Numbers 22

1 Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.

1 以色列人继续前行，抵达约旦河东岸的摩押平原，在耶利哥对面安营。

2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,

2 西拨的儿子摩押王巴勒得知以色列人对亚摩利人的所作所为，

3 and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.

3 又见他们人多势众，就惊恐万状。摩押人被以色列人吓坏了，

4 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,

4 就对米甸的长老说：“这群人将吞掉我们周围的一切，如同牛吃光田间的草一样。”那时，西拨的儿子巴勒做摩押王。

5 he sent messengers to summon 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.

5 他差遣使者去幼发拉底河附近，到比珥的儿子巴兰的家乡毗夺，去召巴兰，说：“有一个民族从埃及铺天盖地而来，就住在我对面。

6 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.”

6 他们比我强大，求你为我咒诅他们。这样，我也许就能击败他们，把他们赶走。我知道你祝福谁，谁就蒙福；你咒诅谁，谁就遭祸。”

7 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.

7 摩押和米甸的长老们带着占卜的礼金去见巴兰，把巴勒的话转告他。

8 “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.

8 巴兰说：“你们今夜住在这里，我必照耶和华的旨意回复你们。”摩押的官长就在巴兰那里住下。

9 Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

9 晚上，上帝来问巴兰：“住在你这里的是谁？”

10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

10 巴兰回答说：“他们是摩押王西拨的儿子巴勒派来的，

11 ‘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.’”

11 说，‘有一个民族从埃及铺天盖地而来。请你来咒诅那民族，这样我或许能击败他们，把他们赶走。’”

12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

12 上帝对巴兰说：“你不可跟他们去，也不可咒诅那民族，因为那民族是蒙福的。”

13 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.”

13 巴兰清早起来，对巴勒的官长说：“你们回去吧，耶和华不准我跟你们去。”

14 And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

14 摩押的官长回去对巴勒说：“巴兰不肯跟我们来。”

15 Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.

15 巴勒又派去更多、更尊贵的官长。

16 They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

16 他们到了巴兰那里，对他说：“西拨的儿子巴勒请你务必去一趟，

17 for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”

17 他必有重赏。你要什么都可以，只求你去为他咒诅那民族。”

18 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.

18 巴兰回答说：“巴勒就是把他满屋的金银都给我，我也不能在任何事上违背我的上帝耶和华的命令。

19 So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”

19 请你们在这里过夜，我好看看耶和华对我还有什么吩咐。”

20 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.”

20 当夜，上帝来对巴兰说：“这些人既然来请你，你就跟他们去吧，但你只可照我说的做。”

21 So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

21 巴兰清早起来，备好驴，跟摩押的官长去了。

22 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.

22 巴兰这一去，激怒了上帝。巴兰骑着驴，带着两个仆人正走在途中，耶和华的天使拦住他的去路。

23 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.

23 驴看见耶和华的天使拔刀拦在路上，就离开大路，跑进田间。巴兰打驴，要它回到路上。

24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.

24 耶和华的天使又站在葡萄园之间的一条窄路上，两边都是墙。

25 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.

25 驴看见耶和华的天使，就靠着墙边走，将巴兰的脚挤在墙上了。巴兰又打它。

26 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.

26 耶和华的天使又走到前面，站在狭窄之处，两边都无侧身通过的余地。

27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.

27 巴兰身下的驴看见耶和华的天使，就卧在地上，巴兰大怒，便用杖打它。

28 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?”

28 耶和华使驴开口对巴兰说：“我做错了什么，你竟打我三次？”

29 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!”

29 巴兰说：“因为你戏弄我。如果我手中有刀，早就把你宰了！”

30 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.

30 驴对巴兰说：“我不是你从小就骑的驴吗？我可曾这样对你？”巴兰说：“没有。”

31 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.

31 那时，耶和华开了巴兰的眼，他才看见耶和华的天使拔刀拦在路上，便俯身下拜。

32 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.

32 耶和华的天使对他说：“你为何三次打你的驴？我来阻挡你，因为你走的路在我眼中是邪路。

33 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.”

33 你的驴看见我，一连躲避了三次，驴若没有躲开，我早已杀了你，只放过驴。”

34 “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.”

34 巴兰对耶和华的天使说：“我有罪了，我不知道是你拦在路上。现在你如果反对我去，我就回去。”

35 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.

35 耶和华的天使说：“跟这些人去吧，但你只许按我的指示说话。”于是，巴兰跟巴勒的官长去了。

36 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.

36 巴勒听见巴兰来了，就来到边界尽头、亚嫩河边的摩押城迎接他。

37 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 reward you richly?”

37 巴勒对巴兰说：“上次派人请你，你为何不肯来？难道我不能给你重赏吗？”

38 “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.”

38 巴兰对巴勒说：“现在我已经来了，但我不能随便发言，我只能按上帝的指示说话。”

39 So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

39 巴兰和巴勒一同来到基列·胡琐。

40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.

40 巴勒宰牛杀羊赏给巴兰和随行的官长。

41 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.

41 次日清晨，巴勒领巴兰上到巴末·巴力 ，从那里可以看到一部分以色列人。