Numbers 22

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

1 以色列人起行，在摩押平原、约旦河东，对着耶利哥安营。

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

2 以色列人向亚摩利人所行的一切事，西拨的儿子巴勒都看见了。

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

3 摩押人因以色列民甚多，就大大惧怕，心内忧急，

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 对米甸的长老说：「现在这众人要把我们四围所有的一概舔尽，就如牛舔尽田间的草一般。」那时西拨的儿子巴勒作摩押王。

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 他差遣使者往大河边的毗夺去，到比珥的儿子巴兰本乡那里，召巴兰来，说：「有一宗民从埃及出来，遮满地面，与我对居。

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 这民比我强盛，现在求你来为我咒诅他们，或者我能得胜，攻打他们，赶出此地。因为我知道，你为谁祝福，谁就得福；你咒诅谁，谁就受咒诅。」

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 摩押的长老和米甸的长老手里拿着卦金，到了巴兰那里，将巴勒的话都告诉了他。

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：「你们今夜在这里住宿，我必照耶和华所晓谕我的回报你们。」摩押的使臣就在巴兰那里住下了。

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

9 神临到巴兰那里，说：「在你这里的人都是谁？」

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

10 巴兰回答说：「是摩押王西拨的儿子巴勒打发人到我这里来，说：

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 『从埃及出来的民遮满地面，你来为我咒诅他们，或者我能与他们争战，把他们赶出去。』」

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

12 神对巴兰说：「你不可同他们去，也不可咒诅那民，因为那民是蒙福的。」

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 巴兰早晨起来，对巴勒的使臣说：「你们回本地去吧，因为耶和华不容我和你们同去。」

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

14 摩押的使臣就起来，回巴勒那里去，说：「巴兰不肯和我们同来。」

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

15 巴勒又差遣使臣，比先前的又多又尊贵。

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：「西拨的儿子巴勒这样说：『求你不容什么事拦阻你不到我这里来，

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 因为我必使你得极大的尊荣。你向我要什么，我就给你什么；只求你来为我咒诅这民。』」

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 巴兰回答巴勒的臣仆说：「巴勒就是将他满屋的金银给我，我行大事小事也不得越过耶和华—我 神的命。

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 现在我请你们今夜在这里住宿，等我得知耶和华还要对我说什么。」

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， 神临到巴兰那里，说：「这些人若来召你，你就起来同他们去，你只要遵行我对你所说的话。」

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

21 巴兰早晨起来，备上驴，和摩押的使臣一同去了。

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 神因他去就发了怒；耶和华的使者站在路上敌挡他。他骑着驴，有两个仆人跟随他。

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 驴看见耶和华的使者站在路上，手里有拔出来的刀，就从路上跨进田间，巴兰便打驴，要叫它回转上路。

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

24 耶和华的使者就站在葡萄园的窄路上；这边有墙，那边也有墙。

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 驴看见耶和华的使者，就贴靠墙，将巴兰的脚挤伤了；巴兰又打驴。

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 耶和华的使者又往前去，站在狭窄之处，左右都没有转折的地方。

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 驴看见耶和华的使者，就卧在巴兰底下，巴兰发怒，用杖打驴。

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 耶和华叫驴开口，对巴兰说：「我向你行了什么，你竟打我这三次呢？」

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 巴兰对驴说：「因为你戏弄我，我恨不能手中有刀，把你杀了。」

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：「我不是你从小时直到今日所骑的驴吗？我素常向你这样行过吗？」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 当时，耶和华使巴兰的眼目明亮，他就看见耶和华的使者站在路上，手里有拔出来的刀，巴兰便低头俯伏在地。

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 耶和华的使者对他说：「你为何这三次打你的驴呢？我出来敌挡你，因你所行的，在我面前偏僻。

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 驴看见我就三次从我面前偏过去；驴若没有偏过去，我早把你杀了，留它存活。」

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 巴兰对耶和华的使者说：「我有罪了。我不知道你站在路上阻挡我；你若不喜欢我去，我就转回。」

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 耶和华的使者对巴兰说：「你同这些人去吧！你只要说我对你说的话。」于是巴兰同着巴勒的使臣去了。

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，就往摩押京城去迎接他；这城是在边界上，在亚嫩河旁。

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：「我不是急急地打发人到你那里去召你吗？你为何不到我这里来呢？我岂不能使你得尊荣吗？」

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 巴兰说：「我已经到你这里来了！现在我岂能擅自说什么呢？ 神将什么话传给我，我就说什么。」

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

39 巴兰和巴勒同行，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 巴勒宰了 牛羊，送给巴兰和陪伴的使臣。

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 到了早晨，巴勒领巴兰到巴力的高处；巴兰从那里观看以色列营的边界。