan pɛkyɛeɛ. Nanso, Balaam kɔɔ so hwee aboa no bio.
26 Then the angel went further along the road and stood at a place that was extremely narrow, with the result that the donkey could not get past at all.
Afei, Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ no kɔɔ ɛkwan no anafoɔ kɔgyinaa baabi a ɛhɔ kyere pa ara a na afunumu no nnya baabi mfa.
27 This time, when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down [on the ground] with Balaam sitting on top of it. Balaam became extremely angry, and he struck the donkey again with his walking stick.
Enti, ɔbutuu ɛkwan no mu. Balaam de abufuo kaa aboa no mmaa.
28 Then Yahweh enabled the donkey to speak! It said to Balaam, “What bad thing have I done to you that caused you to strike me three times?”
Afei, Awurade hyɛɛ afunumu no ma ɔkasaeɛ! Ɔbisaa ne wura no sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na mayɛ enti a ɛsɛ sɛ wohwe me mprɛnsa?”
29 Balaam shouted, “I struck you because you have caused me to appear to be foolish! If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”
Balaam nso buaa no sɛ, “Ɛfiri sɛ, woama masɛ ɔkwasea. Na sɛ mekura sekan a, anka mɛkum wo.”
30 But the donkey answered, “I am your own donkey [RHQ], the one that you have always ridden! Have I ever done anything like this previously?” Balaam said, “No.”
Afunumu no nso bisaa no sɛ, “Me ne wo tenaeɛ yi, mayɛ sei pɛn?” Ne wura no buaa sɛ, “Dabi.”
31 Then Yahweh enabled Balaam to see the angel standing on the road, holding a sword in his hand. Balaam [realized that it was an angel and] prostrated himself on the ground in front of the angel.
Afei, Awurade buee Balaam ani ma ɔhunuu ɔsoro ɔbɔfoɔ no sɛ watwe sekan gyina ɛkwan no mfimfini enti ɔkɔbutuu nʼanim.
32 The angel asked him, ‘(Why did you strike your donkey three times?/ You should certainly not have struck the donkey three times! [RHQ] I have come to block your path because what you are planning to do is wrong.
Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ no bisaa no sɛ, “Adɛn enti na wohwe wʼafunumu no mprɛnsa saa? Maba sɛ merebɛka ama woagyae, ɛfiri sɛ, worepɛ adeɛ asɛe.
33 Three times your donkey saw me and turned away from me. If it had not done that, I would certainly have killed you already, but I would have allowed the donkey to live.”
Afunumu no hunuu me mprɛnsa a emu biara ɔkwae faa baabi; anyɛ saa a, anka mɛkum wo na magyaa no.”
34 Then Balaam said to the angel, “I have sinned. But I did not realize that you were standing there, trying to block my path. So if you do not want me to continue going, I will return home.”
Afei, Balaam ka kyerɛɛ Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ no sɛ, “Mafom. Na mennim sɛ wowɔ hɔ. Sɛ wompɛ sɛ metoa mʼakwantuo no so deɛ a, meresane akɔ efie.”
35 But the angel replied, “I will allow you to go with these men, but you must say only what I tell you to say!” So Balaam went on with the leaders whom Balak [had sent].
Nanso, Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Wo ne nnipa no nkɔ, nanso asɛm a mɛka akyerɛ wo no nko na ka.” Enti Balaam ne wɔn kɔeɛ.
36 When King Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went to meet him at a Moab town alongside the Arnon [River] that was at the border of his own land.
Ɛberɛ a ɔhene Balak tee sɛ Balaam reba no, ɔfirii kuro no mu kɔhyiaa no Asubɔnten Arnon ho wɔ ne hyeɛ so.
37 [When he arrived where] Balaam was, he said to him, “I sent you [RHQ] a message saying that you should come immediately [RHQ]! Why did you not come immediately? [Did you think that] I was not able to pay you a lot of money for coming?”
Ɔbisaa Balaam sɛ, “Adɛn enti na wokyɛɛ saa? Anaasɛ, mehyɛɛ wo bɔ sɛ mɛhyɛ wo animuonyam no na wonnye nni?”
38 Balaam replied, “I have come here now, but I am not able to say anything [that I want to]. I will say only the words that God tells me to say [MTY].”
Balaam buaa sɛ, “Ɛwom sɛ maba deɛ, nanso menni tumi biara a mɛka asɛm biara agye asɛm a Onyankopɔn bɛka akyerɛ me sɛ menka no nko na mɛka.”
39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-Huzoth [town].
Balaam kaa ɔhene no ho ne no kɔɔ Kiria-Husot,
40 There Balak killed some cattle and sheep as sacrifices, and offered [parts of the meat] to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
baabi a ɔhene Balak de anantwie ne nnwan bɔɔ afɔdeɛ na ɔde mmoa no bi maa Balaam ne ne mpanimfoɔ sɛ wɔmfa mmɔ afɔdeɛ no.
41 [They slept there], and the next morning Balak took Balaam part way up [the mountain] to Bamoth-Baal [village]. From there, they could see some of the Israeli people who were down below.
Adeɛ kyee anɔpa no, Balak faa Balaam de no kɔɔ Bamot-Baal atifi. Ɔfiri hɔ too nʼani hunuu sɛ Israelfoɔ no sam aseɛ hɔ.
