Nomipā 22
1 Pea naʻe hiki atu ʻae fānau ʻa ʻIsileli, ʻo nofo ʻi he toafa ʻo Moape ʻi he potu mai ʻo Sioatani[ʻo ofi ]ki Seliko.
Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
2 Pea naʻe ʻilo ʻe Pelaki ko e foha ʻo Sipoa ʻae meʻa kotoa pē kuo fai ʻe ʻIsileli ki he kau ʻAmoli.
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3 Pea naʻe manavahē lahi ʻa Moape ki he kakai, koeʻuhi naʻa nau tokolahi: pea naʻe mamahi lahi ʻa Moape koeʻuhi ko e fānau ʻa ʻIsileli.
and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Moape ki he kau mātuʻa ʻo Mitiane, “Ko eni, ʻe ʻemo hake ʻe he kakai ni ʻaia kotoa pē ʻoku takatakai ʻakitautolu, ʻo hangē ʻoku ʻemo hake ʻe he pulu ʻae mohuku ʻoe ngoue.” Pea ko Pelaki ko e foha ʻo Sipoa ko e tuʻi ia ʻoe kau Moape ʻi he kuonga ko ia.
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 Ko ia naʻa ne fekau ai kia Pelami ko e foha ʻo Peoli ki Pitoli, ʻaia ʻoku ofi ki he vaitafe ʻoe fonua ʻoe fānau ʻa hono kakai, ke ui ia, ʻo pehē, “Vakai, kuo haʻu ha kakai mei ʻIsipite: vakai, ʻoku nau ʻufiʻufi ʻae funga fonua, pea ʻoku nau nofo ofi kiate au:
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 Pea ko eni, ʻoku ou kole kiate koe, ke ke haʻu ʻo fakamalaʻiaʻi maʻaku ʻae kakai ni, he ʻoku nau mālohi fau kiate au: pea te u vetekina nai, mo teʻia ʻakinautolu, pea te u kapusia ʻakinautolu ʻi he fonua ni: he ʻoku ou pehē, ʻoku monūʻia ia ʻoku ke fakamonūʻiaʻi, pea ʻoku malaʻia ia ʻoku ke fakamalaʻiaʻi.”
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 Pea ko e kau mātuʻa ʻo Moape mo e kau mātuʻa ʻo Mitiane naʻa nau ʻave ʻi honau nima ʻae totongi ʻo ʻene tukitala; pea naʻa nau haʻu kia Pelami, ʻo fakahā kiate ia ʻae lea ʻa Pelaki.
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 Pea naʻa ne pehē kiate kinautolu, “Mou nofo ʻi heni ʻi he poōni, pea te u toe ʻomi ʻae lea kiate kimoutolu, ʻo hangē ko e folofola ʻa Sihova kiate au:” pea naʻe nofo mo Pelami ʻae houʻeiki ʻo Moape.
“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 Pea naʻe hāʻele mai ʻae ʻOtua kia Pelami, mo ne pehē, “Ko e hā ʻae kau tangata ni ʻoku ʻiate koe?”
Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Pelami ki he ʻOtua, “Ko Pelaki ko e foha ʻo Sipoa, ko e tuʻi ʻo Moape, kuo ne fekau mai kiate au, ʻo pehē,
And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 ‘Vakai kuo haʻu ha kakai mei ʻIsipite, ʻoku nau ʻufiʻufi ʻae funga fonua: ko ia ke ke haʻu ʻo fakamalaʻiaʻi maʻaku ʻakinautolu; pea te u mālohi ʻapē ʻiate kinautolu, pea kapusi atu ʻakinautolu.’”
‘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 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻOtua kia Pelami, “ʻOua ʻaupito te ke ʻalu mo kinautolu; ʻe ʻikai te ke fakamalaʻiaʻi ʻae kakai: he ʻoku nau monūʻia.”
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa Pelami ʻi he pongipongi, pea naʻa ne pehē ki he houʻeiki meia Pelaki, “Mou ō ki homou fonua: he kuo taʻofi au ʻe Sihova ke ʻoua naʻa tau ō mo kimoutolu.”
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 Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻae houʻeiki ʻo Moape, ʻonau ō kia Pelaki, ʻo pehē, “ʻOku pehē ʻe Pelami, ʻe ʻikai te ne haʻu mo kimautolu.”
And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Pea naʻe toe fekau ʻe Pelaki ʻae houʻeiki kehe naʻe ongoongolelei mo tokolahi hake ʻiate kinautolu.
Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
16 Pea naʻa nau haʻu kia Pelami, ʻo pehē kiate ia, “ʻOku pehē ʻe Pelaki ko e foha ʻo Sipoa, ‘ʻOku ou kole atu kiate koe, ʻoua naʻa toe ʻai ha meʻa ke taʻofi hoʻo haʻu kiate au:
They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 He te u hiki hake ko e ke ke ongoongolelei lahi, pea te u fai ʻo hangē ko hoʻo lea mai kiate au: ko ia ke ke haʻu, ʻoku ou kole kiate koe, ʻo fakamalaʻiaʻi maʻaku ʻae kakai ni.’”
for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
18 Pea naʻe lea ʻa Pelami ki he kau talafekau ʻa Pelaki, “Kapau ʻe foaki ʻe Pelaki kiate au ʻa hono fale ʻoku pito ʻi he siliva mo e koula, ʻe ʻikai teu faʻa fakakeheʻi ʻae folofola ʻa Sihova ko hoku ʻOtua, ke fai ʻo lahi hake pe siʻi hifo.
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 Pea ko eni, ʻoku ou kole atu kiate kimoutolu, mou nofo foki ʻi heni ʻi he poōni, koeʻuhi ke u ʻilo pe ko e hā ʻe toe folofola mai ʻe Sihova kiate au.”
So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
20 Pea naʻe hāʻele mai ʻae ʻOtua ʻi he pō kia Pelami, ʻo ne pehē kiate ia, “Kapau ʻe haʻu ʻae kau tangata ke ui koe, tuʻu hake, ʻo ʻalu mo kinautolu; ka ko e lea te u lea ʻaki kiate koe, ko ia pe te ke fai.”
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 Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa Pelami ʻi he pongipongi, pe naʻa ne ʻai ʻae hekaʻanga ki heʻene ʻasi, pea ʻalu mo e houʻeiki ʻo Moape.
So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 Pea naʻe tupu ʻae houhau ʻoe ʻOtua koeʻuhi ko ʻene ʻalu: pea naʻe tuʻu ʻi he hala ʻae ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova ko e tali tau kiate ia. Pea naʻe heka ia ʻi heʻene ʻasi, pea mo ʻene ongo tamaioʻeiki mo ia.
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 Pea naʻe mamata ʻae ʻasi ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova naʻe tuʻu ʻi he hala, pea mo ʻene heletā naʻe ʻi hono nima: pea naʻe afe atu ʻae ʻasi mei he hala, ʻo ʻalu ki he ngoue: pea naʻe taaʻi ʻe Pelami ʻae ʻasi, ke fakafoki ia ki he hala.
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 Ka naʻe tuʻu ʻae ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, ʻi he hala ʻoe ngoue vaine, pea naʻe ai ʻae ʻā maka ʻi he potu toʻomataʻu, mo e potu toʻohema.
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
25 Pea ʻi he mamata ʻae ʻasi ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, naʻe ʻoho ia ki he ʻā maka, pea naʻe mamulu ʻae vaʻe ʻo Pelami ʻi he ʻā maka: pea naʻa ne toe taaʻi ia.
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 Pea naʻe ʻalu ʻae ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, pea naʻe tuʻu ia ʻi he potu ʻapiʻapi, pea naʻe ʻikai ʻi ai ha hala ke afe ki he nima toʻomataʻu ki he toʻohema.
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 Pea ʻi he mamata ʻae ʻasi ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, naʻe tō ia ki lalo mo Pelami: pea naʻe tupu ai ʻae ʻita ʻa Pelami, ʻo ne taaʻi ʻae ʻasi ʻaki ʻae tokotoko.
