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1. Then the Israelites traveled to the Jordan Valley in Moab. They camped near the Jordan River across from Jericho.
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1. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 set forward H5265 , and pitched H2583 in the plains H6160 of Moab H4124 on this side H4480 H5676 Jordan H3383 by Jericho H3405 .
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2. Balak son of Zippor saw everything the Israelites had done to the Amorites. The king of Moab was very frightened of the Israelites because there were so many of them. He was very afraid.
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2. And Balak H1111 the son H1121 of Zippor H6834 saw H7200 H853 all H3605 that H834 Israel H3478 had done H6213 to the Amorites H567 .
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3. And Moab H4124 was sore afraid H1481 H3966 of H4480 H6440 the people H5971 , because H3588 they H1931 were many H7227 : and Moab H4124 was distressed H6973 because H4480 H6440 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 .
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4. The king of Moab said to the leaders of Midian, "This large group of people will destroy everything around us, the way a cow eats all the grass in a field." Balak son of Zippor was the king of Moab at this time.
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4. And Moab H4124 said H559 unto H413 the elders H2205 of Midian H4080 , Now H6258 shall this company H6951 lick up H3897 H853 all H3605 that are round about H5439 us , as the ox H7794 licketh up H3897 H853 the grass H3418 of the field H7704 . And Balak H1111 the son H1121 of Zippor H6834 was king H4428 of the Moabites H4124 at that H1931 time H6256 .
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5. He sent some men to call Balaam son of Beor. Balaam was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River. This was where Balaam's people lived. This was Balak's message: "A new nation of people has come out of Egypt. There are so many people that they cover all the land. They have camped next to me.
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5. He sent H7971 messengers H4397 therefore unto H413 Balaam H1109 the son H1121 of Beor H1160 to Pethor H6604 , which H834 is by H5921 the river H5104 of the land H776 of the children H1121 of his people H5971 , to call H7121 him, saying H559 , Behold H2009 , there is a people H5971 come out H3318 from Egypt H4480 H4714 : behold H2009 , they cover H3680 H853 the face H5869 of the earth H776 , and they H1931 abide H3427 over against H4480 H4136 me:
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6. Come and help me. These people are too powerful for me. I know that you have great power. If you bless people, good things happen to them. And if you curse people, bad things happen to them. So come and curse these people. Maybe then I will be able to defeat them and force them to leave my country."
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6. Come H1980 now H6258 therefore , I pray thee H4994 , curse H779 me H853 this H2088 people H5971 ; for H3588 they H1931 are too mighty for H6099 H4480 me: peradventure H194 I shall prevail H3201 , that we may smite H5221 them , and that I may drive them out H1644 of H4480 the land H776 : for H3588 I know H3045 H853 that he whom H834 thou blessest H1288 is blessed H1288 , and he whom H834 thou cursest H779 is cursed H779 .
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7. The leaders of Moab and Midian left. They went to talk to Balaam. They carried with them money to pay him for his service. Then they told him what Balak had said.
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7. And the elders H2205 of Moab H4124 and the elders H2205 of Midian H4080 departed H1980 with the rewards of divination H7081 in their hand H3027 ; and they came H935 unto H413 Balaam H1109 , and spoke H1696 unto H413 him the words H1697 of Balak H1111 .
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8. Balaam said to them, "Stay here for the night. I will talk to the Lord and tell you the answer he gives me." So the leaders of Moab stayed there with Balaam that night.
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8. And he said H559 unto H413 them, Lodge H3885 here H6311 this night H3915 , and I will bring H7725 you word H1697 again, as H834 the LORD H3068 shall speak H1696 unto H413 me : and the princes H8269 of Moab H4124 abode H3427 with H5973 Balaam H1109 .
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9. God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"
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9. And God H430 came H935 unto H413 Balaam H1109 , and said H559 , What H4310 men H376 are these H428 with H5973 thee?
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10. Balaam said to God, "The king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, sent them to give me a message.
