Numbers

1巴兰对巴勒说：「你在这里给我筑七座坛，为我预备七只公牛，七只公羊。」

2巴勒照巴兰的话行了。巴勒和巴兰在每座坛上献一只公牛，一只公羊。

3巴兰对巴勒说：「你站在你的燔祭旁边，我且往前去，或者耶和华来迎见我。他指示我什么，我必告诉你。」于是巴兰上一净光的高处。

4神迎见巴兰；巴兰说：「我预备了七座坛，在每座坛上献了一只公牛，一只公羊。」

5耶和华将话传给巴兰，又说：「你回到巴勒那里，要如此如此说。」

6他就回到巴勒那里，见他同摩押的使臣都站在燔祭旁边。

7巴兰便题起诗歌说：巴勒引我出亚兰， 摩押王引我出东山，说： 来啊，为我咒诅雅各； 来啊，怒骂以色列。

8神没有咒诅的，我焉能咒诅？ 耶和华没有怒骂的，我焉能怒骂？

9我从高峰看他，从小山望他； 这是独居的民，不列在万民中。

10谁能数点雅各的尘土？ 谁能计算以色列的四分之一？ 我愿如义人之死而死； 我愿如义人之终而终。

11巴勒对巴兰说：「你向我做的是什么事呢？我领你来咒诅我的仇敌，不料，你竟为他们祝福。」

12他回答说：「耶和华传给我的话，我能不谨慎传说吗？」

巴兰第二次预言

13巴勒说：「求你同我往别处去，在那里可以看见他们；你不能全看见，只能看见他们边界上的人。在那里要为我咒诅他们。」

14于是领巴兰到了琐腓田，上了毗斯迦山顶，筑了七座坛；每座坛上献一只公牛，一只公羊。

15巴兰对巴勒说：「你站在这燔祭旁边，等我往那边去迎见耶和华。」

16耶和华临到巴兰那里，将话传给他；又说：「你回到巴勒那里，要如此如此说。」

17他就回到巴勒那里，见他站在燔祭旁边；摩押的使臣也和他在一处。巴勒问他说：「耶和华说了什么话呢？」

18巴兰就题诗歌说：巴勒，你起来听； 西拨的儿子，你听我言。

19神非人，必不致说谎， 也非人子，必不致后悔。 他说话岂不照着行呢？ 他发言岂不要成就呢？

20我奉命祝福； 神也曾赐福，此事我不能翻转。

21他未见雅各中有罪孽， 也未见以色列中有奸恶。 耶和华—他的 神和他同在； 有欢呼王的声音在他们中间。

22神领他们出埃及； 他们似乎有野牛之力。

23断没有法术可以害雅各， 也没有占卜可以害以色列。 现在必有人论及雅各，就是论及以色列说： 神为他行了何等的大事！

24这民起来，仿佛母狮， 挺身，好像公狮， 未曾吃野食， 未曾喝被伤者之血，决不躺卧。

25巴勒对巴兰说：「你一点不要咒诅他们，也不要为他们祝福。」

26巴兰回答巴勒说：「我岂不是告诉你说『凡耶和华所说的，我必须遵行』吗？」

巴兰第三次预言

27巴勒对巴兰说：「来吧，我领你往别处去，或者 神喜欢你在那里为我咒诅他们。」

28巴勒就领巴兰到那下望旷野的毗珥山顶上。

29巴兰对巴勒说：「你在这里为我筑七座坛，又在这里为我预备七只公牛，七只公羊。」

30巴勒就照巴兰的话行，在每座坛上献一只公牛，一只公羊。

Balaam’s First Oracle

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

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

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,

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

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

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

7And 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!’

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

9For 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.

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

11Then 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!”

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

Balaam’s Second Oracle

13Then 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.”

14So 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.

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

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

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

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

19God 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?

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

21He 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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