4 Mose 22
1 Afei, Israelfo no kɔɔ Moab tataw so kɔtenaa Asubɔnten Yordan apuei fam a ɛhɔ ne Yeriko di nhwɛanim no.
The Israelites moved on and camped on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan, opposite Jericho.
2 Sipor babarima Balak huu nea Israelfo ayɛ Amorifo no nyinaa,
Balak, son of Zippor, had seen all that the Israelites had done to the Amorites.
3 na Moab huu Israelfo dodow a wɔwɔ hɔ no, ɔne ne nkurɔfo bɔɔ huboa.
The Moabites were terrified of the Israelites because there were so many of them. The Moabites dreaded the arrival of the Israelites
4 Moabfo no ka kyerɛɛ Midian mpanyimfo no se, “Saa dɔm yi bɛwe biribiara a ɛwɔ ha no, sɛnea nantwi we sare.” Enti Sipor ba Balak a na ɔyɛ Moabhene saa bere no
and told the leaders of Midian, “This horde will eat up everything we have, just like an ox eats up grass in the field!” (Balak son of Zippor, was king of Moab at that time.)
5 somaa nnipa ma wɔkɔɔ Beor babarima Balaam nkyɛn wɔ Petor a ɛbɛn Asubɔnten Eufrate ho. Balak kae se, “Nnipadɔm bi fi Misraim aba. Wɔkata asase ani nyinaa na wɔabɛtena abɛn me.
He sent messengers to call Balaam, son of Beor, who lived in Pethor near the Euphrates River in his own country. “Listen, a group of people has arrived here who came from Egypt,” Balak said in his message to Balaam. “There are hordes of them and they present a real threat to me.
6 Mɛsrɛ wo, bra na bɛdome wɔn ma me, efisɛ wɔyɛ den sen me. Ebia ɛbɛma matumi adi wɔn so nkonim na mapam wɔn afi asase no so. Efisɛ minim nhyira a ɛba wɔn a wuhyira wɔn no so, na minim mmusu a ɛba wɔn a wodome wɔn no so nso.”
Please come immediately and curse these people for me, because they are stronger than me. Maybe then I'll be able to attack them and drive them out of my country because I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7 Moab ne Midian mpanyimfo no fii hɔ a na wokita sika a wɔde rekotua Balaam ka ama wadome Israelfo no. Enti wɔkɔɔ Balaam nkyɛn kɔkaa nea ehia Balak no kyerɛɛ no.
The Moabite and Midianite leaders departed, taking payment for the fortune-telling with them. When they arrived they gave Balaam the message from Balak.
8 Balaam kae se, “Monna mma ade nkye mo. Ade kye a, nea Awurade bɛkyerɛ me sɛ menyɛ no, mɛka akyerɛ mo.” Enti Moab mpanyimfo no dae.
“Stay the night and I'll let you know the answer the Lord gives me,” Balaam told them. So the Moabite leaders stayed there with Balaam.
9 Anadwo no, Onyankopɔn baa Balaam nkyɛn bebisaa no se, “Saa nnipa yi yɛ hefo?”
God came to Balaam and asked him, “Who are these men staying with you?”
10 Obuae se, “Wɔde nkra afi Moabhene Balak nkyɛn abrɛ me se:
Balaam told God, “Balak, son of Zippor, the king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 Nnipadɔm bi fi Misraim aba ne hye so. Enti bra na bɛdome wɔn sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a metumi ne wɔn ako apam wɔn.”
‘Listen, a group of people has arrived here who came from Egypt. There are hordes of them. Please come immediately and curse these people for me. Maybe then I'll be able to fight them and drive them out of my country.’”
12 Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ Balaam se, “Nkɔ. Ɛnsɛ sɛ wodome wɔn, efisɛ mahyira wɔn!”
But God told Balaam, “You are not to go back with them. You must not curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 Ade kyee anɔpa no, Balaam ka kyerɛɛ Balak nkurɔfo no se, “Monsan nkɔ fie! Awurade ampene sɛ me ne mo nkɔ.”