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10. And Balaam H1109 said H559 unto H413 God H430 , Balak H1111 the son H1121 of Zippor H6834 , king H4428 of Moab H4124 , hath sent H7971 unto H413 me, saying ,
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11. This is the message: A new nation of people has come out of Egypt. There are so many people that they cover the land. So come and curse these people. Then maybe I will be able to fight them and force them to leave my land."
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11. Behold H2009 , there is a people H5971 come out H3318 of Egypt H4480 H4714 , which covereth H3680 H853 the face H5869 of the earth H776 : come H1980 now H6258 , curse H6895 me them; peradventure H194 I shall be able H3201 to overcome H3898 them , and drive them out H1644 .
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12. But God said to Balaam, "Don't go with them. You must not curse those people. They are my people."
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12. And God H430 said H559 unto H413 Balaam H1109 , Thou shalt not H3808 go H1980 with H5973 them ; thou shalt not H3808 curse H779 H853 the people H5971 : for H3588 they H1931 are blessed H1288 .
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13. The next morning Balaam got up and said to leaders from Balak, "Go back to your own country. The Lord will not let me go with you."
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13. And Balaam H1109 rose up H6965 in the morning H1242 , and said H559 unto H413 the princes H8269 of Balak H1111 , Get H1980 you into H413 your land H776 : for H3588 the LORD H3068 refuseth H3985 to give me leave H5414 to go H1980 with H5973 you.
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14. So the leaders of Moab went back to Balak and told him this. They said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
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14. And the princes H8269 of Moab H4124 rose up H6965 , and they went H935 unto H413 Balak H1111 , and said H559 , Balaam H1109 refuseth H3985 to come H1980 with H5973 us.
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15. So Balak sent other leaders to Balaam. This time he sent many more than the first time. And these leaders were much more important than the first ones he sent.
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15. And Balak H1111 sent H7971 yet H5750 again H3254 princes H8269 , more H7227 , and more honorable H3513 than they H4480 H428 .
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16. They went to Balaam and said: "Balak son of Zippor says this to you: Please don't let anything stop you from coming.
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16. And they came H935 to H413 Balaam H1109 , and said H559 to him, Thus H3541 saith H559 Balak H1111 the son H1121 of Zippor H6834 , Let nothing H408 , I pray thee H4994 , hinder H4513 thee from coming H4480 H1980 unto H413 me:
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17. I will pay you very much, and I will do whatever you ask. Come and curse these people for me."
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17. For H3588 I will promote thee unto very great honor H3513 H3513 H3966 , and I will do H6213 whatsoever H3605 H834 thou sayest H559 unto H413 me: come H1980 therefore , I pray thee H4994 , curse H6895 me H853 this H2088 people H5971 .
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18. Balaam gave Balak's officials his answer. He said, "I must obey the Lord my God.
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18. And Balaam H1109 answered H6030 and said H559 unto H413 the servants H5650 of Balak H1111 , If H518 Balak H1111 would give H5414 me his house H1004 full H4393 of silver H3701 and gold H2091 , I cannot H3201 H3808 go beyond H5674 H853 the word H6310 of the LORD H3068 my God H430 , to do H6213 less H6996 or H176 more H1419 .
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19. But you can stay here tonight like the other men did, and during the night I will learn what the Lord wants to tell me."
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19. Now H6258 therefore , I pray you H4994 , tarry H3427 ye H859 also H1571 here H2088 this night H3915 , that I may know H3045 what H4100 the LORD H3068 will say H1696 unto H5973 me more H3254 .
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20. That night, God came to Balaam. God said, "These men have come again to ask you to go with them. So you can go with them. But do only what I tell you to do."
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20. And God H430 came H935 unto H413 Balaam H1109 at night H3915 , and said H559 unto him, If H518 the men H376 come H935 to call H7121 thee , rise up H6965 , and go H1980 with H854 them ; but yet H389 H853 the word H1697 which H834 I shall say H1696 unto H413 thee , that shalt thou do H6213 .
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21. The next morning, Balaam got up, put a saddle on his donkey, and went with the Moabite leaders.
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21. And Balaam H1109 rose up H6965 in the morning H1242 , and saddled H2280 H853 his ass H860 , and went H1980 with H5973 the princes H8269 of Moab H4124 .
