< Numbers 22 >

1 The Israelites moved on and camped on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan, opposite Jericho.
Pea naʻe hiki atu ʻae fānau ʻa ʻIsileli, ʻo nofo ʻi he toafa ʻo Moape ʻi he potu mai ʻo Sioatani[ʻo ofi ]ki Seliko.
2 Balak, son of Zippor, had seen all that the Israelites had done to the Amorites.
Pea naʻe ʻilo ʻe Pelaki ko e foha ʻo Sipoa ʻae meʻa kotoa pē kuo fai ʻe ʻIsileli ki he kau ʻAmoli.
3 The Moabites were terrified of the Israelites because there were so many of them. The Moabites dreaded the arrival of the Israelites
Pea naʻe manavahē lahi ʻa Moape ki he kakai, koeʻuhi naʻa nau tokolahi: pea naʻe mamahi lahi ʻa Moape koeʻuhi ko e fānau ʻa ʻIsileli.
4 and told the leaders of Midian, “This horde will eat up everything we have, just like an ox eats up grass in the field!” (Balak son of Zippor, was king of Moab at that time.)
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Moape ki he kau mātuʻa ʻo Mitiane, “Ko eni, ʻe ʻemo hake ʻe he kakai ni ʻaia kotoa pē ʻoku takatakai ʻakitautolu, ʻo hangē ʻoku ʻemo hake ʻe he pulu ʻae mohuku ʻoe ngoue.” Pea ko Pelaki ko e foha ʻo Sipoa ko e tuʻi ia ʻoe kau Moape ʻi he kuonga ko ia.
5 He sent messengers to call Balaam, son of Beor, who lived in Pethor near the Euphrates River in his own country. “Listen, a group of people has arrived here who came from Egypt,” Balak said in his message to Balaam. “There are hordes of them and they present a real threat to me.
Ko ia naʻa ne fekau ai kia Pelami ko e foha ʻo Peoli ki Pitoli, ʻaia ʻoku ofi ki he vaitafe ʻoe fonua ʻoe fānau ʻa hono kakai, ke ui ia, ʻo pehē, “Vakai, kuo haʻu ha kakai mei ʻIsipite: vakai, ʻoku nau ʻufiʻufi ʻae funga fonua, pea ʻoku nau nofo ofi kiate au:
6 Please come immediately and curse these people for me, because they are stronger than me. Maybe then I'll be able to attack them and drive them out of my country because I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
Pea ko eni, ʻoku ou kole kiate koe, ke ke haʻu ʻo fakamalaʻiaʻi maʻaku ʻae kakai ni, he ʻoku nau mālohi fau kiate au: pea te u vetekina nai, mo teʻia ʻakinautolu, pea te u kapusia ʻakinautolu ʻi he fonua ni: he ʻoku ou pehē, ʻoku monūʻia ia ʻoku ke fakamonūʻiaʻi, pea ʻoku malaʻia ia ʻoku ke fakamalaʻiaʻi.”
7 The Moabite and Midianite leaders departed, taking payment for the fortune-telling with them. When they arrived they gave Balaam the message from Balak.
Pea ko e kau mātuʻa ʻo Moape mo e kau mātuʻa ʻo Mitiane naʻa nau ʻave ʻi honau nima ʻae totongi ʻo ʻene tukitala; pea naʻa nau haʻu kia Pelami, ʻo fakahā kiate ia ʻae lea ʻa Pelaki.
8 “Stay the night and I'll let you know the answer the Lord gives me,” Balaam told them. So the Moabite leaders stayed there with Balaam.
Pea naʻa ne pehē kiate kinautolu, “Mou nofo ʻi heni ʻi he poōni, pea te u toe ʻomi ʻae lea kiate kimoutolu, ʻo hangē ko e folofola ʻa Sihova kiate au:” pea naʻe nofo mo Pelami ʻae houʻeiki ʻo Moape.
9 God came to Balaam and asked him, “Who are these men staying with you?”
Pea naʻe hāʻele mai ʻae ʻOtua kia Pelami, mo ne pehē, “Ko e hā ʻae kau tangata ni ʻoku ʻiate koe?”
