Numbers 23
23
Balaam’s First Message
1Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here. And prepare seven bulls and seven male sheep for me.” 2Balak did what Balaam asked. Then they offered a male sheep and a bull on each of the altars.
3Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering. I will go. Maybe the Lord will come to me. I will tell you whatever he shows me.” Then Balaam went to a higher place.
4God came to Balaam there. Balaam said to him, “I have prepared seven altars. And I have offered a bull and a male sheep on each altar.”
5The Lord told Balaam what he should say. Then the Lord said, “Go back to Balak and give him this message.”
6So Balaam went back to Balak. Balak and all the leaders of Moab were still standing beside his burnt offering. 7Then Balaam gave them this message:
“Balak brought me here from Aram.
The king of Moab brought me from the eastern mountains.
Balak said, ‘Come, put a curse on the people of Jacob for me.
Come, wish evil on the people of Israel.’
8But God has not cursed them.
So I cannot curse them.
The Lord has not wished evil on them.
So I cannot wish evil on them.
9I see them from the mountains.
I see them from the hills.
I see a people who live alone.
They think they are different from other nations.
10No one can number the people of Jacob.
No one can count a fourth of Israel.
Let me die like good men.
Let me end up like them!”
11Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies. But you have only blessed them!”
12But Balaam answered, “I must say what the Lord tells me to say.”
Balaam’s Second Message
13Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place. There you can also see the people. But you can only see part of them, not all of them. Curse them for me from there.” 14So Balak took Balaam to the field of Zophim. This was on top of Mount Pisgah. There Balak built seven altars. And he offered a bull and a male sheep on each altar.
15So Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering. I will meet with God over there.”
16So the Lord came to Balaam. He told Balaam what to say. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and say such and such.”
17So Balaam went to Balak. Balak and the leaders of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
18Then Balaam gave this message:
“Stand up, Balak, and listen.
Hear me, son of Zippor.
19God is not a man. He will not lie.
God is not a human being. He does not change his mind.
What he says he will do, he does.
What he promises, he keeps.
20He told me to bless them.
So I cannot change the blessing.
21He has found no wrong in the people of Jacob.
He saw no fault in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them.
They praise their King.
22God brought them out of Egypt.
They are as strong as a wild ox.
23No tricks will work on the people of Jacob.
No magic works against Israel.
People now say this about them,
‘Look what God has done!’
24The people are strong like a lioness.
They get up like a lion.
Lions don’t rest until they have eaten.
They drink their enemies’ blood.”
25Then Balak said to Balaam, “You haven’t cursed these people. So at least don’t bless them!”
26Balaam answered Balak, “I told you before. I can only do what the Lord tells me.”
Balaam’s Third Message
27Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, I will take you to another place. Maybe God will be pleased. He may let you curse them from there.” 28So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor. This mountain looks over the desert.
29Balaam told Balak, “Build me seven altars here. Then prepare for me seven bulls and seven male sheep.” 30Balak did what Balaam asked. He offered a bull and a male sheep on each altar.
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Numbers 23: ICB
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