Open English Translation NUM Chapter 23

23 Then Bil’am (Balaam) said to King Balak, “Get them to build seven altars for me here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams.”

2 So Balak did what Bil’am had instructed, then the two of them offered up a bull and a ram on each altar. 3 Then Bil’am told Balak, “You stand here beside your burnt offering, and I’ll move away. Perhaps Yahweh will want to meet me, and then I’ll tell you whatever he shows me.” Then he went to a bare hilltop 4 where God met him, and Bil’am told him, “I organised seven altars and offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.”

5 Then Yahweh gave Bil’am a message and told him, “Go back to Balak and tell him that.” 6 So he went back to Balak who was still standing by his burnt offering along with all of Moav’s (Moab) officials.

7 So Bil’am gave his pronouncement,

“It’s Balak has brought me here from Aram (Syria).

≈ Moav’s king summoned me from the eastern mountains.

‘Go curse Ya’akov (Jacob) for me,

≈ and go denounce Yisrael (Israel).’

8 How can I curse those who God hasn’t cursed?

≈ How can I denounce those who Yahweh hasn’t denounced?

9 Yes, I can see them from the top of those rocks.

≈ I look at them from the hills.

Look, a population that lives by itself.

≈ It doesn’t count itself among the other nations.

10 Who can count the dust that Ya’akov (Jacob) leaves behind?

≈ Who can even count a quarter of the Israelis?

Let me die like those honourable people,

≈ and let my end be like theirs.”

11 But Balak demanded from Bil’am (Balaam), “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and blast it all—you’ve actually blessed them!”

12 “Shouldn’t I be careful to only say what Yahweh tells me?” Bil’am answered back.

13 Then King Balak told Bil’am (Balaam), “Please come with me to another place that you’ll be able to see them from. You won’t be able to see all of them, only the edge of that large group, but you’ll will curse Yisrael (Israel) for me from there.” 14 So he took Bil’am to a field at the top of Mt. Pisgah, and he built seven altars and offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.

15 Bil’am said to the king, “You stand here beside your burnt offering, while I go over there so Yahweh can meet me.”

16 Then Yahweh met with Bil’am and gave him a message and told him, “Go back to Balak, and give him that message.” 17 So he returned to him where he was standing with the leaders from Moav (Moab) beside the altar, and Balak asked him, “What did Yahweh say?”

18 Then Bil’am gave his speech,

“Look here, Balak, and listen.

≈ Pay attention to me, son of Tsipor.

19 God doesn’t lie because he’s not a human being,

≈ and he’s not a mortal who might change his mind.

Whatever he’s said, he’ll do it.

≈ Anything he promised, he’ll make it happen.

20 Listen, I’ve received a command to bless.

≈ Yes, he’s decided to bless and I can’t reverse it.

21 Yahweh hasn’t considered hardship for Ya’akov (Jacob),

≈ and he hasn’t seen trouble for Yisrael (Israel).

His god Yahweh is with that people group,

and the king’s shout is over him.

22 God brought them out of Mitsrayim (Egypt),

→ giving them strength like a wild bull’s horns.

23 No, there’s no spell against Ya’akov,

≈ and no divination against Yisrael.

People will talk about Ya’akov/Yisrael,

→ saying look what God has done.

24 That population stands up like a lioness,

≈ and like a lion, it lifts itself up.

It won’t lie down until it’s devoured its prey

and drunk the blood of those it killed.”

25 Then King Balak scolded Bil’am (Balaam), “Even if you won’t curse them, definitely don’t bless them!”

26 “Didn’t I already tell you,” Bil’am answered Balak, “that I can only pronounce what Yahweh tells me to.”

27 Then King Balak told Bil’am (Balaam), “Come with me. I’ll take you to another place. Perhaps it will pleased God if you curse them for me from there.” 28 So Balak took him to the top of Mt. Pe’or that faces down to the wilderness, 29 and again Bil’am told him, “Build seven altars and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.” 30 So Balak followed those instructions and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.