10 Balaam told God, “Balak, son of Zippor, the king of Moab, sent me this message:
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Pelami ki he ʻOtua, “Ko Pelaki ko e foha ʻo Sipoa, ko e tuʻi ʻo Moape, kuo ne fekau mai kiate au, ʻo pehē,
11 ‘Listen, a group of people has arrived here who came from Egypt. There are hordes of them. Please come immediately and curse these people for me. Maybe then I'll be able to fight them and drive them out of my country.’”
‘Vakai kuo haʻu ha kakai mei ʻIsipite, ʻoku nau ʻufiʻufi ʻae funga fonua: ko ia ke ke haʻu ʻo fakamalaʻiaʻi maʻaku ʻakinautolu; pea te u mālohi ʻapē ʻiate kinautolu, pea kapusi atu ʻakinautolu.’”
12 But God told Balaam, “You are not to go back with them. You must not curse this people, for they are blessed.”
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻOtua kia Pelami, “ʻOua ʻaupito te ke ʻalu mo kinautolu; ʻe ʻikai te ke fakamalaʻiaʻi ʻae kakai: he ʻoku nau monūʻia.”
13 In the morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's messengers, “Go back to where you came from because the Lord has refused to allow me to go with you.”
Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa Pelami ʻi he pongipongi, pea naʻa ne pehē ki he houʻeiki meia Pelaki, “Mou ō ki homou fonua: he kuo taʻofi au ʻe Sihova ke ʻoua naʻa tau ō mo kimoutolu.”
14 The Moabite leaders left. They returned to Balak, and told him, “Balaam refused to come back with us.”
Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻae houʻeiki ʻo Moape, ʻonau ō kia Pelaki, ʻo pehē, “ʻOku pehē ʻe Pelami, ʻe ʻikai te ne haʻu mo kimautolu.”
15 Then Balak sent even more leaders who were more prestigious than before.
Pea naʻe toe fekau ʻe Pelaki ʻae houʻeiki kehe naʻe ongoongolelei mo tokolahi hake ʻiate kinautolu.
16 When they arrived they told Balaam, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please don't let anything stop you from coming to see me,
Pea naʻa nau haʻu kia Pelami, ʻo pehē kiate ia, “ʻOku pehē ʻe Pelaki ko e foha ʻo Sipoa, ‘ʻOku ou kole atu kiate koe, ʻoua naʻa toe ʻai ha meʻa ke taʻofi hoʻo haʻu kiate au:
17 because I will pay you a great deal and follow all the advice you give me. Please come and curse these people for me!’”
He te u hiki hake ko e ke ke ongoongolelei lahi, pea te u fai ʻo hangē ko hoʻo lea mai kiate au: ko ia ke ke haʻu, ʻoku ou kole kiate koe, ʻo fakamalaʻiaʻi maʻaku ʻae kakai ni.’”
18 But Balaam told Balak's officials, “Even if Balak gave me his whole palace full of silver and gold, I couldn't disobey the command of the Lord my God in any way.
Pea naʻe lea ʻa Pelami ki he kau talafekau ʻa Pelaki, “Kapau ʻe foaki ʻe Pelaki kiate au ʻa hono fale ʻoku pito ʻi he siliva mo e koula, ʻe ʻikai teu faʻa fakakeheʻi ʻae folofola ʻa Sihova ko hoku ʻOtua, ke fai ʻo lahi hake pe siʻi hifo.
19 Now you should also stay the night so I can see if the Lord has anything else to tell me.”
Pea ko eni, ʻoku ou kole atu kiate kimoutolu, mou nofo foki ʻi heni ʻi he poōni, koeʻuhi ke u ʻilo pe ko e hā ʻe toe folofola mai ʻe Sihova kiate au.”
20 God came to Balaam during the night and told him, “Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But only do what I tell you.”