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22. Balaam was riding on his donkey. Two of his servants were with him. While Balaam was traveling, God became angry. So the Lord's angel stood in the road in front of Balaam to stop Balaam.
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22. And God H430 's anger H639 was kindled H2734 because H3588 he H1931 went H1980 : and the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 stood H3320 in the way H1870 for an adversary H7854 against him . Now he H1931 was riding H7392 upon H5921 his ass H860 , and his two H8147 servants H5288 were with H5973 him.
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23. When Balaam's donkey saw the Lord's angel standing in the road with a sword in his hand, the donkey turned from the road and went into the field. Balaam could not see the angel, so he was very angry at the donkey. He hit the donkey and forced it to go back on the road.
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23. And the ass H860 saw H7200 H853 the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 standing H5324 in the way H1870 , and his sword H2719 drawn H8025 in his hand H3027 : and the ass H860 turned aside H5186 out of H4480 the way H1870 , and went H1980 into the field H7704 : and Balaam H1109 smote H5221 H853 the ass H860 , to turn H5186 her into the way H1870 .
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24. Later, the Lord's angel stood at a place where the road became narrow. This was between two vineyards. There were walls on both sides of the road.
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24. But the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 stood H5975 in a path H4934 of the vineyards H3754 , a wall H1447 being on this side H4480 H2088 , and a wall H1447 on that side H4480 H2088 .
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25. Again the donkey saw the Lord's angel. So the donkey walked very close to one wall. This crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So Balaam hit his donkey again.
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25. And when the ass H860 saw H7200 H853 the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 , she thrust herself H3905 unto H413 the wall H7023 , and crushed H3905 H853 Balaam H1109 's foot H7272 against H413 the wall H7023 : and he smote H5221 her again H3254 .
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26. Later, the Lord's angel stood at another place where the road became narrow. There was no place where the donkey could go around him. It could not turn to the left or to the right.
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26. And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 went H5674 further H3254 , and stood H5975 in a narrow H6862 place H4725 , where H834 was no H369 way H1870 to turn H5186 either to the right hand H3225 or to the left H8040 .
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27. The donkey saw the Lord's angel. So the donkey lay down with Balaam sitting on top of it. Balaam was very angry at the donkey. So he hit it with his walking stick.
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27. And when the ass H860 saw H7200 H853 the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 , she fell down H7257 under H8478 Balaam H1109 : and Balaam H1109 's anger H639 was kindled H2734 , and he smote H5221 H853 the ass H860 with a staff H4731 .
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28. Then the Lord caused the donkey to speak. The donkey said to Balaam, "Why are you angry at me? What have I done to you? You have hit me three times!"
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28. And the LORD H3068 opened H6605 H853 the mouth H6310 of the ass H860 , and she said H559 unto Balaam H1109 , What H4100 have I done H6213 unto thee, that H3588 thou hast smitten H5221 me these H2088 three H7969 times H7272 ?
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29. Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made me look foolish. If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!"
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29. And Balaam H1109 said H559 unto the ass H860 , Because H3588 thou hast mocked H5953 me : I would H3863 there were H3426 a sword H2719 in mine hand H3027 , for H3588 now H6258 would I kill H2026 thee.
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30. But the donkey said to Balaam, "Look, I am your donkey. You have ridden me for so many years. And you know that I have never done this to you before!" "That is true," Balaam said.
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30. And the ass H860 said H559 unto H413 Balaam H1109 , Am not H3808 I H595 thine ass H860 , upon H5921 which H834 thou hast ridden H7392 ever since H4480 H5750 I was thine unto H5704 this H2088 day H3117 ? was I ever wont H5532 H5532 to do H6213 so H3541 unto thee? And he said H559 , Nay H3808 .
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31. Then the Lord allowed Balaam to see the angel. The Lord's angel was standing in the road, holding a sword in his hand. Balaam bowed low to the ground.
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31. Then the LORD H3068 opened H1540 H853 the eyes H5869 of Balaam H1109 , and he saw H7200 H853 the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 standing H5324 in the way H1870 , and his sword H2719 drawn H8025 in his hand H3027 : and he bowed down his head H6915 , and fell flat H7812 on his face H639 .
