Liber Numeri 22
1 Profectique castrametati sunt in campestribus Moab, ubi trans Iordanem Iericho sita est.
The children of Israel traveled, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2 Videns autem Balac filius Sephor omnia quæ fecerat Israel Amorrhæo,
Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 et quod pertimuissent eum Moabitæ, et impetum eius ferre non possent,
Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4 dixit ad maiores natu Madian: Ita delebit hic populus omnes, qui in nostris finibus commorantur, quo modo solet bos herbas usque ad radices carpere. Ipse erat eo tempore rex in Moab.
Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5 Misit ergo nuncios ad Balaam filium Beor ariolum, qui habitabat super flumen terræ filiorum Ammon, ut vocarent eum, et dicerent: Ecce egressus est populus ex Ægypto, qui operuit superficiem terræ, sedens contra me.
He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor on the river, to the land of the people of Ammon, to call him, saying, "Look, there is a people who came out from Egypt. Look, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
6 Veni igitur, et maledic populo huic, quia fortior me est: Si quo modo possim percutere et eiicere eum de terra mea. Novi enim quod benedictus sit cui benedixeris, et maledictus in quem maledicta congesseris.
And now please come, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."
7 Perrexeruntque seniores Moab, et maiores natu Madian, habentes divinationis pretium in manibus. Cumque venissent ad Balaam, et narrassent ei omnia verba Balac:
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8 ille respondit: Manete hic nocte, et respondebo quidquid mihi dixerit Dominus. Manentibus illis apud Balaam, venit Deus, et ait ad eum:
And he said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me." The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 Quid sibi volunt homines isti apud te?
And God came to Balaam, and said, "Who are these men with you?"
10 Respondit: Balac filius Sephor rex Moabitarum misit ad me,
And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
11 dicens: Ecce populus qui egressus est de Ægypto, operuit superficiem terræ: veni, et maledic ei, si quo modo possim pugnans abigere eum.
'Look, this people has come out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'"
12 Dixitque Deus ad Balaam: Noli ire cum eis, neque maledicas populo: quia benedictus est.
And God said to Balaam, "You are not to go with them, and you are not to curse the people, for they are blessed."
13 Qui mane consurgens dixit ad principes: Ite in terram vestram, quia prohibuit me Dominus venire vobiscum.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your lord; for God refuses to permit me to go with you."
14 Reversi principes dixerunt ad Balac: Noluit Balaam venire nobiscum.
The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."
15 Rursum ille multo plures et nobiliores quam ante miserat, misit.
Then Balak again sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.
16 Qui cum venissent ad Balaam, dixerunt: Sic dicit Balac filius Sephor: Ne cuncteris venire ad me:
They came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me:
17 paratus sum honorare te, et quidquid volueris dabo tibi: veni, et maledic populo isti.
for I will greatly honor you, and whatever you say to me I will do for you. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.'"
18 Respondit Balaam: Si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri, non potero immutare verbum Domini Dei mei, ut vel plus, vel minus loquar.
Balaam answered the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the command of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19 Obsecro ut hic maneatis etiam hac nocte, et scire queam quid mihi rursum respondeat Dominus.
Now therefore, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what else the LORD will say to me."
20 Venit ergo Deus ad Balaam nocte, et ait ei: Si vocare te venerunt homines isti, surge, et vade cum eis: ita dumtaxat, ut quod tibi præcepero, facias.
God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do."
21 Surrexit Balaam mane, et strata asina sua profectus est cum eis.
Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 Et iratus est Deus. Stetitque Angelus Domini in via contra Balaam, qui insidebat asinæ, et duos pueros habebat secum.
God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 Cernens asina Angelum stantem in via, evaginato gladio, avertit se de itinere, et ibat per agrum. Quam cum verberaret Balaam, et vellet ad semitam reducere,
The donkey saw the angel of God standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.
24 stetit Angelus in angustiis duarum maceriarum, quibus vineæ cingebantur.
Then the angel of God stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 Quem videns asina, iunxit se parieti, et attrivit sedentis pedem. At ille iterum verberabat eam:
The donkey saw the angel of God, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he struck her again.
26 et nihilominus Angelus ad locum angustum transiens, ubi nec ad dexteram, nec ad sinistram poterat deviare, obvius stetit.
The angel of God went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 Cumque vidisset asina stantem Angelum, concidit sub pedibus sedentis: qui iratus, vehementius cædebat fuste latera eius.
The donkey saw the angel of God, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Aperuitque Dominus os asinæ, et locuta est: Quid feci tibi? cur percutis me, ecce iam tertio?
And God opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"
29 Respondit Balaam: Quia commeruisti, et illusisti mihi: utinam haberem gladium, ut te percuterem.
Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you."
30 Dixit asina: Nonne animal tuum sum, cui semper sedere consuevisti usque in præsentem diem? dic quid simile umquam fecerim tibi. At ille ait: Numquam.
The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?" He said, "No."
31 Protinus aperuit Dominus oculos Balaam, et vidit Angelum stantem in via evaginato gladio, adoravitque eum pronus in terram.
Then God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of God standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32 Cui Angelus: Cur, inquit, tertio verberas asinam tuam? Ego veni ut adversarer tibi, quia perversa est via tua, mihique contraria:
The angel of God said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come forth as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me:
33 et nisi asina declinasset de via, dans locum resistenti, te occidissem, et illa viveret.
and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive."
34 Dixit Balaam: Peccavi, nesciens quod tu stares contra me: et nunc si displicet tibi ut vadam, revertar.
Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned; for I did not know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again."
35 Ait Angelus: Vade cum istis, et cave ne aliud quam præcepero tibi loquaris. Ivit igitur cum principibus.
The angel of God said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 Quod cum audisset Balac, egressus est in occursum eius in oppido Moabitarum, quod situm est in extremis finibus Arnon.
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
37 Dixitque ad Balaam: Misi nuncios ut vocarent te, cur non statim venisti ad me? an quia mercedem adventui tuo reddere nequeo?
Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?"
38 Cui ille respondit: Ecce adsum: numquid loqui potero aliud, nisi quod Deus posuerit in ore meo?
Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak."
39 Perrexerunt ergo simul, et venerunt in urbem, quæ in extremis regni eius finibus erat.
Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
40 Cumque occidisset Balac boves et oves, misit ad Balaam, et principes qui cum eo erant, munera.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
41 Mane autem facto duxit eum ad excelsa Baal, et intuitus est extremam partem populi.
It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.
