Lakkoobsa 22
1 Israaʼeloonni gara dirree Moʼaabitti qajeelanii Yerikoon gama qarqara Yordaanos qubatan.
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 Baalaaq ilmi Ziphoori waan Israaʼel Amoorotatti hojjete hunda arge;
But King Balak, the son of Zippor, who ruled Moab, found out what the Israelis had done to the Amor people-group.
3 Moʼaabis waan sabni sun akka malee baayʼee taʼeef ni sodaate. Moʼaabis sababii Israaʼelootaatiif raafame.
[When he saw that] the Israelis were very numerous, he and his people became terrified.
4 Warri Moʼaabis maanguddoota Midiyaaniin, “Namoonni baayʼeen kunneen akkuma qotiyyoon marga bakkee dheedee fixu sana waan naannoo keenya jiru dheedee fixa” jedhan. Kana irratti Baalaaq ilmi Ziphoori kan yeroo sana mootii Moʼaab ture sun,
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 akka isaan Balaʼaam ilma Beʼoor kan biyyuma itti dhalate keessa laga Efraaxiis bira Phetoori keessa jiraachaa ture sana waamaniif ergamoota erge. Baalaaqis akkana jedhe: “Kunoo, sabni tokko biyya Gibxii baʼee dhufeera; kunoo isaan lafa guutanii natti aananii qubataniiru.
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 Sababii isaan na caalaa humna qabaniif amma kottuutii isaan abaari. Yoos ani isaan moʼadhee biyya keessaa ariʼee isaan baasuu nan dandaʼa taʼa. Ani akka warri ati eebbiftu eebbifaman, warri ati abaartus abaaraman nan beekaatii.”
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 Maanguddoonni Moʼaabii fi Midiyaan sun kaʼanii kaffaltii mortuu sanaa fudhatanii deeman. Isaanis yommuu Balaʼaam bira gaʼanitti waan Baalaaq jedheen sana itti himan.
[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 Balaʼaamis, “Halkan kana asuma bulaa; anis deebii Waaqayyo naaf kennu isinitti nan hima” jedheen. Qondaaltonni Moʼaab sun isuma bira turan.
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 Waaqni gara Balaʼaam dhufee, “Namoonni si wajjin jiran kunneen eenyu?” jedhee gaafate.
During the night, God appeared to Balaam and asked him, “(Who are/Tell me about) these men who are staying with you.”
10 Balaʼaamis akkana jedhee Waaqaaf deebii kenne; “Baalaaq ilmi Ziphoori, mootichi Moʼaab akkana jedhee ergaa kana natti erge:
Balaam replied, “Balak, the king of Moab, sent these men to tell me this:
11 ‘Kunoo, sabni biyya Gibxii baʼee dhufe tokko lafa guuteera; ati amma kottuutii isaan naaf abaari. Yoos ani isaan lolee ariʼee biyyaa baasuu nan dandaʼa taʼaatii.’”
‘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 Waaqayyo garuu Balaʼaamiin, “Isaan wajjin hin deemin. Sababii isaan eebbifamoo taʼaniif ati saba sana hin abaarin” jedhe.
God replied to Balaam, “Do not go with them! I have blessed those people, so you must not curse them!”
13 Balaʼaam ganama itti aanu kaʼee qondaaltota Baalaaqiin, “Sababii Waaqayyo isin wajjin deemuu na dhowweef, isin amma kaʼaa biyya keessanitti deebiʼaa” jedhe.
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 Qondaaltonni Moʼaab gara Baalaaqitti deebiʼanii, “Balaʼaam nu wajjin dhufuu dide” jedhaniin.
So the men from Moab returned to King Balak and they reported to him, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Baalaaqis qondaaltota warra duraa sana caalaa baayʼee fi caalaa bebeekamoo kan biraa erge.
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 Isaanis dhufanii Balaʼaamiin akkana jedhan: “Wanni Baalaaq ilmi Ziphoori jedhu kunoo kana: ‘Maaloo wanni tokko iyyuu gara koo dhufuu si hin dhowwin;
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 ani ulfina guddaa siif nan kennaatii; waan ati jettu hundas nan guuta. Kottuu saba kana naa abaari.’”
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 Balaʼaam garuu akkana jedhee deebiseef; “Utuu Baalaaq masaraa isaa kan meetii fi warqeen guutame sana naaf kenne illee, ani ajaja Waaqayyo Waaqa kootiin alatti waan xinnaa yookaan guddaa tokko illee hojjechuu hin dandaʼu.
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 Akka ani waan Waaqayyo natti himu kan biraa beekuu dandaʼuuf isinis akkuma warra kaanii as bulaa.”
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 Halkan sana Waaqayyo gara Balaʼaam dhufee, “Sababii namoonni kunneen si waamuu dhufaniif, isaan wajjin deemi; garuu waanuma ani sitti himu qofa hojjedhu” jedheen.