In the morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's messengers, “Go back to where you came from because the Lord has refused to allow me to go with you.”
14 Enti Balak mpanyimfo no san bɛbɔɔ amanneɛ se, “Balaam ne yɛn amma.”
The Moabite leaders left. They returned to Balak, and told him, “Balaam refused to come back with us.”
15 Balak somaa nnipa dodow pa ara a anuonyamfo a wɔkyɛn kan dɔm no fra wɔn mu.
Then Balak sent even more leaders who were more prestigious than before.
16 Wɔbaa Balaam nkyɛn bɛka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sɛnea Sipor ba Balak se ni, ‘Mma biribiara nsiw wo kwan sɛ wobɛba me nkyɛn,
When they arrived they told Balaam, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please don't let anything stop you from coming to see me,
17 efisɛ metua wo ka yiye. Bra na bɛdome saa nnipa no ma me.’”
because I will pay you a great deal and follow all the advice you give me. Please come and curse these people for me!’”
18 Nanso, Balaam buae se, “Sɛ Balak ma me dwetɛ ne sikakɔkɔɔ a ɛwɔ nʼahemfi hɔ nyinaa mpo a, merentumi nyɛ biribiara mmu saa ahyɛde a Awurade a ɔyɛ me Nyankopɔn no ahyɛ no so.
But Balaam told Balak's officials, “Even if Balak gave me his whole palace full of silver and gold, I couldn't disobey the command of the Lord my God in any way.
19 Nanso, monna ha mma ade nkye na yɛnhwɛ sɛ Awurade bɛka asɛm foforo bi aka nea waka dedaw no ho anaa.”
Now you should also stay the night so I can see if the Lord has anything else to tell me.”
20 Anadwo no, Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ Balaam se, “Esiane sɛ nnipa no abɛfrɛ wo no nti, Sɔre na wo ne saa nnipa no nkɔ na mmom, hwɛ yiye na yɛ nea mɛkyerɛ wo sɛ yɛ no nko ara.”
God came to Balaam during the night and told him, “Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But only do what I tell you.”
21 Ade kyee anɔpa no, ɔhyehyɛɛ nʼafurum, tenaa ne so ne Moab mpanyimfo no sii mu.
In the morning Balaam got up, put a saddle on his donkey, and left with the Moabite leaders.
22 Nanso, Onyankopɔn bo fuw Balaam ahopere a ɔde kɔe no; enti ɔsomaa Awurade bɔfo ma ogyinaa akwantemfi sɛ onsiw no kwan. Na Balaam te nʼafurum so a nʼasomfo baanu ka ne ho.
God's got angry because Balaam had decided to go. The angel of the Lord came and stood in the road to confront him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and he was accompanied by his two servants.
23 Afurum no huu Awurade bɔfo no sɛ okura afoa gyina kwan no mfimfini no, ɔman faa wuram. Balaam hwee no sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a ɔbɛfa ɔkwan no so.
The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword, so it turned from the road and went into a field. So Balaam beat it to make it go back to the road.
24 Na Awurade ɔbɔfo no gyina ɔkwan hiahiaa bi a ɛwɔ bobeturo afasu abien ntam.
Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow part of the road that passed between two vineyards, with walls on both sides.
25 Bere a afurum no huu Awurade bɔfo no, otwerii ɔfasu no ho maa Balaam nan pemee. Enti Balaam san hwee aboa no.
The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and tried to get past. It pushed up against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it. So he beat it again.
26 Afei, Awurade bɔfo no kɔɔ nʼanim kogyinaa baabi a ɛhɔ kyere pa ara a na afurum no nnya baabi nnan ne ho mfa nifa anaa benkum.
Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to get past, either on the right or the left.
27 Enti obutuw ɔkwan no mu. Balaam bo fuw yiye ma ɔde abaa no hwee no.
The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and lay down under Balaam. He got angry and beat it with his walking stick.
