Ndari 22
1 Ningĩ andũ a Isiraeli makĩnyiita rũgendo marorete werũ wa Moabi na makĩamba hema ciao hũgũrũrũ-inĩ cia Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani mũrĩmo wa itũũra rĩa Jeriko.
Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
2 Na rĩrĩ, Balaki mũrũ wa Ziporu nĩonete maũndũ marĩa mothe Isiraeli meekĩte Aamori,
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3 nao andũ a Moabi magĩĩtigĩra mũno nĩ ũndũ nĩ kwarĩ na andũ aingĩ mũno. Ti-itherũ, andũ a Moabi maiyũrĩtwo nĩ guoya nĩ ũndũ wa andũ a Isiraeli.
and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4 Andũ a Moabi makĩĩra athuuri a Midiani atĩrĩ, “Mũingĩ ũyũ ũkũrĩa indo ciothe iria itũrigiicĩirie, o ta ũrĩa ndegwa ĩrĩĩaga nyeki ya gĩthaka.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Balaki mũrũ wa Ziporu, ũrĩa warĩ mũthamaki wa Moabi ihinda rĩu,
So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,
5 agĩtũmanĩra Balamu mũrũ wa Beori, ũrĩa warĩ Pethori, hakuhĩ na Rũũĩ rwa Farati, kũu bũrũri wao. Balaki akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ: “Harĩ na andũ mokĩte moimĩte bũrũri wa Misiri; nao maiyũrĩte bũrũri ũyũ wothe, na maikarĩte o hakuhĩ na niĩ.
he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
6 Ndagũthaitha ũka ũnumĩre andũ aya manyiitwo nĩ kĩrumi, nĩ ũndũ marĩ na hinya mũno kũngĩra. Ũngĩmaruma kwahoteka ndĩmahoote na ndĩmarutũrũre moime bũrũri ũyũ. Nĩ ũndũ nĩnjũũĩ atĩ arĩa warathima nĩmarathimagwo, nao arĩa waruma nĩ manyiitagwo nĩ kĩrumi.”
So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”
7 Nao athuuri a Moabi na a Midiani magĩthiĩ makuuĩte irĩhi rĩa kũragũrĩrwo. Maakinya kũrĩ Balamu, makĩmũhe ũhoro ũrĩa Balaki oigĩte.
The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.
8 Nake Balamu akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Raraai gũkũ ũmũthĩ, na nĩngamũcookeria macookio marĩa Jehova ekũhe.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio anene a Moabi makĩraarania nake.
“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 Nake Ngai agĩkora Balamu akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Andũ aya mũrĩ nao nĩ a?”
Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balamu agĩcookeria Ngai atĩrĩ, “Balaki mũrũ wa Ziporu, mũthamaki wa Moabi, nĩwe ũrandeheire ndũmĩrĩri ĩno:
And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 ‘Kũrĩ andũ moimĩte bũrũri wa Misiri makaiyũra bũrũri ũyũ wothe. Ndagũthaitha ũũke ũnumĩre o manyiitwo nĩ kĩrumi, no gũkorwo no hũũrane nao ndĩmaingate moime bũrũri ũyũ!’”
‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”
12 No Ngai akĩĩra Balamu atĩrĩ, “Ndũgũthiĩ nao. Ndũkarume andũ acio, tondũ nĩ andũ arathime.”
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 Rũciinĩ rũrũ rũngĩ, Balamu agĩũkĩra, akĩĩra anene acio a Balaki atĩrĩ, “Cookai bũrũri wanyu kĩũmbe, nĩ ũndũ Jehova nĩarega kũnjĩtĩkĩria tũthiĩ na inyuĩ.”
So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
14 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio anene a Moabi magĩcooka kũrĩ Balaki makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Balamu nĩarega gũũka na ithuĩ.”
And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Ningĩ Balaki agĩtũma anene angĩ aingĩ makĩria na maarĩ igweta gũkĩra acio a mbere.
Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
16 Nao magĩthiĩ kũrĩ Balamu makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ: “Ũũ nĩguo Balaki mũrũ wa Ziporu ekuuga: Ndũgetĩkĩre ũndũ o na ũrĩkũ ũgirie ũũke kũrĩ niĩ,
They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 tondũ nĩngũkũrĩha wega mũno, na njĩke ũrĩa wothe ũngiuga. Ndagũthaitha ũka ũnumĩre andũ aya.”
for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
18 No Balamu akĩmacookeria atĩrĩ, “O na Balaki angĩĩhe nyũmba yake ya ũnene ĩiyũrĩtio betha na thahabu-rĩ, ndingĩĩka ũndũ o na ũrĩkũ, mũnene kana mũnini, wagararĩte watho wa Jehova Ngai wakwa.
But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.
19 Na rĩrĩ, raraai gũkũ ũmũthĩ, o ta ũrĩa acio angĩ mareekire, na nĩngũtuĩria ũndũ ũrĩa ũngĩ Jehova ekũnjĩĩra.”
So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
20 Ũtukũ ũcio Ngai nĩakorire Balamu, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Tondũ andũ aya nĩ mokĩte gũgwĩta, thiĩ nao, no wĩke o ũrĩa wiki ngũkwĩra.”
