< Números 22 >

1 Partieron los hijos de Israel y acamparon en las llanuras de Moab, al otro lado del Jordán, frente a Jericó.
And the sons of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2 Balac, hijo de Sefor, supo todo lo que Israel había hecho a los amorreos,
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 y se atemorizó Moab grandemente frente al pueblo tan numeroso y perdió el ánimo ante los hijos de Israel.
And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people, because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the sons of Israel.
4 Por lo cual dijo Moab a los ancianos de Madián: “Ahora esta multitud devorará todos nuestros contornos a la manera del buey que devora la hierba del campo.” Balac, hijo de Sefor, era a la sazón rey de Moab.
And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5 Envió, pues, mensajeros a Balaam, hijo de Beor, a Petor, que está junto al Río en la tierra de los hijos de su pueblo, para llamarle, diciendo: “He aquí un pueblo que ha salido de Egipto y que cubre la faz de la tierra; está acampado frente a mí.
And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people came out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide opposite me.
6 Ven, te ruego, y maldíceme a este pueblo, porque es demasiado fuerte para mí; quizás así logre yo derrotarlo y arrojarlo del país: porque sé que es bendito aquel a quien tú bendijeres, y maldito aquel a quien tú maldijeres.”
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse for me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom thou bless is blessed, and he whom thou curse is cursed.
7 Fueron los ancianos de Moab y los ancianos de Madián, llevando en sus manos el estipendio de mago, y llegados a Balaam, le refirieron las palabras de Balac.
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8 Él les contestó: “Pasad la noche aquí, y os responderé según me diga Yahvé.” Se quedaron, pues, los príncipes de Moab con Balaam.
And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak to me. And the rulers of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 Y vino Dios a Balaam y le dijo: “¿Quiénes son estos hombres que están contigo?”
And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 Balaam respondió a Dios: “Balac, hijo de Sefor, rey de Moab, ha enviado a decirme:
And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
11 He aquí un pueblo que ha salido de Egipto y que cubre la faz de la tierra. Ven, por lo tanto, y maldícemelo; quizás así podré combatirlo y rechazarlo.”
Behold, the people came out of Egypt, it covers the face of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.
12 Y dijo Dios a Balaam: “No vayas con ellos, ni maldigas a ese pueblo, porque es bendito.”
And God said to Balaam, Thou shall not go with them. Thou shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.
13 Se levantó, pues, Balaam por la mañana, y dijo a los príncipes de Balac: “Volveos a vuestra tierra, porque Yahvé no quiere dejarme ir con vosotros”.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the rulers of Balak, Get into your land, for Jehovah refuses to give me leave to go with you.
14 Y se levantaron los príncipes de Moab, y regresados a Balac le dijeron: “Balaam no quiere venir con nosotros.”
And the rulers of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.
15 Entonces Balac envió de nuevo otros príncipes a Balaam, en mayor número y más distinguidos que los anteriores;
And Balak sent yet again rulers, more, and more honorable than they.
16 los cuales llegados a Balaam le dijeron: “Así dice Balac, hijo de Sefor: Te ruego no dejes apartarte de venir a mí;
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming to me.
17 que yo te colmaré de honores, y haré todo lo que me digas, con tal que vengas y me maldigas a esta gente.”
For I will promote thee to very great honor, and whatever thou say to me I will do. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse this people for me.
18 Mas Balaam respondió y dijo a los siervos de Balac: “Aunque Balac me diese tanta plata y oro como cabe en su casa no puedo desoír la palabra de Yahvé, mi Dios, haciendo (algo contrario), sea cosa chica, sea grande.
And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
19 Quedaos pues aquí esta noche, vosotros también, para que yo sepa qué más me diga Yahvé.”
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak to me more.
20 Y vino Dios de noche a Balaam y le dijo: “Si estos hombres han venido a llamarte, levántate y vete con ellos, pero harás solamente lo que Yo te dijere.”
And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, go with them, but only the word which I speak to thee, that shall thou do.
21 Y se levantó Balaam a la mañana, aparejó su asna, y marchó con los príncipes de Moab.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the rulers of Moab.
22 Sin embargo se encendió la ira de Dios al emprender Balaam viaje, y el Ángel de Yahvé se puso en el camino para cerrarle el paso. Iba Balaam montado sobre su asna, y le acompañaban dos de sus siervos.
