Ọnụọgụgụ 22
1 Ndị Izrel biliri njem bịarute nʼobosara ala Moab. Manye ụlọ ikwu ha nʼakụkụ Jọdan ebe chere ihu nʼobodo Jeriko.
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].
2 Ma Balak nwa Zipoa ahụlarị ihe niile Izrel mere ndị Amọrait.
But King Balak, the son of Zippor, who ruled Moab, found out what the Israelis had done to the Amor people-group.
3 Oke ụjọ jidere ndị Moab nʼihi na ndị Izrel dị ọtụtụ. Nʼezie, oke ụjọ dị ukwuu jidere ndị Moab nʼihi ụmụ Izrel.
[When he saw that] the Israelis were very numerous, he and his people became terrified.
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 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.
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 [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.
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.”
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.”
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.
[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.
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.
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.
9 Nʼabalị ahụ, Chineke bịakwutere Belam jụọ ya sị, “Ndị ikom ndị a bịara ileta gị, ha bụ ndị ole?”
During the night, God appeared to Balaam and asked him, “(Who are/Tell me about) these men who are staying with you.”
10 Belam sịrị Chineke, “Balak nwa Zipoa eze Moab zitere m ozi sị m,
Balaam replied, “Balak, the king of Moab, sent these men to tell me this:
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.’”
‘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].’”
12 Ma Chineke sịrị Belam, “Esola ha aga! Ị gaghị abụ ndị a ọnụ, nʼihi na ha bụ ndị a gọziri agọzi.”
God replied to Balaam, “Do not go with them! I have blessed those people, so you must not curse them!”
13 Mgbe chi bọrọ, Belam biliri gwa ndị ozi Balak sị ha, “Laghachinụ nʼobodo unu nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ekweghị ka m soro unu.”
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.”
14 Ya mere, ndị ozi Moab laghachikwuru Balak gwa ya sị, “Belam jụrụ iso anyị lọghachi.”
So the men from Moab returned to King Balak and they reported to him, “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.
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].
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 went to Balaam and told him this: “This is what King Balak says: ‘Please do not allow anything to hinder you from coming here.
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.”
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!’”
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 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]).
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.”
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.”
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 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]!”
21 Ya mere, mgbe chi echi ya bọrọ, Belam rigooro nʼelu ịnyịnya ibu ya soro ụmụ eze Moab gaa.
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.
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.
[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,
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.
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.
24 Nʼoge a, mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị guzochiri nʼụzọ dị warawara, nke dị nʼetiti mgbidi ogige ubi vaịnị abụọ.
Then the angel stood in a place where the road was very narrow, between two vineyards, with walls on each side of the road.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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?”
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 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!”
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 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.”
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 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.
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 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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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 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].
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 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.
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?”
[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?”
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.”
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].”
39 Belam sooro Balak gaa Kiriat Huzot.
Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-Huzoth [town].
40 Balak jiri ehi na atụrụ chụọ aja. O nyere Belam ụfọdụ, nyekwa ma ndị ozi eze ndị ya na ha nọ nʼebe ahụ.
There Balak killed some cattle and sheep as sacrifices, and offered [parts of the meat] to Balaam and 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.
[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.
