Liber Numeri 22
1 Profectique castrametati sunt in campestribus Moab, ubi trans Iordanem Iericho sita est.
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2 Videns autem Balac filius Sephor omnia quae fecerat Israel Amorrhaeo,
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 et quod pertimuissent eum Moabitae, et impetum eius ferre non possent,
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4 dixit ad maiores natu Madian: Ita delebit hic populus omnes, qui in nostris finibus commorantur, quo modo solet bos herbas usque ad radices carpere. Ipse autem erat eo tempore rex in Moab.
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5 Misit ergo nuncios ad Balaam filium Beor ariolum, qui habitabat super flumen terrae filiorum Ammon, ut vocarent eum, et dicerent: Ecce egressus est populus ex Aegypto, qui operuit superficiem terrae, sedens contra me.
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide opposite to me:
6 Veni igitur, et maledic populo huic, quia fortior me est: siquo modo possim percutere et eiicere eum de terra mea. novi enim quod benedictus sit cui benedixeris, et maledictus in quem maledicta congesseris.
Come now therefore, I pray you, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: possibly I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.
7 Perrexeruntque seniores Moab, et maiores natu Madian, habentes divinationis pretium in manibus. Cumque venissent ad Balaam, et narrassent ei omnia verba Balac:
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.
8 ille respondit: Manete hic nocte, et respondebo quidquid mihi dixerit Dominus. Manentibus autem illis apud Balaam, venit Deus, et ait ad eum:
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 Quid sibi volunt homines isti apud te?
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?
10 Respondit: Balac filius Sephor rex Moabitarum misit ad me,
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent unto me, saying,
11 dicens: Ecce populus qui egressus est de Aegypto, operuit superficiem terrae: veni, et maledic ei, siquo modo possim pugnans abigere eum.
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covers the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; possibly I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12 Dixitque Deus ad Balaam: Noli ire cum eis, neque maledicas populo: quia benedictus est.
And God said unto Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13 Qui mane consurgens dixit ad principes: Ite in terram vestram, quia prohibuit me Dominus venire vobiscum.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuses to give me leave to go with you.
14 Reversi principes dixerunt ad Balac: Noluit Balaam venire nobiscum.
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.
15 Rursum ille multo plures et nobiliores quam ante miserat, misit.
And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16 Qui cum venissent ad Balaam, dixerunt: Sic dicit Balac filius Sephor: Ne cuncteris venire ad me:
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray you, hinder you from coming unto me:
17 paratus sum honorare te, et quidquid volueris dabo tibi: veni, et maledic populo isti.
For I will promote you unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever you say unto me: come therefore, I pray you, curse me this people.
18 Respondit Balaam: Si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum argenti et auri, non potero immutare verbum Domini Dei mei, ut vel plus, vel minus loquar.
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19 Obsecro ut hic maneatis etiam hac nocte, et scire queam quid mihi rursum respondeat Dominus.
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry all of you also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
20 Venit ergo Deus ad Balaam nocte, et ait ei: Si vocare te venerint homines isti, surge, et vade cum eis: ita dumtaxat, ut quod tibi praecepero, facias.
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call you, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto you, that shall you do.
21 Surrexit Balaam mane, et strata asina sua profectus est cum eis.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 Et iratus est Deus. Stetitque angelus Domini in via contra Balaam, qui insidebat asinae, et duos pueros habebat secum.
And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 Cernens asina angelum stantem in via, evaginato gladio, avertit se de itinere, et ibat per agrum. Quam cum verberaret Balaam, et vellet ad semitam reducere,
And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam stroke the ass, to turn her into the way.
24 stetit angelus in angustiis duarum maceriarum, quibus vineae cingebantur.
But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 Quem videns asina, iunxit se parieti, et attrivit sedentis pedem. At ille iterum verberabat eam:
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he stroke her again.
26 et nihilominus angelus ad locum angustum transiens, ubi nec ad dexteram, nec ad sinistram poterat deviare, obvius stetit.
And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 Cumque vidisset asina stantem angelum, concidit sub pedibus sedentis. qui iratus, vehementius caedebat fuste latera eius.
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he stroke the ass with a staff.
28 Aperuitque Dominus os asinae, et locuta est: Quid feci tibi? cur percutis me? ecce iam tertio?
And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto you, that you have smitten me these three times?
29 Respondit Balaam: Quia commeruisti, et illusisti mihi: utinam haberem gladium, ut te percuterem.
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because you have mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill you.
30 Dixit asina: Nonne animal tuum sum, cui semper sedere consuevisti usque in praesentem diem? dic quid simile umquam fecerim tibi. At ille ait: Numquam.
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I your ass, upon which you have ridden ever since I was your unto this day? was I ever known to do so unto you? And he said, Nay.
31 Protinus aperuit Dominus oculos Balaam, et vidit angelum stantem in via evaginato gladio, adoravitque eum pronus in terram.
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32 Cui angelus: Cur, inquit, tertio verberas asinam tuam? Ego veni ut adversarer tibi, quia perversa est via tua, mihique contraria:
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore have you smitten your ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand you, because your way is perverse before me:
33 et nisi asina declinasset de via, dans locum resistenti, te occidissem, et illa viveret.
And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain you, and saved her alive.
34 Dixit Balaam: Peccavi, nesciens quod tu stares contra me: et nunc si displicet tibi ut vadam, revertar.
And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again.
35 Ait angelus: Vade cum istis, et cave ne aliud quam praecepero tibi loquaris. Ivit igitur cum principibus.
And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 Quod cum audisset Balac, egressus est in occursum eius in oppido Moabitarum, quod situm est in extremis finibus Arnon.
And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
37 Dixitque ad Balaam: Misi nuncios ut vocarent te, cur non statim venisti ad me? an quia mercedem adventui tuo reddere nequeo?
And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto you to call you? wherefore came you not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote you to honour?
38 Cui ille respondit: Ecce adsum: numquid loqui potero aliud, nisi quod Deus posuerit in ore meo?
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto you: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39 Perrexerunt ergo simul, et venerunt in urbem, quae in extremis regni eius finibus erat.
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.
40 Cumque occidisset Balac boves et oves, misit ad Balaam, et principes qui cum eo erant, munera.
And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41 Mane autem facto duxit eum ad excelsa Baal, et intuitus est extremam partem populi.
And it came to pass on the next day, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
