New American Standard Bible 1995

Numbers 23

The Prophecies of Balaam

1Then Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111, “Buildבְּנֵה־be.neh-H1129sevenשִׁבְעָ֣הshiv.'AhH7651altarsמִזְבְּחֹ֑תmiz.be.ChotH4196for me hereבָזֶ֖הva.ZehH2088,and prepareוְהָכֵ֥ןve.ha.KhenH3559sevenשִׁבְעָ֥הshiv.'AhH7651bullsפָרִ֖יםfa.RimH6499and sevenוְשִׁבְעָ֥הve.shiv.'AhH7651ramsאֵילִֽים׃'ei.LimH352for me hereבָּזֶ֔הba.ZehH2088.”

2Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111didוַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213justH3512as Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109had spokenדִּבֶּ֣רdi.BerH1696,and Balakבָּלָ֧קba.LakH1111and Balaamוּבִלְעָ֛םu.vil.'AmH1109offeredוַיַּ֨עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927up a bullפָּ֥רparH6499and a ramוָאַ֖יִלva.'A.yilH352on each altarבַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ba.miz.Be.achH4196.

3Then Balaamבִּלְעָ֜םbil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Balakלְבָלָ֗קle.va.LakH1111, “Standהִתְיַצֵּב֮hit.ya.TzevH3320besideעַל־'al-H5921your burntעֹלָתֶךָ֒'o.la.te.KhaH5930offeringH5930,and I will goוְאֵֽלְכָ֗הve.'e.le.KhahH1980;perhapsאוּלַ֞י'u.LaiH194the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068will comeיִקָּרֵ֤הyi.ka.RehH7136to meetלִקְרָאתִ֔יlik.ra.TiH7122me, and whateverוּדְבַ֥ר מַה־u.de.Var mah-H4100 H1697He showsיַּרְאֵ֖נִיyar.'E.niH7200me I will tellוְהִגַּ֣דְתִּיve.hi.Gad.tiH5046you.” So he wentוַיֵּ֖לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980to a bareשֶֽׁפִי׃She.fiH8205hillH8205.

4Now Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430metוַיִּקָּ֥רvai.yi.KarH7136Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109,and he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Him, “I have setעָרַ֔כְתִּי'a.Rakh.tiH6186up the sevenשִׁבְעַ֤תshiv.'AtH7651altarsהַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ha.miz.be.ChotH4196,and I have offeredוָאַ֛עַלva.'A.'alH5927up a bullפָּ֥רparH6499and a ramוָאַ֖יִלva.'A.yilH352on each altarבַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ba.miz.Be.achH4196.”

5Then the Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068putוַיָּ֧שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760a wordדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697in Balaam’sבִלְעָ֑םvil.'AmH1109mouthבְּפִ֣יbe.FiH6310and saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Returnשׁ֥וּבshuvH7725to Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111,and you shall speakתְדַבֵּֽר׃te.da.BerH1696thusוְכֹ֥הve.KhohH3541.”

6So he returnedוַיָּ֣שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725to him, and beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009,he was standingנִצָּ֖בni.TzavH5324besideעַל־'al-H5921his burntעֹלָת֑וֹo.la.ToH5930offeringH5930,he and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the leadersשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of Moabמוֹאָֽב׃mo.'AvH4124.

7He tookוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375up hisdiscourseמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, “FromAramH6307Balakבָלָ֤קva.LakH1111has broughtיַנְחֵ֨נִיyan.Che.niH5148me,Moab’sמוֹאָב֙mo.'AvH4124kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428from the mountainsH2022of the Eastקֶ֔דֶםKe.demH6924, ‘Comeלְכָה֙le.KhahH1980curseאָֽרָה־'a.rah-H779Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290for me,And comeוּלְכָ֖הu.le.KhahH1980,denounceזֹעֲמָ֥הzo.'a.MahH2194Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478!’

8Howמָ֣הmahH4100shall I curseאֶקֹּ֔ב'e.KoH6895whom Godאֵ֑ל'ElH410has not cursedקַבֹּ֖הka.BohH6895?And howוּמָ֣הu.MahH4100can I denounceאֶזְעֹ֔ם'ez.'OmH2194whom the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068has not denouncedזָעַ֖םza.'AmH2194?

9As I seeאֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ'er.'E.nuH7200him from the topמֵרֹ֤אשׁme.RoshH7218of the rocksצֻרִים֙tzu.RimH6697,And I lookאֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ'a.shu.Re.nuH7789at him from the hillsוּמִגְּבָע֖וֹתu.mi.ge.va.'otH1389;Beholdהֶן־hen-H2005,a peopleעָם֙'amH5971whodwellsיִשְׁכֹּ֔ןyish.KonH7931apartלְבָדָ֣דle.va.DadH910,And will not be reckonedיִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃yit.cha.ShavH2803among the nationsוּבַגּוֹיִ֖םu.va.go.YimH1471.

