Ọnụọgụgụ 22
1 Ndị Izrel biliri njem bịarute nʼobosara ala Moab. Manye ụlọ ikwu ha nʼakụkụ Jọdan ebe chere ihu nʼobodo Jeriko.
Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
2 Ma Balak nwa Zipoa ahụlarị ihe niile Izrel mere ndị Amọrait.
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3 Oke ụjọ jidere ndị Moab nʼihi na ndị Izrel dị ọtụtụ. Nʼezie, oke ụjọ dị ukwuu jidere ndị Moab nʼihi ụmụ Izrel.
and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4 Ndị Moab jekwuru ndị okenye Midia sị ha, “Igwe mmadụ ndị a ga-erichapụ ihe niile gbara anyị gburugburu. Ha ga-eripịa ha dịka ehi si erichapụ ahịhịa ndụ dị nʼala.” Ya mere, Balak nwa Zipoa, onye bụ eze ndị Moab nʼoge ahụ,
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 zigara ndị ozi ya ka ha jekwuru Belam, nwa Beoa onye bi nʼobodo ya bụ Petoa, nke dị nso nʼiyi ukwu Yufretis. O ziri ya sị, “Lee otu ndị sitere nʼIjipt pụta. Lee ka ha si kpuchie elu ala a; ugbu a, ha bi nʼakụkụ m.
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 Ugbu a, bịa ka ị bụọrọ m ha ọnụ, nʼihi na ha dị ike karịa m. Ma eleghị anya aga m enwe ike merie ha, ma chụpụkwa ha site nʼala m. Nʼihi na amaara m na ndị ọbụla ị gọziri bụ ndị a gọziri agọzi, ndị ọbụla ị bụrụ ọnụ ga-anọgide bụrụ ndị a bụrụ ọnụ.”
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 Ndị ozi o zigara bụ ndị okenye obodo Moab na Midia. Ha ji ego ịjụta ase nʼaka ha. Mgbe ha ruru, ha ziri Belam ozi Balak ziri.
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 Belam gwara ha okwu sị, “Nọdụnụ nʼebe a nʼabalị a. Aga m ewetara unu ọsịsa ọbụla Onyenwe anyị nyere m.” Ya mere, ndị ozi ahụ si Moab nọnyeere ya.
“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 Nʼabalị ahụ, Chineke bịakwutere Belam jụọ ya sị, “Ndị ikom ndị a bịara ileta gị, ha bụ ndị ole?”
Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Belam sịrị Chineke, “Balak nwa Zipoa eze Moab zitere m ozi sị m,
And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 ‘Otu ndị esitela nʼala Ijipt pụta, ndị dị ukwuu nʼọnụọgụgụ. Achọrọ m ka ị bịa bụọrọ m ha ọnụ. Ma eleghị anya aga m enwe ike lụso ha agha, ma chụpụkwa ha.’”
‘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 Ma Chineke sịrị Belam, “Esola ha aga! Ị gaghị abụ ndị a ọnụ, nʼihi na ha bụ ndị a gọziri agọzi.”
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 Mgbe chi bọrọ, Belam biliri gwa ndị ozi Balak sị ha, “Laghachinụ nʼobodo unu nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ekweghị ka m soro unu.”
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 Ya mere, ndị ozi Moab laghachikwuru Balak gwa ya sị, “Belam jụrụ iso anyị lọghachi.”
And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Balak nwara ike ya ọzọ. Nʼoge a, o zipụrụ ụmụ eze ndị dị ọtụtụ na ndị a maara aha ha karịa ndị mbụ.
Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
16 Ha jiri ozi a bịakwute Belam sị ya, “Ihe a ka Balak nwa Zipoa sị anyị zie gị, Ọ sị gị ekwela ka ihe ọbụla gbochie gị ịbịakwute m.
They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 Nʼihi na aghaghị ịsọpụrụ gị nʼebe ọ dị ukwuu m, mekwaa ihe ọbụla ị sị m mee. Naanị bịa ka ị bụọrọ m ndị a ọnụ.”
for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
18 Ma Belam zaghachiri sị, “Ọ bụrụ na Balak enye m ụlọeze ya nke juputara nʼọlaọcha na ọlaedo, apụghị m ime ihe ọbụla dị ukwuu maọbụ nke nta ịgabiga iwu Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke m.
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 Ma otu ọ dị, nọọnụ ka chị bọọ dịka ndị ọzọ ahụ mere ka m nwee ike chọpụta ma ọ dị ihe Onyenwe anyị ga-atụkwasị nʼihe o kwuru na mbụ.”
So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
20 Nʼabalị ahụ, Chineke gwara Belam okwu sị ya, “Ebe ọ bụ na ndị a bịara ịkpọ gị oku, bilie soro ha gaa, kama jikere ikwu naanị okwu m ga-etinye gị nʼọnụ.”
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 Ya mere, mgbe chi echi ya bọrọ, Belam rigooro nʼelu ịnyịnya ibu ya soro ụmụ eze Moab gaa.