Pea naʻe hāʻele mai ʻae ʻOtua ʻi he pō kia Pelami, ʻo ne pehē kiate ia, “Kapau ʻe haʻu ʻae kau tangata ke ui koe, tuʻu hake, ʻo ʻalu mo kinautolu; ka ko e lea te u lea ʻaki kiate koe, ko ia pe te ke fai.”
21 In the morning Balaam got up, put a saddle on his donkey, and left with the Moabite leaders.
Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa Pelami ʻi he pongipongi, pe naʻa ne ʻai ʻae hekaʻanga ki heʻene ʻasi, pea ʻalu mo e houʻeiki ʻo Moape.
22 God's got angry because Balaam had decided to go. The angel of the Lord came and stood in the road to confront him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and he was accompanied by his two servants.
Pea naʻe tupu ʻae houhau ʻoe ʻOtua koeʻuhi ko ʻene ʻalu: pea naʻe tuʻu ʻi he hala ʻae ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova ko e tali tau kiate ia. Pea naʻe heka ia ʻi heʻene ʻasi, pea mo ʻene ongo tamaioʻeiki mo ia.
23 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword, so it turned from the road and went into a field. So Balaam beat it to make it go back to the road.
Pea naʻe mamata ʻae ʻasi ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova naʻe tuʻu ʻi he hala, pea mo ʻene heletā naʻe ʻi hono nima: pea naʻe afe atu ʻae ʻasi mei he hala, ʻo ʻalu ki he ngoue: pea naʻe taaʻi ʻe Pelami ʻae ʻasi, ke fakafoki ia ki he hala.
24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow part of the road that passed between two vineyards, with walls on both sides.
Ka naʻe tuʻu ʻae ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, ʻi he hala ʻoe ngoue vaine, pea naʻe ai ʻae ʻā maka ʻi he potu toʻomataʻu, mo e potu toʻohema.
25 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and tried to get past. It pushed up against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it. So he beat it again.
Pea ʻi he mamata ʻae ʻasi ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, naʻe ʻoho ia ki he ʻā maka, pea naʻe mamulu ʻae vaʻe ʻo Pelami ʻi he ʻā maka: pea naʻa ne toe taaʻi ia.
26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to get past, either on the right or the left.
Pea naʻe ʻalu ʻae ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, pea naʻe tuʻu ia ʻi he potu ʻapiʻapi, pea naʻe ʻikai ʻi ai ha hala ke afe ki he nima toʻomataʻu ki he toʻohema.
27 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and lay down under Balaam. He got angry and beat it with his walking stick.
Pea ʻi he mamata ʻae ʻasi ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, naʻe tō ia ki lalo mo Pelami: pea naʻe tupu ai ʻae ʻita ʻa Pelami, ʻo ne taaʻi ʻae ʻasi ʻaki ʻae tokotoko.
28 The Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you for you to beat me three times?”
Pea naʻe toʻo ʻe Sihova ʻae ngutu ʻoe ʻasi, pea ne pehē ʻe ia kia Pelami, “Ko e hā kuo u fai kiate koe, kuo ke taaʻi ai au ʻo liunga tolu?”
29 “You made me look stupid!” Balaam told the donkey. “If I was holding a sword, I'd kill you now!”
Pea pehē ʻe Pelami ki he ʻasi, “Koeʻuhi kuo ke manukiʻi au: ʻamusiaange ʻeau kuo ʻi hoku nima ha heletā, he ka ne ai te u tāmateʻi koe.”
30 But the donkey asked Balaam, “Aren't I the donkey you've ridden all your life right up to today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he admitted.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻasi kia Pelami, “ʻIkai ko hoʻo ʻasi au kuo ke heka ki ai talu hoʻo maʻu au ʻo aʻu ki he ʻaho ni? He kuo u faʻa fai pehē ni kiate koe?” Pea ne pehē ʻe ia, “Naʻe ʻikai.”
31 Then the Lord gave Balaam the ability to see the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword. Balaam bowed low and fell facedown on the ground.
