Numbers 23 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

Balaam’s First Oracle

1 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” (Nu 23:29) 2 Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram. (Nu 23:14; Nu 23:30) 3 And Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height, (Nu 23:15; Nu 24:1) 4 and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” (Nu 23:16) 5 And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.” (Nu 22:38; Nu 23:12; Nu 23:16; De 18:18; Isa 51:16; Isa 59:21; Jer 1:9)

Nu 22:38Nu 23:12Nu 23:16De 18:18Isa 51:16Isa 59:21Jer 1:9

6 And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. 7 And Balaam took up his discourse and said, “From Aram Balak has brought me, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains: ‘Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, denounce Israel!’ (Ge 29:1; Nu 21:27; Nu 22:5; Nu 22:6; Nu 23:18; Nu 24:3; Nu 24:15; Nu 24:20; Nu 24:23; Job 27:1; Job 29:1; Ps 49:4; Ps 78:2; Isa 14:4; Mic 2:4)

Ge 29:1Nu 21:27Nu 22:5Nu 22:6Nu 23:18Nu 24:3Nu 24:15Nu 24:20Nu 24:23Job 27:1Job 29:1Ps 49:4Ps 78:2Isa 14:4Mic 2:4

8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? 9 For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations! (Ex 33:16; Nu 24:17; De 32:28; Ezr 9:2; Es 3:8; Eph 2:14)

Ex 33:16Nu 24:17De 32:28Ezr 9:2Es 3:8Eph 2:14

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part^[1] of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!” (Ge 13:16; Ps 37:37; Ps 116:15; Re 14:13)

Ge 13:16Ps 37:37Ps 116:15Re 14:13

11 And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.” (Nu 22:11; Nu 24:10; De 23:5; Ne 13:2)

Nu 22:11Nu 24:10De 23:5Ne 13:2

12 And he answered and said, “Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?” (Nu 23:5)

Balaam’s Second Oracle

13 And Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.” 14 And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. (Nu 23:1) 15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there.” (Nu 23:3) 16 And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.” (Nu 23:5; Nu 23:12) 17 And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lord spoken?” 18 And Balaam took up his discourse and said, “Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor: 19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (1Sa 15:29; Mal 3:6; Ro 11:29; Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18; Jas 1:17)

1Sa 15:29Mal 3:6Ro 11:29Tit 1:2Heb 6:18Jas 1:17

20 Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. (Ge 12:2; Ge 22:17; Nu 22:12; Nu 22:18)

Ge 12:2Ge 22:17Nu 22:12Nu 22:18

21 He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them. (Jer 50:20) 22 God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox. (Nu 24:8; De 33:17; Job 39:9; Ps 22:21; Ps 92:10)

Nu 24:8De 33:17Job 39:9Ps 22:21Ps 92:10

23 For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What has God wrought!’ (Nu 22:7; Ps 44:1) 24 Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.” (Ge 49:9; Ge 49:27) 25 And Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.” 26 But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?” (Nu 22:18) 27 And Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” (Nu 23:13) 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert.^[2] (Nu 21:20; Nu 25:3; Nu 25:5; Nu 25:18; Nu 31:16; Jos 22:17; Ps 106:28; Ho 9:10)

Nu 21:20Nu 25:3Nu 25:5Nu 25:18Nu 31:16Jos 22:17Ps 106:28Ho 9:10

29 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” (Nu 23:1) 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. (Nu 23:2)

New International Version

Balaam’s first message

1 Balaam said, ‘Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.’ 2 Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 3 Then Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.’ Then he went off to a barren height. 4 God met with him, and Balaam said, ‘I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.’ 5 The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, ‘Go back to Balak and give him this word.’ 6 So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. 7 Then Balaam spoke his message: ‘Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. “Come,” he said, “curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.” 8 How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced? 9 From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!’ 11 Balak said to Balaam, ‘What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!’ 12 He answered, ‘Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?’

Balaam’s second message

13 Then Balak said to him, ‘Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.’ 14 So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.’ 16 The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, ‘Go back to Balak and give him this word.’ 17 So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, ‘What did the Lord say?’ 18 Then he spoke his message: ‘Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor. 19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil? 20 I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. 21 ‘No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed^[1] in Israel. The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. 22 God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. 23 There is no divination against^[2] Jacob, no evil omens against^[3] Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, “See what God has done!” 24 The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till it devours its prey and drinks the blood of its victims.’ 25 Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!’ 26 Balaam answered, ‘Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?’