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 Pea naʻe toʻo ʻe Sihova ʻae ngutu ʻoe ʻasi, pea ne pehē ʻe ia kia Pelami, “Ko e hā kuo u fai kiate koe, kuo ke taaʻi ai au ʻo liunga tolu?”
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 Pea pehē ʻe Pelami ki he ʻasi, “Koeʻuhi kuo ke manukiʻi au: ʻamusiaange ʻeau kuo ʻi hoku nima ha heletā, he ka ne ai te u tāmateʻi koe.”
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 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻasi kia Pelami, “ʻIkai ko hoʻo ʻasi au kuo ke heka ki ai talu hoʻo maʻu au ʻo aʻu ki he ʻaho ni? He kuo u faʻa fai pehē ni kiate koe?” Pea ne pehē ʻe ia, “Naʻe ʻikai.”
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 Pea naʻe toki fakaʻā ʻe Sihova ʻae mata ʻo Pelami, pea naʻe mamata ia ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova ʻoku tuʻu ʻi he hala, mo ʻene heletā kuo toʻo ʻi hono nima: pea naʻe punou ʻe ia hono ʻulu, pea foʻohifo ki hono mata.
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 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻāngelo kiate ia, “Ko e hā kuo ke taaʻi ai ʻa hoʻo ʻasi ni ʻo liunga tolu? Vakai ne u ʻalu atu ʻo taʻofi koe, koeʻuhi ʻoku kovi ho hala ʻi hoku ʻao:
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 Pea naʻe mamata ʻae ʻasi kiate au, pea ne afe meiate au ʻo liunga tolu: ka ne ʻikai afe ia meiate au ko e moʻoni kuo u tāmateʻi foki koe, kae tuku ia ke moʻui.”
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 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Pelami ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, “Kuo u angahala au; he naʻe ʻikai te u ʻilo naʻa ke tuʻu kiate au ʻi he hala: pea ko eni, kapau ʻoku kovi kiate koe, te u toe foki au.”
“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 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova kia Pelami, “ʻAlu mo e kau tangata: ka ko e lea pe te u lea ʻaki kiate koe, ko ia pe te ke lea ʻaki.” Pea naʻe ʻalu ʻa Pelami mo e houʻeiki meia Pelaki.
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 Pea naʻe fanongo ʻa Pelaki kuo haʻu ʻa Pelami, pea naʻe ʻalu atu ia ʻo fakafetaulaki mo ia ki ha kolo ʻi Moape, ʻaia ʻoku ʻi he matafonua ʻo ʻAlanoni, ʻi hono ngataʻanga mamaʻo atu.
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 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Pelaki kia Pelami, “ʻIkai naʻaku fekau mālohi kiate koe ʻo ui koe? Ka ko e hā naʻe ʻikai te ke haʻu ai kiate au? ʻIkai ʻoku ou mafai ke u hiki hake koe ke ke ongoongolelei?”
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 Pea pehē ʻe Pelami kia Pelaki, “Vakai, kuo u haʻu kiate koe: pea ʻoku ai ha mālohi siʻi ʻiate au ke u lea ki ha meʻa? Ka ko e folofola ʻe tuku mai ʻe he ʻOtua ki hoku ngutu, ko ia pe te u lea ʻaki.”
“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 Pea naʻe ʻalu ʻa Pelami mo Pelaki, pea naʻa na hoko ki Kesa-Husoti.
So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 Pea naʻe feilaulau ʻaki ʻe Pelaki ʻae fanga pulu mo e sipi, ʻo ne tali kia Pelami, mo e houʻeiki naʻe ʻiate ia.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
41 Pea naʻe hoko ʻo pehē, ʻi he pongipongi hake, naʻe ʻave ʻe Pelaki ʻa Pelami, ʻo ʻomi ia ki he ngaahi potu māʻolunga ʻo Peali, koeʻuhi ke ne mamata mei ai ki he ngataʻanga ʻoe kakai ʻi tuaʻā.
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.
