Numbers 22
1 And they went forward and encamped in the plains of Moab, over against where Jericho is situate beyond the Jordan.
以色列子民再起程出發，在約旦東邊的摩阿布曠野中，對著耶利哥城紮了營。
2 And Balac the son of Sephor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorrhite,
漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，見了以色列對阿摩黎所做的一切；
3 And that the Moabites were in great fear of him, and were not able to sustain his assault,
摩阿布人十分怕這民族，因為他們眾多；摩阿布人對以色列子民大起恐慌，
4 He said to the elders of Madian: So will this people destroy all that dwell in our borders, as the ox is wont to eat the grass to the very roots. Now he was at that time king in Moab.
於是對米德揚的長老說：「現在這些人要吞併我們四周的一切，有如牛吃盡田間的青草」。漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，其時正是摩阿布的君王，
5 He sent therefore messengers to Balaam the son of Beer, a soothsayer, who dwelt by the river of the land of the children of Ammon, to call him, and to say: Behold a people is come out of Egypt, that hath covered the face of the earth, sitting over against me.
遂遺使者往幼發拉的河阿瑪伍人之地的培托爾去，見貝敖爾的兒子巴郎，請他說：「看，由埃及來了一個民族，遮蓋了地面，現今正住在我的對面。
6 Come therefore, and curse this people, because it is mightier than I: if by any means I may beat them and drive them out of my land: for I know that he whom thou shalt bless is blessed, and he whom thou shalt curse is cursed.
現在請你來，替我咒罵這民族，因為他們比我強大，或許這樣我能將他們擊敗，從此地趕走；因為我知道，你祝福的，必蒙祝福；你咒罵的，必蒙咒罵」。
7 And the ancients of Moab, and the elders of Madian, went with the price of divination in their hands. And when they were come to Balaam, and had told him all the words of Balac:
摩阿布和米德揚的長老於是帶著卜金去了；到了巴郎那裏，將巴拉克的話告訴了他。
8 He answered: Tarry here this night, and I will answer whatsoever the Lord shall say to me. And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him:
他回答他們說：「今夜你們在這裏過夜，我要依照上主吩咐我的話答覆你們」。這樣，摩阿布的縉紳就在巴郎那裏住下了。
9 What mean these men that are with thee?
天主來到巴郎那裏說：「與你在一起的是些什麼人﹖」
10 He answered: Balac the son of Sephor king of the Moabites hath sent to me,
巴郎答覆天主說：「是摩阿布的君王，漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，打發些人來告訴我說：
11 Saying: Behold a people that is come out of Egypt, hath covered the face of the land: come and curse them, if by any means I may fight with them and drive them away.
看，從埃及來了一個民族，遮蓋了地面，現在請你來替我咒罵他們，使我或許能與他們交戰，將他們驅逐」。
12 And God said to Balaam: Thou shalt not go with them, nor shalt thou curse the people: because it is blessed.
天主對巴郎說：「你不可與他們同去，你不可咒罵這，因為他們是受祝福的」。
13 And he rose in the morning and said to the princes: Go into your country, because the Lord hath forbid me to come with you.
巴郎早晨起來就對巴拉克的縉紳說：「你們回本國去吧! 因為上主不許我同你們一起去」。
14 The princes returning, said to Balac: Balaam would not come with us.
摩阿布的縉紳就起身回到巴拉克那裏說：「巴郎不願同我們一起來」。
15 Then he sent many more and more noble than he had sent before:
巴拉克於是又派比以前更多更貴的縉紳去。
16 Who, when they were come to Balaam, said: Thus saith Balac the son of Sephor, Delay not to come to me:
他們去見巴郎，對他說：「漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克這樣說：請你不要推辭到我這裏來，
17 For I am ready to honour thee, and will give thee whatsoever thou wilt: come and curse this people.
因為我必豐富地酬謝你。凡你要的，我都照辦；只有你前來，替我咒罵這民族」。
18 Balaam answered: If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot alter the word of the Lord my God, to speak either more or less.
巴郎答覆巴拉克的使臣說：「既使巴拉克給我滿屋的金銀，我也不能做任何大小的事，違犯上主我天主的命令。
19 I pray you to stay here this night also, that I may know what the Lord will answer me once more.
現在，請你們今夜也在這裏住下，看看上主還要什麼」。
20 God therefore came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: It these men be come to call thee, arise and go with them: yet so, that thou do what I shall command thee.
