turned out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote her, that she should go into the way.

And the angel of the LORD stood in the way of the vineyards, where were walls on either side.

And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed against the wall, and fastened Balaam’s foot against the wall; and he smote her yet more.

And the angel of the LORD went on, and stood in a strait place, where there was no turning to the right hand or to the left.

And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell upon her knees under Balaam. And the wrath of Balaam was kindled, and he smote the ass with the staff.

And the LORD opened the ass’s mouth, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

And Balaam said unto the ass, Thou mockest me. Oh that I had a sword in my hand, I would slay thee!

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am I not thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden in thy days unto this day? And have I ever cared to do so unto thee? And he said, No.

And the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and a mere sword in his hand; and he bowed down and stooped with his face.

And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass thrice?
Behold, I am gone out to resist thee: for the way is turned back before me.

And the ass saw me, and departed from me three times: otherwise, if she had not departed from me, even now would I have slain thee, and kept the ass alive.

And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned: for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: and now, if it please thee not, I will return.

And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Go with the men; but speak no other thing than that which I shall speak unto thee. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the uttermost border.

And said unto him, Did not I send unto thee, and require thee? Why then didst thou not come unto me? Thinkest thou that I cannot honour thee?

And Balaam said unto him, Behold, I am come unto thee; but how can I speak otherwise?
For that which God puts in my mouth I must speak.

So Balaam went with Balak, and came into the city of the streets.

And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam, and for the princes that were with him.
(Numbers)
Chapter 23
Balaam’s curse turned into a blessing.

And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to the top of Baal, that he might see from thence unto the end of the people.

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and make me seven bullocks and seven rams.

And Balak did as Balaam told him: and Balak and Balaam offered upon one altar a bullock and a ram.

And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering; and I will go, if peradventure the LORD meet me, to tell thee what he sheweth me. And he went in haste.

And God met Balaam; and he said unto him, Seven altars have I prepared, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.

And the LORD put the word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and speak thus.

And when he was come again, behold, he stood by his burnt offering with all the princes of Moab.

And he began to speak, saying, Balak king of Moab hath sent for me out of Syria, from the mountains toward the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob. Come, rebuke Israel.

How shall I curse him whom God curseth not? How shall I rebuke him whom the LORD
rebukeeth not?

For from the height of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. Behold, the people shall dwell specially, and shall not be reckoned among the heathen.

Who can number the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let my soul die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like that end!

And Balak said unto Balaam, What doest thou unto me? I sent for thee to curse mine enemies: and, behold, thou blessest.

And he answered and said, Must I not keep and speak that which the LORD put in my mouth?

And Balak said unto him, Come thou with me unto another place, from thence thou shalt see his end, and yet shalt not see it altogether; and curse me there.

And he brought him unto an open place in the high place of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.

And he said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will wait there.

And the LORD met Balaam, and put the word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and speak thus.

And when he was come again, behold, he stood by his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD said?

And he began to speak, saying, Arise, Balak, and hear. Hear what I say, thou son of Zipor.

God is not a man, that he should lie; nor the son of man, that he should repent. Should he say something and not do it? Should he speak something and not keep it?

Behold, I am brought to bless; I bless, and cannot turn.

There is no toil in Jacob, nor work in Israel. The LORD his God is with him, and the trumpet of the king is under him.
22; God brought them out of Egypt; his joy is like that of a unicorn.

For there is no magician in Jacob, neither is there a soothsayer in Israel. In his time it shall be said of Jacob, and of Israel, what wonders God doeth.

Behold, the people shall rise up like a young lion, and shall be lifted up like a lion; they shall
not lie down until they eat the spoil, and drink the blood of the slain.

And Balak said unto Balaam, Thou shalt neither curse him, nor bless him.

And Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Did I not tell thee that whatsoever the LORD
would speak, that would I do?

And Balak said unto him, Come now, and I will bring thee unto another place, if it please God that thou curse them there.

And he brought him to the top of mount Peor, which looketh toward the wilderness.

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and make me seven bullocks and seven rams.

And Balak did as Balaam said, and offered upon one altar a bullock and a ram.
(Numbers)
Chapter 24
Balaam’s prophecy of the star from Jacob.

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not after the sorcerers, as he went before, but straightway set his face toward the wilderness, 2. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel lying according to their tribes. And the Spirit of God came upon him.

And he began his saying, saying, Balaam the son of Beor saith; the man whose eyes are opened saith;

It is said by the hearer of divine speech, who sees the revelation of the Almighty, whose eyes are opened when he kneels down:

How excellent are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy dwellings, O Israel!

How the rivers are spread abroad, as the gardens by the waters, as the tabernacles which the LORD planteth, as the cedars by the waters.

Water shall flow out of his bucket, and his seed shall become great waters: his king shall be exalted above Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

God hath brought him out of Egypt: his joy is as the joy of a unicorn. He shall devour the heathen, his persecutors, and shall bruise their bones, and shall bruise them with his arrows.

He hath laid himself down like a lion, and like a young lion: who will rise up against him?
Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee!

And Balak was wroth in anger against Balaam, and smote his hands together, and said unto him, I charged thee to curse mine enemies: and, behold, thou hast now blessed them thrice.

And now lift thee up into thy place. I thought to honour thee, but the LORD hath denied thee honour.

Balaam answered him, Did I not also say unto thy messengers, which thou sentest unto me, saying:

If Balak had given me his house full of silver and gold, could I not, in the sight of the LORD, choose to do evil or to do good according to my heart? but what the LORD would speak, that would I speak also?

And now, behold, if I go unto my people, come, and I will counsel thee what this people shall do unto thy people in the latter days.

And he began his saying, saying, Balaam the son of Beor saith; the man whose eyes are opened saith;

He that heareth divine words, and hath knowledge of the most High, and seeth the revelation of the Almighty, and his eyes are opened when he kneels down:

I will see him, but not now; I will behold him, but not from near. There shall arise a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre out of