Liber Numeri 22
1 profectique castrametati sunt in campestribus Moab ubi trans Iordanem Hierichus sita est
Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
2 videns autem Balac filius Sepphor omnia quae fecerat Israhel Amorreo
Now Balak 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 terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4 dixit ad maiores natu Madian ita delebit hic populus omnes qui in nostris finibus commorantur quomodo solet bos herbas usque ad radices carpere ipse erat eo tempore rex in Moab
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 misit ergo nuntios 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 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 veni igitur et maledic populo huic quia fortior me est si quo modo possim percutere et eicere eum de terra mea novi enim quod benedictus sit cui benedixeris et maledictus in quem maledicta congesseris
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 perrexerunt seniores Moab et maiores natu Madian habentes divinationis pretium in manibus cumque venissent ad Balaam et narrassent ei omnia verba Balac
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 ille respondit manete hic nocte et respondebo quicquid mihi dixerit Dominus manentibus illis apud Balaam venit Deus et ait ad eum
“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 quid sibi volunt homines isti apud te
Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 respondit Balac filius Sepphor rex Moabitarum misit ad me
And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 dicens ecce populus qui egressus est de Aegypto operuit superficiem terrae veni et maledic ei si quo modo possim pugnans abicere eum
‘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 dixitque Deus ad Balaam noli ire cum eis neque maledicas populo quia benedictus est
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 qui mane consurgens dixit ad principes ite in terram vestram quia prohibuit me Deus venire vobiscum
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 reversi principes dixerunt ad Balac noluit Balaam venire nobiscum
And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 rursum ille multo plures et nobiliores quam ante miserat misit
Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
16 qui cum venissent ad Balaam dixerunt sic dicit Balac filius Sepphor ne cuncteris venire ad me
They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 paratum honorare te et quicquid volueris dare veni et maledic populo isti
for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
18 respondit Balaam si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri non potero inmutare verbum Domini Dei mei ut vel plus vel minus loquar
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 obsecro ut hic maneatis etiam hac nocte et scire queam quid mihi rursum respondeat Dominus
So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
20 venit ergo Deus ad Balaam nocte et ait ei si vocare te venerunt homines isti surge et vade cum eis ita dumtaxat ut quod tibi praecepero facias
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 surrexit Balaam mane et strata asina profectus est cum eis
So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 et iratus est Deus stetitque angelus Domini in via contra Balaam qui sedebat asinae et duos pueros habebat secum
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 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
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 stetit angelus in angustiis duarum maceriarum quibus vineae cingebantur
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
25 quem videns asina iunxit se parieti et adtrivit sedentis pedem at ille iterum verberabat
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 et nihilominus angelus ad locum angustum transiens ubi nec ad dextram nec ad sinistram poterat deviari obvius stetit
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 cumque vidisset asina stantem angelum concidit sub pedibus sedentis qui iratus vehementius caedebat fuste latera
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 aperuitque Dominus os asinae et locuta est quid feci tibi cur percutis me ecce iam tertio
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 respondit Balaam quia commeruisti et inlusisti mihi utinam haberem gladium ut te percuterem
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 dixit asina nonne animal tuum sum cui semper sedere consuesti usque in praesentem diem dic quid simile umquam fecerim tibi at ille ait numquam
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 protinus aperuit Dominus oculos Balaam et vidit angelum stantem in via evaginato gladio adoravitque eum pronus in terram
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 cui angelus cur inquit tertio verberas asinam tuam ego veni ut adversarer tibi quia perversa est via tua mihique contraria
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 et nisi asina declinasset de via dans locum resistenti te occidissem et illa viveret
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 dixit Balaam peccavi nesciens quod tu stares contra me et nunc si displicet tibi ut vadam revertar
“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 ait angelus vade cum istis et cave ne aliud quam praecepero tibi loquaris ivit igitur cum principibus
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 quod cum audisset Balac egressus est in occursum eius in oppido Moabitarum quod situm est in extremis finibus Arnon
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 dixitque ad Balaam misi nuntios ut vocarent te cur non statim venisti ad me an quia mercedem adventui tuo reddere nequeo
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 cui ille respondit ecce adsum numquid loqui potero aliud nisi quod Deus posuerit in ore meo
“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 perrexerunt ergo simul et venerunt in urbem quae in extremis regni eius finibus erat
So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 cumque occidisset Balac boves et oves misit ad Balaam et principes qui cum eo erant munera
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
41 mane autem facto duxit eum ad excelsa Baal et intuitus est extremam partem populi
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.