夜間天主來到巴郎那裏，對他說：「這些人既然來邀請你，你就起身同去吧! 但是你只應做我吩咐你的事」。
21 Balaam arose in the morning, and saddling his ass went with them.
巴郎早晨起來，備好驢，就同摩阿布的縉紳一起去了。
22 And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against Balaam, who sat on the ass, and had two servants with him.
因為他起身走了，天主發了怒；上主的使者在那裏擋住他的去路。當時他騎著驢，兩個僮僕跟著。
23 The ass seeing the angel standing in the way, with a drawn sword, turned herself out of the way, and went into the field. And when Balaam beat her, and had a mind to bring her again to the way,
那驢一看見上主的使者，持著拔出的刀站在路上，就離開正路，走入田中去了。巴郎便鞭打那驢，要牠回到路上。
24 The angel stood in a narrow place between two walls, wherewith the vineyards were enclosed.
以後，上主的使者又站在葡萄園間的窄路上，兩面有牆。
25 And the ass seeing him, thrust herself close to the wall, and bruised the foot of the rider. But he beat her again:
那驢一見上主的使者，就緊靠著牆，將巴郎腳擠在牆上，他又打了那驢。
26 And nevertheless the angel going on to a narrow place, where there was no way to turn aside either to the right hand or to the left, stood to meet him.
上主的使者又往前行，站在窄狹的地方，左右無路可走，
27 And when the ass saw the angel standing, she fell under the feet of the rider: who being angry beat her sides more vehemently with a staff.
那驢又見上主的使者，遂扒在巴郎下；巴郎大怒，用棍杖打那驢。
28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time?
上主遂開了驢的口，對巴郎說：「我給你做了什麼﹖你竟三次打我﹖」
29 Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee.
巴郎回答那驢說：「因為你玩弄我。我若手中有刀，早殺了你」。
30 The ass said: Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always accustomed to ride until this present day? tell me if I ever did the like thing to thee. But he said: Never.
那驢對巴郎說：「我不是你從起初直到今日騎的驢呢﹖平常我是否對你這樣做﹖」他回答說：「不。」
31 Forthwith the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he worshipped him falling flat on the ground.
上主遂開了巴郎的眼，使他看見了上主的使者，手持拔出的刀站在路上，他就躬身俯伏在地。
32 And the angel said to him: Why beatest thou thy ass these three times? I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse, and contrary to me:
上主的使者對他說：「你為什麼三次打你的驢﹖看，是我出來擋路，因為你走的這路，在我面前的邪路。
33 And unless the ass had turned out of the way, giving place to me who stood against thee, I had slain thee, and she should have lived.
驢看見了我，就在我面前迴避了三次；幸虧牠迴避了我，不然我早殺了你，只留下了牠」。
34 Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return.
巴郎於是對上主的使者說：「我犯了罪，因為我不知道是你站在路上阻攔我。現在，如果你以為不對，我就回去好了」。
35 The angel said: Go with these men, and see thou speak no other thing than what I shall command thee. He went therefore with the princes.
上主的者對巴郎說：「你同這些人去吧! 但是你只應說我呆2你的話」。巴郎於是同巴拉克的縉紳一起去了。
36 And when Balac heard it he came forth to meet him in a town of the Moabites, that is situate in the uttermost borders of Arnon.
37 And he said to Balaam: I sent messengers to call thee, why didst thou not come immediately to me? was it because I am not able to reward thy coming?
巴拉克對巴郎說：「我不是派遺了使者去請你﹖你為什麼不到我這裏來，莫非我不能酬報你﹖」
38 He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?
巴拉克聽說巴郎來了，就到阿爾摩阿布──此城臨近阿爾農河邊，在國界的盡頭，───去迎接他。 巴郎答覆巴拉克說：「看，我已到你這裏來了，但我能隨便說什麼嗎﹖我只能說天主吩咐我說的話」。
39 So they went on together, and came into a city, that was in the uttermost borders of his kingdom.
巴郎遂同巴拉克起身，來到了克黎雅特胡祚特。
40 And when Balac had killed oxen and sheep, he sent presents to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
巴拉克殺了牛羊，餽送給巴郎和同他在一起的縉紳。
41 And when morning was come, he brought him to the high places of Baal, and he beheld the uttermost part of the people.
到了次日早晨，巴拉克領巴郎上了巴摩特巴耳去，從那裏能看到一部分以色列人民。