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32. Then the Lord's angel asked Balaam, "Why did you hit your donkey three times? I am the one who came to stop you. But just in time,
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32. And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto H413 him, Wherefore H5921 H4100 hast thou smitten H5221 H853 thine ass H860 these H2088 three H7969 times H7272 ? behold H2009 , I H595 went out H3318 to withstand H7854 thee, because H3588 thy way H1870 is perverse H3399 before H5048 me:
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33. your donkey saw me and turned away from me. That happened three times. If the donkey had not turned away, I probably would have killed you already. And I would have let your donkey live."
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33. And the ass H860 saw H7200 me , and turned H5186 from H6440 me these H2088 three H7969 times H7272 : unless H194 she had turned H5186 from H4480 H6440 me, surely H3588 now H6258 also H1571 I had slain H2026 thee , and saved her alive H2421 H853 .
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34. Then Balaam said to the Lord's angel, "I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road. If I am doing wrong, I will go back home."
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34. And Balaam H1109 said H559 unto H413 the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 , I have sinned H2398 ; for H3588 I knew H3045 not H3808 that H3588 thou H859 stoodest H5324 in the way H1870 against H7125 me: now H6258 therefore, if H518 it displease H7489 H5869 thee , I will get me back again H7725 .
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35. Then the Lord's angel said to Balaam, "No, you can go with these men. But be careful. Speak only the words that I will tell you to say." So Balaam went with the leaders that Balak had sent.
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35. And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto H413 Balaam H1109 , Go H1980 with H5973 the men H376 : but only H657 H853 the word H1697 that H834 I shall speak H1696 unto H413 thee , that thou shalt speak H1696 . So Balaam H1109 went H1980 with H5973 the princes H8269 of Balak H1111 .
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36. Balak heard that Balaam was coming. So Balak went out to meet him at the Moabite town near the Arnon River. This was at the northern border of his country.
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36. And when Balak H1111 heard H8085 that H3588 Balaam H1109 was come H935 , he went out H3318 to meet H7125 him unto H413 a city H5892 of Moab H4124 , which H834 is in H5921 the border H1366 of Arnon H769 , which H834 is in the utmost H7097 coast H1366 .
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37. When Balak saw Balaam, he said to him, "I asked you before to come. I told you it was very important. Why didn't you come to me? Did you think I might not be able to pay you?"
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37. And Balak H1111 said H559 unto H413 Balaam H1109 , Did I not H3808 earnestly send H7971 H7971 unto H413 thee to call H7121 thee? wherefore H4100 camest H1980 thou not H3808 unto H413 me? am I not able H3201 H3808 indeed H552 to promote thee to honor H3513 ?
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38. Balaam answered, "Well, I am here now. I came, but I might not be able to do what you asked. I can only say the words that the Lord God tells me to say."
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38. And Balaam H1109 said H559 unto H413 Balak H1111 , Lo H2009 , I am come H935 unto H413 thee : have I now H6258 any power at all H3201 H3201 to say H1696 any thing H3972 ? the word H1697 that H834 God H430 putteth H7760 in my mouth H6310 , that shall I speak H1696 .
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39. Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.
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39. And Balaam H1109 went H1980 with H5973 Balak H1111 , and they came H935 unto Kirjath H7155 -huzoth.
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40. Balak killed some cattle and some sheep as his sacrifice. He gave some of the meat to Balaam and some to the leaders who were with him.
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40. And Balak H1111 offered H2076 oxen H1241 and sheep H6629 , and sent H7971 to Balaam H1109 , and to the princes H8269 that H834 were with H854 him.
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41. The next morning Balak took Balaam to the town of Bamoth Baal. From there they could see part of the Israelite camp.
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41. And it came to pass H1961 on the morrow H1242 , that Balak H1111 took H3947 H853 Balaam H1109 , and brought him up H5927 into the high places H1116 of Baal H1168 , that thence H4480 H8033 he might see H7200 the utmost H7097 part of the people H5971 .
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