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 Balaʼaam ganamaan kaʼee harree isaa irra kooraa kaaʼatee qondaaltota Moʼaab sana wajjin deeme.
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 Waaqni garuu inni deemnaan itti aare; ergamaan Waaqayyoo tokkos isaan mormuuf jedhee karaa irra dhaabate. Balaʼaamis harree isaa yaabbatee deemaa ture; tajaajiltoonni isaa lamaan isa wajjin turan.
[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 Harreen sun immoo ergamaa Waaqayyoo kan goraadee luqqifatee harkatti qabatee karaa irra dhaabatu arginaan of irra gara galtee karaa irraa gortee lafa qotiisaa seente. Balaʼaamis karaatti ishee deebisuudhaaf harree sana rukute.
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 Ergamaan Waaqayyoo sun garuu daandii dhiphoo, iddoo dhaabaa wayinii lama kanneen gama lamaan dallaa qaban gidduu baatu irra dhaabate.
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 Harreen sun ergamaa Waaqayyoo arginaan, dallaatti maxxantee miilla Balaʼaam dallaatti buufte. Inni ammas harree sana rukute.
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 Ergamaan Waaqayyoos fuula duratti hiiqee daandii dhiphaa iddoo ittiin mirgatti yookaan bitaatti goran hin qabne tokko irra dhaabate.
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 Harreen sun ergamaa Waaqayyoo arginaan Balaʼaam jalaa gad ciifte; innis aaree ulee ofiitiin harree sana rukute.
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 Kana irratti Waaqayyo afaan harree sanaa banee harreen sun Balaʼaamiin, “Ani maal si yakkinaan ati akkas yeroo sadii na rukutte?” jette.
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 Balaʼaamis harree sanaan, “Ati na gowwoomsite; ani utuu goraadee of harkaa qabaadhee silaa ammuman si ajjeesa” jedhe.
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 Harreen sun amma illee Balaʼaamiin akkana jette; “Ani harree kee kan ati hamma harʼaatti guyyaa hunda yaabbattu mitii? Ani takkumaa waan akkasii sitti hojjedhee beekaa?” Innis, “Lakkii” jedhee deebiseef.
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 Yommus Waaqayyo ija Balaʼaam bane; Balaʼaamis ergamaa Waaqayyoo kan goraadee luqqifatee karaa irra dhaabatu arge. Kana irratti inni addaan lafatti gombifamee sagade.
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 Ergamaan Waaqayyoo sun akkana jedhee isa gaafate; “Ati maaliif yeroo sadan kana harree kee rukutte? Kunoo ani waan karaan kee fuula koo duratti jalʼaa taʼeef siin mormuudhaafan dhufe.
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 Harreen kun na argitee yeroo kana sadanuu narraa gorte. Utuu isheen narraa goruu baattee silaa ani yoona si ajjeesee ishee immoo hambisa ture.”
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 Balaʼaamis ergamaa Waaqayyootiin, “Ani cubbuu hojjedheera. Ani akka ati naan mormuuf jettee karaa irra dhaabatte hin hubanne. Ammas yoo sitti hin tolin ani nan deebiʼa” jedhe.
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 Ergamaan Waaqayyoo sunis Balaʼaamiin, “Namoota kana wajjin deemi; garuu waanuma ani sitti himu qofa dubbadhu” jedhe. Akkasiin Balaʼaam qondaaltota Baalaaq sana wajjin deeme.
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 Baalaaqis akka Balaʼaam dhufaa jiru dhageenyaan, magaalaa Moʼaab kan daarii Arnoon irratti argamtutti isa simachuudhaaf kaʼee deeme.
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 Baalaaqis Balaʼaamiin akkana jedhe; “Ani dhaamsa ariifachiisaa sitti hin erginee? Ati maaliif na bira hin dhufne? Ani dhugumaan ulfina siif kennuu hin dandaʼuu?”
[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 Balaʼaamis, “Kunoo ani si bira dhufeera. Garuu ani waanuman arge dubbachuu nan dandaʼaa? Ani waanuma Waaqni afaan koo keessa kaaʼu qofan dubbachuu qaba” jedhee deebise.
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 Balaʼaamis kaʼee Baalaaq wajjin Qiiriyaati Haxoti dhaqe.
Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-Huzoth [town].
40 Baalaaq loonii fi hoolaa aarsaa dhiʼeessee gara tokko Balaʼaamii fi qondaaltota isa wajjin turaniif kenne.
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 Ganama itti aanus Baalaaq, Balaʼaamin Baamooti Baʼaalitti ol baase; innis achi dhaabatee saba Israaʼel warra daangaa gamaa irra jiran arge.
[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.