And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the agent of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 Cuando la burra vio al Ángel de Yahvé parado en el camino, con su espada desenvainada en la mano, se desvió del camino, andando por el campo; y Balaam le dio golpes para volverla al camino.
And the donkey saw the agent of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. And Balaam smote the donkey, to turn her into the way.
24 Entonces el Ángel de Yahvé se apostó en una hondonada entre las viñas, con un muro de un lado y un muro del otro.
Then the agent of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 Al ver la burra al Ángel de Yahvé se arrimó al muro y apretó el pie de Balaam contra la pared, el cual volvió a pegarla.
And the donkey saw the agent of Jehovah, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. And he smote her again.
26 Una vez más se adelantó el Ángel de Yahvé y se puso en un sitio estrecho donde no había espacio para desviarse ni a la derecha ni a la izquierda.
And the agent of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 Entonces al ver la burra al Ángel de Yahvé, se echó en tierra debajo de Balaam, el cual enfurecido la pegó con el bastón.
And the donkey saw the agent of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the donkey with his staff.
28 Mas Dios abrió la boca de la burra, la cual dijo a Balaam: “¿Qué te he hecho para que me pegues ya por tercera vez?”
And Jehovah opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou have smitten me these three times?
29 Balaam respondió a la burra: “Porque haces burla de mí. ¡Ojalá tuviera yo una espada, que ahora mismo te mataría!”
And Balaam said to the donkey, Because thou have mocked me. I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed thee.
30 Replicó la burra a Balaam: “¿No soy yo tu asna, en que has cabalgado siempre desde que yo soy tuya hasta hoy? ¿Por ventura he hecho yo contigo jamás cosa semejante?” Y él respondió: “No”.
And the donkey said to Balaam, Am not I thy donkey, upon which thou have ridden all thy life long to this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to thee? And he said, No.
31 Entonces Yahvé abrió los ojos de Balaam, de modo que vio al Ángel de Yahvé parado en el camino con la espada desenvainada en la mano; e inclinándose se prosternó sobre su rostro.
Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the agent of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32 Y le dijo el Ángel de Yahvé: “¿Por qué has pegado a tu asna estas tres veces? He aquí que yo he salido para cerrarte el camino, pues tu viaje es perverso delante de mí.
And the agent of Jehovah said to him, Why have thou smitten thy donkey these three times? Behold, I have come forth as an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me.
33 Me vio la burra y se desvió delante de mí estas tres veces. Si no se hubiera desviado de mi presencia, te habría matado a ti, y a ella la abría dejado con vida.”
And the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have even slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 Dijo entonces Balaam al Ángel de Yahvé: “He pecado; porque no sabía que tú te habías apostado contra mí en el camino. Si la cosa te parece mal, ahora mismo me volveré.”
And Balaam said to the agent of Jehovah, I have sinned, for I knew not that thou stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get back again.
35 El Ángel de Yahvé respondió a Balaam: “Ve con estos hombres; pero habla solamente lo que yo te dijere.” Se fue, pues, Balaam con los príncipes de Balac.
And the agent of Jehovah said to Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak to thee, that thou shall speak. So Balaam went with the rulers of Balak.
36 Cuando Balac supo que venía Balaam, le salió al encuentro hasta Ir-Moab, situada en el límite del Arnón, en el extremo de la frontera.
And when Balak heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the outmost part of the border.
37 Y dijo Balac a Balaam: “¿Acaso no he enviado a llamarte? ¿Por qué no viniste a mí? ¿Crees tal vez que yo no soy capaz de recompensarte?”
And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to thee to call thee? Why did thou not come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?
38 Respondió Balaam a Balac: “Heme aquí, he venido a ti; pero ¿podré yo acaso decir algo? No te diré otra palabra sino la que Dios pusiere en mi boca.”
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39 Y se marchó Balaam con Balac, y llegaron a Kiryat-Husot.
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 Y sacrificó Balac bueyes y ovejas para hacer presentes a Balaam y a los príncipes que le acompañaban.
And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the rulers that were with him.
41 Al día siguiente tomó Balac a Balaam y le hizo subir a Bamot-Baal, desde donde podía divisar la parte extrema del pueblo.
And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, and he saw from there the outmost part of the people.

< Números 22 >