So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 Ma iwe were Chineke nʼihi na ọ na-aga, ma mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị guzochiri ụzọ igbochi ya. Belam na ndị odibo ya abụọ nọ na-elu ịnyịnya ibu ya.
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 Mgbe ịnyịnya ibu ahụ hụrụ mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ka o guzochiri nʼụzọ, jide mma a mịpụtara amịpụta nʼaka ya, ịnyịnya ibu ahụ chigharịrị onwe ya hapụ okporoụzọ, tinye isi nʼọhịa. Ma Belam tiri ya ihe ịchụghachi ya nʼụzọ.
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 Nʼoge a, mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị guzochiri nʼụzọ dị warawara, nke dị nʼetiti mgbidi ogige ubi vaịnị abụọ.
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
25 Mgbe ịnyịnya ibu ahụ hụrụ mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị, o tinyere isi nʼahụ mgbidi ogige ubi ahụ, chọọ isite nʼebe ahụ gafee. Mgbe ọ na-eme nke a, o mere ka mgbidi ahụ chihịapụ Belam ụkwụ. Ya mere Belam tiri ịnyịnya ibu ahụ ihe ọzọ.
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 Mgbe ahụ, mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị gakwara nʼihu nʼokporoụzọ ahụ nọchie ụzọ ahụ ebe dị nnọọ mkpakọta, ebe ịnyịnya ibu ahụ na-agaghị enwe ike gafee, maọbụ ichigharị aka nri maọbụ aka ekpe.
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 Nʼihi nke a, mgbe ịnyịnya ibu ahụ hụrụ mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị o dinara ala nʼokporoụzọ. Nʼoke iwe, Belam ji mkpara dị ya nʼaka tie ya ihe ọzọ.
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 Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị mere ka ịnyịnya ibu ahụ kwuo okwu. Ọ jụrụ Belam ajụjụ sị, “Gịnị ka m mere gị i ji tie m ihe ugboro atọ?”
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 Belam zara ịnyịnya ibu ahụ sị, “Ọ bụ nʼihi na i meela ka m dị ka onye nzuzu! Nʼezie, a sị na m ji mma agha nʼaka m, agaara m egbu gị.”
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 Ịnyịnya ibu ahụ gwara Balam okwu ọzọ sị ya, “Ọ bụ na mụ onwe m abụghị ịnyịnya ibu gị nke ị na-anọ nʼelu ya ogologo oge ndị a niile? Ọ dịla mgbe m si otu a meso gị omume nʼime ndụ m niile?” Belam zara sị ya, “Ee.”
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 Mgbe ahụ ka Onyenwe anyị meghere anya Belam. Ọ hụrụ mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ka o ji mma agha ya guzochie ụzọ. Belam dara nʼala, gbatịa onwe ya nʼala nʼihu ya.
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 Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ahụ jụrụ Belam ajụjụ sị, “Gịnị mere i ji tie ịnyịnya ibu gị ihe ugboro atọ? Abịara m igbochi gị ka ịla nʼiyi dị na-eche gị ghara irute gị.
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 Ugboro atọ ka ịnyịnya ibu a hụrụ m, ma site nʼihu m wezuga onwe ya. A sị na ọ bụghị ntụgharị ọ tụgharịrị site nʼebe m nọ, nʼezie, ugbu a, a gara m egbu gị ma hapụ ịnyịnya ibu gị ndụ.”
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 Nʼoge a, Belam sịrị mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị, “Emehiela m. Amaghị m na i guzo nʼụzọ igbochi m. Ọ bụrụ iwe na-ewe gị, ejikeere m ịlaghachi azụ.”
“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 Ma mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị sịrị Belam, “Soro ndị ikom a gaa, ma kwuo naanị ihe m sị gị kwuo.” Ya mere, Belam soro ndị ozi eze Balak gaa.
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 Mgbe Balak nụrụ na Belam nọ nʼụzọ na-abịa, ọ pụrụ gaa izute Belam nʼotu obodo Moab nke dị nʼọnụ mmiri Anọn, nke dị na ngwụcha oke ala ya.
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 Mgbe ọ bịarutere, Balak jụrụ Belam ajụjụ sị ya, “Eziri m gị ozi ka ị bịa ngwangwa, gịnị mere ị bịaghị? Ọ bụ na m enweghị ike ịsọpụrụ gị?”
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 Belam zaghachiri, “Lee, Abịakwutelam gị ugbu a, ma enweghị m ike ikwu ihe ọbụla dị m mma. Ọ bụ naanị ihe Chineke tinyere m nʼọnụ ka m ga-ekwu.”
“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 Belam sooro Balak gaa Kiriat Huzot.
So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 Balak jiri ehi na atụrụ chụọ aja. O nyere Belam ụfọdụ, nyekwa ma ndị ozi eze ndị ya na ha nọ nʼebe ahụ.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
41 Nʼụtụtụ echi ya, Balak kpọọrọ Belam, duru ya rigoo Bamot Baal. O sitere nʼebe ahụ hụ nsọtụ ọmụma ụlọ ikwu ndị Izrel.
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.