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
21 Balamu agĩũkĩra rũciinĩ, agĩtandĩka ndigiri yake, na agĩthiĩ na anene acio a Moabi.
So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 No Ngai nĩarakarire mũno athiĩ, na mũraika wa Jehova akĩrũgama njĩra nĩguo amũgirĩrĩrie gũthiĩ. Balamu aahaicĩte ndigiri yake, na ndungata ciake igĩrĩ ciarĩ hamwe nake.
Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 Na rĩrĩa ndigiri yoonire mũraika wa Jehova arũngiĩ njĩra, acomorete rũhiũ rwa njora, na arũnyiitĩte na guoko, ĩkĩgarũrũka, ĩgĩtoonya mũgũnda. Nake Balamu akĩmĩhũũra nĩguo ĩcooke njĩra.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.
24 Nake mũraika wa Jehova akĩrũgama njĩra-inĩ yarĩ njeke gatagatĩ ka mĩgũnda ĩĩrĩ ya mĩthabibũ, na o mũgũnda warĩ mũirige.
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
25 Rĩrĩa ndigiri yoonire mũraika wa Jehova-rĩ, ĩkĩĩhatĩrĩria rũthingo-inĩ, ĩkĩhinyĩrĩria kũgũrũ kwa Balamu rũthingo-inĩ rũu. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩmĩhũũra rĩngĩ.
And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.
26 Ningĩ mũraika wa Jehova agĩthiĩ mbere akĩrũgama handũ haarĩ haceke hataarĩ na handũ ha kwĩgarũrĩra, na mwena wa ũrĩo kana wa ũmotho.
And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left.
27 Rĩrĩa ndigiri yoonire mũraika wa Jehova hau, ĩgĩkoma thĩ Balamu arĩ o igũrũ rĩayo, nake akĩrakara akĩmĩhũũra na rũthanju rwake.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.
28 Nake Jehova agĩtumũra kanua ka ndigiri, nayo ĩkĩũria Balamu atĩrĩ, “Nĩatĩa ngwĩkĩte tondũ wahũũra maita maya matatũ?”
Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”
29 Balamu akĩmĩcookeria atĩrĩ, “Wee ũnduĩte kĩrimũ! Korwo nyuma na rũhiũ rwa njora guoko-inĩ, ingĩakũraga o ro rĩu.”
Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
30 Nayo ndigiri ĩkĩũria Balamu atĩrĩ, “Githĩ niĩ ti niĩ ndigiri yaku, ĩrĩa ũtũire ũhaicaga nginya ũmũthĩ? Nĩmenyerete gũgwĩka ta ũũ?” Balamu akiuga atĩrĩ, “Aca.”
But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.
31 Nake Jehova akĩhingũra maitho ma Balamu, nake akĩona mũraika wa Jehova arũngiĩ njĩra-inĩ acomorete rũhiũ rwa njora. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩinamĩrĩra na akĩĩgũithia, agĩturumithia ũthiũ wake thĩ.
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
32 Mũraika wa Jehova akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Nĩ kĩĩ gĩatũma ũhũũre ndigiri yaku maita macio matatũ? Njũkĩte haha ngũhingĩrĩrie nĩ ũndũ mĩthiĩre yaku nĩ ya ũremi maitho-inĩ makwa.
The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me.
33 Ndigiri ĩnyonire, yanjeherera maita macio matatũ. Korwo ndĩnanjeherera, hatirĩ nganja nĩingĩgũkũũragĩte, no yo nĩingĩamĩhonokia.”
The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”
34 Balamu akĩĩra mũraika ũcio wa Jehova atĩrĩ, “Nĩnjĩhĩtie. Ndikũũĩ atĩ nĩũkũrũgamĩte njĩra-inĩ ũhingĩrĩirie. Na rĩrĩ, ũngĩkorwo ndũkenete-rĩ, nĩngũhũndũka.”
“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”
35 Mũraika ũcio wa Jehova akĩĩra Balamu atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ na andũ acio, no uuge o ro ũrĩa ngũkwĩra.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Balamu agĩthiĩ na anene acio a Balaki.
But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 Rĩrĩa Balaki aiguire atĩ Balamu nĩarooka, agĩthiĩ kũmũtũnga itũũra-inĩ rĩa Moabi, mũhaka-inĩ wa Arinoni, o kũu mũhaka wa bũrũri wake.
When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.
37 Balaki akĩũria Balamu atĩrĩ, “Githĩ ndiagũtũmanĩire ũũke narua? Nĩ kĩĩ kĩagiririe ũũke? Anga ndingĩhota gũkũrĩha?”
And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?”
38 Balamu agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Nĩ wega, nĩndagĩũka. No rĩrĩ, niĩ no njuge o ũrĩa ngwenda? Niĩ ngwaria o ũrĩa Ngai angĩnjĩĩra njarie.”
“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Balamu na Balaki magĩthiĩ Kiriathu-Huzothu.
So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 Balaki akĩruta igongona rĩa ngʼombe na ngʼondu, na akĩhe Balamu na anene arĩa maarĩ nake nyama imwe.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
41 Kwarooka gũkĩa-rĩ, Balaki akĩoya Balamu makĩambata nginya Bamothu-Baali, na marĩ kũu Balamu akĩona gĩcunjĩ kĩmwe kĩa andũ acio.
The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.