Pea naʻe toki fakaʻā ʻe Sihova ʻae mata ʻo Pelami, pea naʻe mamata ia ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova ʻoku tuʻu ʻi he hala, mo ʻene heletā kuo toʻo ʻi hono nima: pea naʻe punou ʻe ia hono ʻulu, pea foʻohifo ki hono mata.
32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why did you beat your donkey three times? Listen, I have come to confront you because you're being obstinate.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻāngelo kiate ia, “Ko e hā kuo ke taaʻi ai ʻa hoʻo ʻasi ni ʻo liunga tolu? Vakai ne u ʻalu atu ʻo taʻofi koe, koeʻuhi ʻoku kovi ho hala ʻi hoku ʻao:
33 The donkey saw me and avoided me three times. If it had not avoided me, by now I definitely would have killed you and allowed the donkey to live.”
Pea naʻe mamata ʻae ʻasi kiate au, pea ne afe meiate au ʻo liunga tolu: ka ne ʻikai afe ia meiate au ko e moʻoni kuo u tāmateʻi foki koe, kae tuku ia ke moʻui.”
34 “I have sinned because I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me,” Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “So if this isn't what you want, I'll go back home.”
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Pelami ki he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova, “Kuo u angahala au; he naʻe ʻikai te u ʻilo naʻa ke tuʻu kiate au ʻi he hala: pea ko eni, kapau ʻoku kovi kiate koe, te u toe foki au.”
35 The angel of the Lord told Balaam, “No, you can go with the men, but only say what I tell you.” So Balaam continued on with Balak's officials.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻāngelo ʻa Sihova kia Pelami, “ʻAlu mo e kau tangata: ka ko e lea pe te u lea ʻaki kiate koe, ko ia pe te ke lea ʻaki.” Pea naʻe ʻalu ʻa Pelami mo e houʻeiki meia Pelaki.
36 When Balak found out that Balaam was on his way, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the border at the Arnon River, the farthest point of his territory.
Pea naʻe fanongo ʻa Pelaki kuo haʻu ʻa Pelami, pea naʻe ʻalu atu ia ʻo fakafetaulaki mo ia ki ha kolo ʻi Moape, ʻaia ʻoku ʻi he matafonua ʻo ʻAlanoni, ʻi hono ngataʻanga mamaʻo atu.
37 He said to Balaam, “Didn't you think my call for you to come was urgent? Why didn't you come to me straight away? Did you think I couldn't pay you enough?”
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Pelaki kia Pelami, “ʻIkai naʻaku fekau mālohi kiate koe ʻo ui koe? Ka ko e hā naʻe ʻikai te ke haʻu ai kiate au? ʻIkai ʻoku ou mafai ke u hiki hake koe ke ke ongoongolelei?”
38 “Look, I'm here with you now, aren't I?” Balaam replied. “But do you think I can just say anything? I can only speak the words that God gives me to say.”
Pea pehē ʻe Pelami kia Pelaki, “Vakai, kuo u haʻu kiate koe: pea ʻoku ai ha mālohi siʻi ʻiate au ke u lea ki ha meʻa? Ka ko e folofola ʻe tuku mai ʻe he ʻOtua ki hoku ngutu, ko ia pe te u lea ʻaki.”
39 So Balaam went with Balak and they arrived at Kiriath-huzoth.
Pea naʻe ʻalu ʻa Pelami mo Pelaki, pea naʻa na hoko ki Kesa-Husoti.
40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he shared with meat with Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
Pea naʻe feilaulau ʻaki ʻe Pelaki ʻae fanga pulu mo e sipi, ʻo ne tali kia Pelami, mo e houʻeiki naʻe ʻiate ia.
41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the extent of the Israelite camp.
Pea naʻe hoko ʻo pehē, ʻi he pongipongi hake, naʻe ʻave ʻe Pelaki ʻa Pelami, ʻo ʻomi ia ki he ngaahi potu māʻolunga ʻo Peali, koeʻuhi ke ne mamata mei ai ki he ngataʻanga ʻoe kakai ʻi tuaʻā.

< Numbers 22 >