Numbers:22

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* And the children of Israel set forward , and encamped in the plains of Moab , on this side of the Jordan , opposite Jericho . * And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Emorites . * And Moab was greatly afraid of the people , because it was numerous ; and Moab was horrified because of the children of Israel . * And Moab said unto the elders of Midian , Now will this assemblage devour all that is round about us , as the ox devoureth the grass of the field ; and Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time . * And he sent messengers unto Bil ’am the son of Beor to Pethor , which is by the river , in the land of the children of his people , to have him called ; saying , Behold , there is a people come out from Egypt ; behold , it covereth the surface of the earth , and it is abiding opposite to me : * And now do but come , curse me this people ; for it is too mighty for me ; peradventure I may be able to smite it , that I may drive it out of the land ; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed , and he whom thou cursest is cursed . * And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand ; and they came unto Bil ’am , and spoke unto him the words of Balak . * And he said unto them , Remain you here this night , and I will bring you word again , as the Lord may speak unto me ; and the princes of Moab abode with Bil ’am . * And God came unto Bil ’am , and said , Who are these men with thee ? * And Bil ’am said unto God , Balak the son of Zippor , the king of Moab , hath sent unto me , * Behold , there is the people that is come out of Egypt , and covereth the face of the earth : now come , denounce it for me ; peradventure I shall be able to fight against it , and drive it away . * And God said unto Bil ’am , Thou shalt not go with them : thou shalt not curse the people ; for it is blessed . * And Bil ’am rose up in the morning , and said unto the princes of Balak , Go back to your land ; for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you . * And the princes of Moab rose up , and they went unto Balak , and said , Bil ’am refuseth to come with us . * And Balak sent yet again princes , more in number , and more honorable than those . * And they came to Bil ’am , and said to him , Thus hath said Balak the son of Zippor , Do not suffer thyself , I pray thee , to be prevented from coming unto me ; * For I will honor thee greatly , and whatsoever thou mayest say unto me will I do : and only come , I pray thee , denounce me this people . * And Bil ’am answered and said unto the servants of Balak , If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold , I could not transgress the order of the Lord my God , to do a small or a great thing . * And now , I pray you , tarry ye also here this night , that I may know what the Lord will farther speak with me . * And God came unto Bil ’am at night , and said unto him , If to call thee the men have come , rise up , go with them ; but only the word which I shall speak unto thee , that shalt thou do . * And Bil ’am rose up in the morning , and saddled his ass , and went with the princes of Moab . * And the anger of God was kindled , because he went ; and an angel of the Lord placed himself in the way to be a hindrance to him ; and he was riding upon his ass , and his two servants were with him . * And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way , with his sword drawn in his hand ; and the ass turned aside out of the way , and went into the field : and Bil ’am smote the ass , to make her turn into the way . * But the angel of the Lord stepped into a path between the vineyards , a wall on this side , and a wall on that side . * And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord , she forced herself against the wall , and pressed Bil ’am ’s foot against the wall : and he smote her again . * And the angel of the Lord went yet farther , and stood in a narrow place , where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left . * And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord , she lay down under Bil ’am : whereupon Bil ’am ’s anger was kindled , and he smote the ass with a stick . * And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass , and she said unto Bil ’am , What have I done unto thee , that thou hast smitten me these three times ? * And Bil ’am said unto the ass , Because thou hast mocked me : had I but a sword in my hand , I would assuredly have now killed thee . * And the ass said unto Bil ’am , Am not I thy ass , upon which thou hast ridden from thy commencement unto this day ? was I ever wont to do so unto thee ? and he said , No . * Then the Lord opened the eyes of Bil ’am , and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way , with his sword drawn in his hand : and he bowed down his head and prostrated himself on his face . * And the angel of the Lord said unto him , Wherefore hast thou smitten thy ass these three times ? behold , I went out to be a hindrance ; because the journey which is odious to me was too quickly begun . * And the ass saw me , and turned aside before me these three times ; if she had not turned aside from me , I would surely now not only have slain thee , but saved her alive . * And Bil ’am said unto the angel of the Lord , I have sinned ; for I knew not that thou wast standing against me in the way ; but now , if it be evil in thy eyes , I will return home again . * And the angel of the Lord said unto Bil ’am , Go with the men ; however , only the word which I will speak unto thee , that shalt thou speak : and Bil ’am went with the princes of Balak . * And when Balak heard that Bil ’am was come , he went out to meet him unto ‘Ir –Moab , which is on the border of Arnon , which is at the outmost end of the boundary . * And Balak said unto Bil ’am , Did I not earnestly send unto thee to have thee called ? wherefore camest thou not unto me ? in truth , am I not able to honor thee ? * And Bil ’am said unto Balak , Lo , I am come unto thee ; have I now any power whatever to speak the least ? the word that God may put in my mouth , that alone must I speak . * And Bil ’am went with Balak , and they came unto Kiryath –chuzoth . * And Balak slew oxen and sheep , and sent to Bil ’am and to the princes that were with him . * And it came to pass in the morning , that Balak took Bil ’am , and brought him up into the high places of Baal , and he saw thence a portion of the people .

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