28 Afei, Awurade buee afurum no ano, na obisaa Balaam se, “Mayɛ wo dɛn na nti a wohwe me mprɛnsa saa?”
The Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you for you to beat me three times?”
29 Balaam nso buaa no se, “Woama mayɛ ɔkwasea! Na sɛ mikura afoa a, anka mekum wo mprempren.”
“You made me look stupid!” Balaam told the donkey. “If I was holding a sword, I'd kill you now!”
30 Afurum no nso bisaa no se, “Menyɛ wʼafurum a woatena me so daa de abesi nnɛ? So mayɛ sɛɛ pɛn?” Obuae se, “Dabi.”
But the donkey asked Balaam, “Aren't I the donkey you've ridden all your life right up to today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he admitted.
31 Afei, Awurade buee Balaam ani ma ohuu ɔsoro bɔfo no sɛ watwe afoa gyina ɔkwan no mfimfini. Enti ɔde nʼanim butuw fam.
Then the Lord gave Balaam the ability to see the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword. Balaam bowed low and fell facedown on the ground.
32 Awurade bɔfo no bisaa no se, “Adɛn nti na woahwe wʼafurum no mprɛnsa saa? Maba sɛ merebesiw wo kwan, efisɛ wʼakwan mu no wunni ahwɛyie wɔ mʼanim.
The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why did you beat your donkey three times? Listen, I have come to confront you because you're being obstinate.
33 Afurum no huu me a ɔman faa nkyɛn mprɛnsa. Sɛ wamman a, anka mekum wo na magyaa no.”
The donkey saw me and avoided me three times. If it had not avoided me, by now I definitely would have killed you and allowed the donkey to live.”
34 Balaam ka kyerɛɛ Awurade bɔfo no se, “Mafom. Na minnim sɛ wugyina ɔkwan no mu a worebesiw me kwan. Sɛ wʼani nnye ho a mɛsan akɔ.”
“I have sinned because I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me,” Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “So if this isn't what you want, I'll go back home.”
35 Awurade bɔfo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Wo ne nnipa no nkɔ, nanso asɛm a mɛka akyerɛ wo no nko ara na ka.” Enti Balaam ne Balak mpanyimfo no kɔe.
The angel of the Lord told Balaam, “No, you can go with the men, but only say what I tell you.” So Balaam continued on with Balak's officials.
36 Bere a Balak tee sɛ Balaam reba no, ofii kurow no mu kohyiaa no wɔ Moabfo kurow mu wɔ Arnon hye so, wɔ nʼasase ano.
When Balak found out that Balaam was on his way, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the border at the Arnon River, the farthest point of his territory.
37 Balak bisaa Balaam se, “Mamfrɛ wo ɔhare so ana? Adɛn nti na woamma me nkyɛn? So merentumi ntua wo ka ana?”
He said to Balaam, “Didn't you think my call for you to come was urgent? Why didn't you come to me straight away? Did you think I couldn't pay you enough?”
38 Balaam buae se, “Ɛwɔ mu sɛ maba de, nanso merentumi nka nea mepɛ biara. Asɛm a Onyankopɔn de bɛhyɛ mʼano no nko ara na ɛsɛ sɛ meka.”
“Look, I'm here with you now, aren't I?” Balaam replied. “But do you think I can just say anything? I can only speak the words that God gives me to say.”
39 Balaam kaa Balak ho ne no kɔɔ Kiria-Husot.
So Balaam went with Balak and they arrived at Kiriath-huzoth.
40 Balak kum anantwi ne nguan bɔɔ afɔre na ɔde mmoa no bi maa Balaam ne ne mpanyimfo a wɔka ne ho.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he shared with meat with Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
41 Ade kyee anɔpa no, Balak faa Balaam de no kɔɔ Bamot-Baal atifi. Ofi hɔ too nʼani huu sɛ Israelfo no sam wɔn atenae hɔ.
The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the extent of the Israelite camp.
