Ọnụọgụgụ 22
1 Ndị Izrel biliri njem bịarute nʼobosara ala Moab. Manye ụlọ ikwu ha nʼakụkụ Jọdan ebe chere ihu nʼobodo Jeriko.
And they set out and made camp in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan, where Jericho is situated.
2 Ma Balak nwa Zipoa ahụlarị ihe niile Izrel mere ndị Amọrait.
Then Balak, the son of Zippor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorite,
3 Oke ụjọ jidere ndị Moab nʼihi na ndị Izrel dị ọtụtụ. Nʼezie, oke ụjọ dị ukwuu jidere ndị Moab nʼihi ụmụ Izrel.
and that the Moabites had great fear of him, and that they were not able to bear his assault,
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,
said to those greater by birth of Midian: “So will this people wipe away all those who are dwelling within our borders, in the same way that the ox is accustomed to tear out grass, all the way to the roots.” At that time, he was king of Moab.
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.
Therefore, he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, a seer who lived above the river of the land of the sons of Ammon, to call him, and to say: “Behold, a people has gone forth from Egypt, which has covered the face of the earth. They are encamped opposite 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.”
Therefore, come and curse this people, for they are stronger than I am. If only, in some way, I might be able to strike them and to drive them from my land. For I know that he whom you bless shall be blessed, and he whom you curse shall be 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.
And the elders of Moab, and those greater by birth of Midian, continued on, holding the price of divination in their hands. And when they had come to Balaam, and had explained to him all 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.
he responded, “Remain for this night, and I will answer with whatever the Lord will say to me.” And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him,
9 Nʼabalị ahụ, Chineke bịakwutere Belam jụọ ya sị, “Ndị ikom ndị a bịara ileta gị, ha bụ ndị ole?”
“What do these men want with you?”
10 Belam sịrị Chineke, “Balak nwa Zipoa eze Moab zitere m ozi sị m,
He responded, “Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,
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.’”
saying: ‘Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt, has covered the face of the earth. Come and curse them, so that, in some way, I may be able to fight 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.”
And God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them, and do not curse the 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.”
And he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders, “Go into your own land, for the Lord has prohibited me from going with you.”
14 Ya mere, ndị ozi Moab laghachikwuru Balak gwa ya sị, “Belam jụrụ iso anyị lọghachi.”
Returning, the leaders said to Balak, “Balaam was not willing 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.
Again, he sent many more persons, and these were more noble than those he had sent before.
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.
And when these had come to Balaam, they said: “So says Balak, the son of Zippor. Do not hesitate to come 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 am ready to honor you, and whatever you would want, I shall give to you. Come and curse this people.”
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.
Balaam responded: “Even if Balak were to give to me his own house, filled with silver and gold, I still would not be able to change the word of the Lord my God, neither to say more, nor to say less.
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.”
I beg you to remain for this night also, so that I may know what the Lord will answer me again.”
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.”
Therefore, God came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: “If these men have arrived to call you, then rise up and go with them; yet only in so far as you shall do what I will command you.”
21 Ya mere, mgbe chi echi ya bọrọ, Belam rigooro nʼelu ịnyịnya ibu ya soro ụmụ eze Moab gaa.
Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddling his donkey, he set out with them.
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.
And God was angry. And an Angel of the Lord stood in the way opposite Balaam, who was sitting on the donkey, and he had two servants 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.
The donkey, discerning that the Angel was standing in the way with a drawn sword, turned herself from the road and went through a field. And when Balaam beat her and intended 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.
the Angel stood in a narrow place between the two walls, with which the vineyards were enclosed.
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, seeing this, drew herself close to the wall and scraped the foot of the rider. So he beat her 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, nevertheless, the Angel passing on to a narrow place, where one would not be able to deviate either to the right or to the left, stood to meet him.
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.
And when the donkey had seen the Angel standing there, she fell under the feet of the rider, who, being angry, struck her sides more vehemently with a club.
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?”
And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said: “What have I done to you? Why do strike you me, behold now, for the third time?”
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 responded, “Because you have deserved it, and you have mistreated me. If only I had a sword, so that I might pierce you.”
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.”
The donkey said: “Am not I your animal, on which you have always been accustomed to sit, even until this present day? Tell me, when did I ever do the same thing to you.” But he said, “Never.”
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.
Immediately, the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he reverenced him prone on the ground.
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.
And the Angel said to him: “Why did you beat your donkey three times? I have come to be an adversary to you, because your way is perverse and contrary to 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.”
And unless the donkey had turned aside from the way, allowing a place for my opposition, I would have killed you, and she would have lived.”
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.”
Balaam said: “I have sinned, not knowing that you stood against me. And now, if it displeases you for me to continue on, I will return.”
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.
The Angel said, “Go with them, but be careful not to speak anything other than what I shall instruct you.” And so, he went with the leaders.
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.
And when Balak had heard it, he went out to meet him in a town of the Moabites, which is situated at the furthest borders of Arnon.
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: “I sent messengers to call you. Why did you not come to me immediately? Was it because I am not able to pay the cost for your arrival?”
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.”
He answered him: “Behold, here I am. Am I able to speak anything other than what God will put into my mouth?”
39 Belam sooro Balak gaa Kiriat Huzot.
Therefore, they continued on together, and they arrived at a city, which was at the furthest borders of his kingdom.
40 Balak jiri ehi na atụrụ chụọ aja. O nyere Belam ụfọdụ, nyekwa ma ndị ozi eze ndị ya na ha nọ nʼebe ahụ.
And after Balak had killed oxen and sheep, he sent the gifts to Balaam, and to the leaders 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.
Then, when morning arrived, he led him to the heights of Baal, and he gazed upon the most distant portions of the population.