10Whoמִ֤יmiH4310can countמָנָה֙ma.NahH4487the dustעֲפַ֣ר'a.FarH6083of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,Or numberוּמִסְפָּ֖רu.mis.ParH4557the fourthרֹ֣בַעRoa'H7255partH7255of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478? Letme dieתָּמֹ֤תta.MotH4191the deathמ֣וֹתMotH4194of the uprightיְשָׁרִ֔יםye.sha.RimH3477,And let my endאַחֲרִיתִ֖י'a.cha.ri.TiH319be likeכָּמֹֽהוּ׃ka.Mo.huH3644his!”

11Then Balakבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109, “Whatמֶ֥הmehH4100have you doneעָשִׂ֖יתָ'a.Si.taH6213to me?I tookלְקַחְתִּ֔יךָle.kach.Ti.khaH3947you to curseלָקֹ֤בla.KoH6895my enemiesH340,but beholdוְהִנֵּ֖הve.hi.NehH2009,you have actuallyבֵּרַ֥כְתָּbe.Rakh.taH1288blessedבָרֵֽךְ׃va.RekhH1288them!”

12He repliedוַיַּ֖עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030, “Must I not be carefulאֶשְׁמֹ֖ר'esh.MorH8104to speakלְדַבֵּֽר׃le.da.BerH1696whatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068putsיָשִׂ֤יםya.SimH7760in my mouthבְּפִ֔יbe.FiH6310?”

13Then Balakבָּלָ֗קba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Pleaseנָּ֨אna'H4994comeלְכָהle.khahH1980with me to anotherאַחֵר֙'a.CherH312placeמָק֤וֹםma.KomH4725from whereאֲשֶׁ֣ר מִשָּׁ֔ם'a.Sher mi.ShamH834 H8033you may seeתִּרְאֶ֣נּוּtir.'E.nuH7200them, although you will onlyאֶ֚פֶס'E.fesH657seeתִרְאֶ֔הtir.'EhH7200the extremeH7097endH7097of them and will not seeתִרְאֶ֑הtir.'EhH7200allוְכֻלּ֖וֹve.khu.LoH3605of them; and curseוְקָבְנוֹ־ve.ka.ve.nov-H6895them for me from thereמִשָּֽׁם׃mi.ShamH8033.”

14So he tookוַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yi.ka.Che.huH3947him to the fieldשְׂדֵ֣הse.DehH7704of Zophimצֹפִ֔יםtzo.FimH6839,to the topרֹ֖אשׁroshH7218of Pisgahהַפִּסְגָּ֑הha.pis.GahH6449,and builtוַיִּ֙בֶן֙vai.Yi.venH1129sevenשִׁבְעָ֣הshiv.'AhH7651altarsמִזְבְּחֹ֔תmiz.be.ChotH4196and offeredוַיַּ֛עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927a bullפָּ֥רparH6499and a ramוָאַ֖יִלva.'A.yilH352on eachaltarבַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ba.miz.Be.achH4196.

15And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559to Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111, “Standהִתְיַצֵּ֥בhit.ya.TzevH3320hereH3541besideעַל־'al-H5921your burntעֹלָתֶ֑ךָ'o.la.Te.khaH5930offeringH5930while I myselfוְאָנֹכִ֖יve.'a.no.KhiH595meetאִקָּ֥רֶה'i.Ka.rehH7136the LordoverH3541thereH3541.”

16Then the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068metוַיִּקָּ֤רvai.yi.KarH7136Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109andputוַיָּ֥שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760a wordדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697in his mouthבְּפִ֑יוbe.FivH6310and saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Returnשׁ֥וּבshuvH7725to Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111,and thusוְכֹ֥הve.KhohH3541you shall speakתְדַבֵּֽר׃te.da.BerH1696.”

17He cameוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935to him, and beholdוְהִנּ֤וֹve.hi.NoH2009,he was standingנִצָּב֙ni.TzavH5324besideעַל־'al-H5921his burntעֹ֣לָת֔וֹo.la.ToH5930offeringH5930,and the leadersוְשָׂרֵ֥יve.sa.ReiH8269of Moabמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124with him. And Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100has the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068spokenדִּבֶּ֖רdi.BerH1696?”

18Then he tookוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375up hisdiscourseמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, “Ariseק֤וּםkumH6965,O Balakבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111,and hearוּֽשֲׁמָ֔עu.sha.Ma'H8085;Giveהַאֲזִ֥ינָהha.'a.Zi.nahH238earH238to me, O sonבְּנ֥וֹbe.NoH1121of Zipporצִפֹּֽר׃tzi.PorH6834!

19Godאֵל֙'elH410is not a manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376,that He should lieוִֽיכַזֵּ֔בvi.kha.ZevH3576,NorH3808a sonוּבֶן־u.ven-H1121of manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120,that He should repentוְיִתְנֶחָ֑םve.yit.ne.ChamH5162;Has He saidאָמַר֙'a.MarH559,and will He not doיַעֲשֶׂ֔הya.'a.SehH6213it?Or has He spokenוְדִבֶּ֖רve.di.BerH1696,and will He not makeH6965it goodH6965?

20Beholdהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009,I have receivedלָקָ֑חְתִּיla.Ka.che.tiH3947a commandto blessבָרֵ֖ךְva.RekhH1288;When He has blessedוּבֵרֵ֖ךְu.ve.RekhH1288, thenI cannotוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808revokeאֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃'a.shi.Ve.nahH7725it.

21He has not observedהִבִּ֥יטhi.BitH5027misfortuneאָ֙וֶן֙'a.venH205in Jacobבְּיַעֲקֹ֔בbe.ya.'a.KoH3290;NorH3808has He seenרָאָ֥הra.'AhH7200troubleעָמָ֖ל'a.MalH5999in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478;The Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068his Godאֱלֹהָיו֙'e.lo.HavH430is with him,And the shoutוּתְרוּעַ֥תu.te.ru.'AtH8643of a kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428is among them.

22Godאֵ֖ל'elH410bringsמוֹצִיאָ֣םmo.tzi.'AmH3318them out of Egyptמִמִּצְרָ֑יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714, He is for them like thehornsכְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥תke.to.'a.FotH8443of the wildרְאֵ֖םre.'EmH7214oxH7214.

23For there is noלֹא־lo'-H3808omenנַ֙חַשׁ֙na.chashH5173against Jacobבְּיַעֲקֹ֔בbe.ya.'a.KoH3290,Norוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808is there any divinationקֶ֖סֶםKe.semH7081against Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478;At the proper timeכָּעֵ֗תka.'EtH6256it shall be saidיֵאָמֵ֤רye.'a.MerH559to Jacobלְיַעֲקֹב֙le.ya.'a.KoH3290And to Israelוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לu.le.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,whatמַה־mah-H4100Godאֵֽל׃'ElH410has doneפָּ֖עַלPa.'alH6466!

24Beholdהֶן־hen-H2005,a peopleעָם֙'amH5971risesיָק֔וּםya.KumH6965like a lionessכְּלָבִ֣יאke.la.Vi'H3833,And as a lionוְכַאֲרִ֖יve.kha.'a.RiH738it liftsיִתְנַשָּׂ֑אyit.na.Sa'H5375itself;It will not lieיִשְׁכַּב֙yish.KavH7901downH7901untilעַד־'ad-H5704it devoursיֹ֣אכַלYo.khalH398the preyטֶ֔רֶףTe.refH2964,And drinksיִשְׁתֶּֽה׃yish.TehH8354the bloodוְדַם־ve.dam-H1818of the slainחֲלָלִ֖יםcha.la.LimH2491.”

25Then Balakבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109, “Do not curseקֹ֖בkoH6895them at allתִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּti.ko.Ve.nuH6895norH3808blessבָּרֵ֖ךְba.RekhH1288them at allתְבָרֲכֶֽנּוּ׃te.va.ra.Khe.nuH1288!”

26But Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109repliedוַיַּ֣עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030to Balakבָּלָ֑קba.LakH1111, “Did I not tellדִּבַּ֤רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiH1696you, ‘Whateverכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־kol 'a.Sher-H3605 H834the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068speaksיְדַבֵּ֥רye.da.BerH1696,that I must doאֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃'E.'e.SehH6213’?”

27Then Balakבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109, “Pleaseנָּא֙na'H4994comeלְכָה־le.khah-H1980,I will takeאֶקָּ֣חֲךָ֔'e.Ka.cha.khaH3947you to anotherאַחֵ֑ר'a.CherH312placeמָק֖וֹםma.KomH4725;perhapsאוּלַ֤י'u.LaiH194it will beagreeableיִישַׁר֙yi.SharH3474with Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430that you curseוְקַבֹּ֥תוֹve.ka.Bo.tovH6895them for me from thereמִשָּֽׁם׃mi.ShamH8033.”

28So Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111tookוַיִּקַּ֥חvai.yi.KachH3947Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109to the topרֹ֣אשׁroshH7218of Peorהַפְּע֔וֹרha.pe.'orH6465which overlooksהַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף עַל־ פְּנֵ֥יha.nish.Kaf 'al- pe.NeiH5921 H6440 H8259thewastelandהַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃hay.shi.MonH3452.

29Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111, “Buildבְּנֵה־be.neh-H1129sevenשִׁבְעָ֣הshiv.'AhH7651altarsמִזְבְּחֹ֑תmiz.be.ChotH4196for me hereבָזֶ֖הva.ZehH2088and prepareוְהָכֵ֥ןve.ha.KhenH3559sevenשִׁבְעָ֥הshiv.'AhH7651bullsפָרִ֖יםfa.RimH6499and sevenוְשִׁבְעָ֥הve.shiv.'AhH7651ramsאֵילִֽים׃'ei.LimH352for me hereבָּזֶ֔הba.ZehH2088.”

30Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111didוַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213justH3512as Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109had saidאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559,and offeredוַיַּ֛עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927up a bullפָּ֥רparH6499and a ramוָאַ֖יִלva.'A.yilH352on eachaltarבַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ba.miz.Be.achH4196.

The Prophecies of Balaam

Commentaries on Numbers 23