Balaam’s third message

27 Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.’ 28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland. 29 Balaam said, ‘Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.’ 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

King James Version

1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3 And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. 4 And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. 5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam' mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. 6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying , Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. 8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! 11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth? 13 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. 14 And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 15 And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder. 16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. 17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken? 18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. 22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. 23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! 24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. 25 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. 26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do? 27 And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence. 28 And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. 29 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

New International Reader’s Version

Balaam’s first message from God

1 Balaam said to Balak, ‘Build me seven altars here. Prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.’ 2 Balak did just as Balaam said. The two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 3 Then Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stay here beside your offering. I’ll go and try to find out what the LORD wants me to do. Maybe he’ll come and meet with me. Then I’ll tell you what he says to me.’ So Balaam went off to a bare hilltop. 4 God met with him there. Balaam said, ‘I’ve prepared seven altars. On each altar I’ve offered a bull and a ram.’ 5 The LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth. The LORD said, ‘Go back to Balak. Give him my message.’ 6 So Balaam went back to him. He found Balak standing beside his offering. All the Moabite officials were with him. 7 Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, ‘Balak brought me from the land of Aram. The king of Moab sent for me from the mountains in the east. “Come”, he said. “Put a curse on Jacob’s people for me. Come. Speak against Israel.” 8 But how can I put a curse on people God hasn’t cursed? How can I speak against people the LORD hasn’t spoken against? 9 I see them from the rocky peaks. I view them from the hills. I see a group of people who live by themselves. They don’t consider themselves to be one of the nations. 10 Jacob’s people are like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? Who can count even a quarter of the Israelites? Let me die as godly people die. Let my death be like theirs!’ 11 Balak said to Balaam, ‘What have you done to me? I brought you here to put a curse on my enemies! But all you have done is give them a blessing!’ 12 He answered, ‘I have to speak only the words the LORD puts in my mouth.’

Balaam’s second message from God

13 Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Come with me to another place. You can see the Israelites from there. You won’t see all of them. You will only see the outer edges of their camp. From there, put a curse on them for me.’ 14 So Balak took Balaam to the field of Zophim. It was on the highest slopes of Pisgah. There Balak built seven altars. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stay here beside your offering. I’ll meet with the LORD over there.’ 16 The LORD met with Balaam. He put a message in Balaam’s mouth. The LORD said, ‘Go back to Balak. Give him my message.’ 17 So Balaam went to Balak. He found him standing beside his offering. The Moabite officials were with him. Balak asked him, ‘What did the LORD say?’ 18 Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, ‘Balak, rise up and listen. Son of Zippor, hear me. 19 God isn’t a mere human. He can’t lie. He isn’t a human being. He doesn’t change his mind. He speaks, and then he acts. He makes a promise, and then he keeps it. 20 He has commanded me to bless Israel. He has given them his blessing. And I can’t change it. 21 ‘I don’t see any trouble coming on the people of Jacob. I don’t see any suffering in Israel. The LORD their God is with them. The shout of the King is among them. 22 God brought them out of Egypt. They are as strong as a wild ox. 23 There isn’t any magic that can hurt the people of Jacob. No one can use magic words to harm Israel. Here is what will be said about the people of Jacob. Here is what will be said about Israel. People will say, “See what God has done!” 24 The Israelites are going to wake up like a female lion. They are going to get up like a male lion. They are like a lion that won’t rest until it eats what it has caught. They are like a lion that won’t rest until it drinks the blood of what it has killed.’ 25 Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Don’t put a curse on them at all! And don’t give them a blessing at all!’ 26 Balaam answered, ‘Didn’t I tell you that I must do only what the LORD says?’

Balaam’s third message from God

27 Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Come. Let me take you to another place. Perhaps God will be pleased to let you put a curse on the Israelites for me from there.’ 28 Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor. It looks out over a dry and empty land. 29 Balaam said, ‘Build me seven altars here. Prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.’ 30 Balak did just as Balaam said. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar.