Numbers 23

1 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”

1 巴兰对巴勒说：“你在这里为我筑七座祭坛，预备七头公牛和七只公绵羊。”

2 So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

2 巴勒就照巴兰的话做了。他们二人在每座坛上献上一头公牛和一只公绵羊，

3 “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height,

3 巴兰对巴勒说：“你留在燔祭旁边，我到前面去，也许耶和华会向我显现。无论祂有什么指示，我必告诉你。”巴兰就上到一处光秃秃的高地。

4 and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

4 上帝向巴兰显现。巴兰对上帝说：“我已经预备了七座祭坛，每座祭坛上献了一头公牛和一只公绵羊。”

5 Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”

5 耶和华告诉他当说的话，命他回去转告巴勒。

6 So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab.

6 巴兰就回到巴勒那里，看见他和摩押的官长都站在燔祭旁边。

7 And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’

7 巴兰吟诗预言说： “巴勒领我出亚兰， 摩押王请我出东山， 说，‘来为我咒诅雅各， 来斥责以色列！’

8 How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?

8 上帝没有咒诅的， 我怎能咒诅？ 耶和华没有斥责的， 我怎能斥责？

9 For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.

9 我从峰顶观看他们， 从高岗眺望他们， 这独居一方之民， 不与万国同列。

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous; let my end be like theirs!”

10 雅各的子孙多如尘土， 谁能数得清？ 谁能数清以色列人的四分之一？ 我愿像义人一样死去， 如义人般终此一生。”

11 Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!”

11 巴勒对巴兰说：“你这是做什么？我请你来咒诅我的仇敌，你竟祝福他们！”

12 But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”

12 巴兰说：“耶和华让我说的话，我岂能不说？”

13 Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place where you can see them. You will only see the outskirts of their camp—not all of them. And from there, curse them for me.”

13 巴勒说：“请你跟我去另一个地方，那里看不见全部以色列人，只能看见一部分，你要在那里为我咒诅他们。”

14 So Balak took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

14 他领巴兰上到毗斯迦山顶的琐腓田，在那里筑了七座祭坛，每座坛上都献了一头公牛和一只公绵羊。

15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.”

15 巴兰对巴勒说：“你留在这些燔祭旁边，我到那边去见耶和华。”

16 And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”

16 耶和华向巴兰显现，告诉他当说的话，让他转告巴勒。

17 So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. “What did the LORD say?” Balak asked.

17 巴兰回到巴勒那里，看见他和摩押的官长都站在燔祭旁边。巴勒问道：“耶和华说了什么？”

18 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor.

18 巴兰吟诗预言说： “巴勒啊，要留心听！ 西拨的儿子啊，请听我言。

19 God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

19 上帝并非世人，祂不撒谎； 上帝不是凡人，祂不反悔。 祂言出必行，信守承诺。

20 I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.

20 我奉命祝福，祂已赐福， 我不能改变。

21 He considers no disaster for Jacob; He sees no trouble for Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of the King is among them.

21 雅各的子孙中未见有罪恶， 以色列人中看不见有祸患。 他们的上帝耶和华与他们同在， 他们向自己的君王欢呼。

22 God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox.

22 上帝带他们出埃及， 祂 的力量如野牛之角。

23 For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’

23 没有邪术能害雅各， 没有咒语可伤以色列。 时候一到，人们必谈论雅各， 谈论以色列，说，‘看啊， 上帝的作为何等伟大！’

24 Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”

24 看啊，这民族挺身如母狮， 跃起像雄狮， 不吞食猎物、 不喝猎物的血不躺卧。”

25 Now Balak said to Balaam, “Then neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

25 巴勒对巴兰说：“你可以不咒诅他们，但也不该为他们祝福啊！”

26 But Balaam replied, “Did I not tell you that whatever the LORD says, I must do?”

26 巴兰回答说：“我不是说过，我必须按耶和华的指示做吗？”

27 “Please come,” said Balak, “I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you curse them for me from there.”

27 巴勒说：“来吧，我带你去另一个地方，也许上帝会同意你在那里为我咒诅他们。”

28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.

28 他领着巴兰登上俯瞰旷野的毗珥山顶。

29 Then Balaam said, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”

29 巴兰对巴勒说：“你在这里为我筑七座祭坛，预备七头公牛和七只公绵羊。”

30 So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

30 巴勒就照巴兰的话，在每座祭坛上献了一头公牛和一只公绵羊。