Liber Numeri 22
1 profectique castrametati sunt in campestribus Moab ubi trans Iordanem Hierichus sita est
And they set out and made camp in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan, where Jericho is situated.
2 videns autem Balac filius Sepphor omnia quae fecerat Israhel Amorreo
Then Balak, the son of Zippor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorite,
3 et quod pertimuissent eum Moabitae et impetum eius ferre non possent
and that the Moabites had great fear of him, and that they were not able to bear his assault,
4 dixit ad maiores natu Madian ita delebit hic populus omnes qui in nostris finibus commorantur quomodo solet bos herbas usque ad radices carpere ipse erat eo tempore rex in Moab
said to those greater by birth of Midian: “So will this people wipe away all those who are dwelling within our borders, in the same way that the ox is accustomed to tear out grass, all the way to the roots.” At that time, he was king of Moab.
5 misit ergo nuntios ad Balaam filium Beor ariolum qui habitabat super flumen terrae filiorum Ammon ut vocarent eum et dicerent ecce egressus est populus ex Aegypto qui operuit superficiem terrae sedens contra me
Therefore, he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, a seer who lived above the river of the land of the sons of Ammon, to call him, and to say: “Behold, a people has gone forth from Egypt, which has covered the face of the earth. They are encamped opposite me.
6 veni igitur et maledic populo huic quia fortior me est si quo modo possim percutere et eicere eum de terra mea novi enim quod benedictus sit cui benedixeris et maledictus in quem maledicta congesseris
Therefore, come and curse this people, for they are stronger than I am. If only, in some way, I might be able to strike them and to drive them from my land. For I know that he whom you bless shall be blessed, and he whom you curse shall be cursed.”
7 perrexerunt seniores Moab et maiores natu Madian habentes divinationis pretium in manibus cumque venissent ad Balaam et narrassent ei omnia verba Balac
And the elders of Moab, and those greater by birth of Midian, continued on, holding the price of divination in their hands. And when they had come to Balaam, and had explained to him all the words of Balak,
8 ille respondit manete hic nocte et respondebo quicquid mihi dixerit Dominus manentibus illis apud Balaam venit Deus et ait ad eum
he responded, “Remain for this night, and I will answer with whatever the Lord will say to me.” And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him,
9 quid sibi volunt homines isti apud te
“What do these men want with you?”
10 respondit Balac filius Sepphor rex Moabitarum misit ad me
He responded, “Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,
11 dicens ecce populus qui egressus est de Aegypto operuit superficiem terrae veni et maledic ei si quo modo possim pugnans abicere eum
saying: ‘Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt, has covered the face of the earth. Come and curse them, so that, in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
12 dixitque Deus ad Balaam noli ire cum eis neque maledicas populo quia benedictus est
And God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them, and do not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13 qui mane consurgens dixit ad principes ite in terram vestram quia prohibuit me Deus venire vobiscum
And he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders, “Go into your own land, for the Lord has prohibited me from going with you.”
14 reversi principes dixerunt ad Balac noluit Balaam venire nobiscum
Returning, the leaders said to Balak, “Balaam was not willing to come with us.”
15 rursum ille multo plures et nobiliores quam ante miserat misit
Again, he sent many more persons, and these were more noble than those he had sent before.
16 qui cum venissent ad Balaam dixerunt sic dicit Balac filius Sepphor ne cuncteris venire ad me
And when these had come to Balaam, they said: “So says Balak, the son of Zippor. Do not hesitate to come to me.
17 paratum honorare te et quicquid volueris dare veni et maledic populo isti
For I am ready to honor you, and whatever you would want, I shall give to you. Come and curse this people.”
18 respondit Balaam si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri non potero inmutare verbum Domini Dei mei ut vel plus vel minus loquar
Balaam responded: “Even if Balak were to give to me his own house, filled with silver and gold, I still would not be able to change the word of the Lord my God, neither to say more, nor to say less.
19 obsecro ut hic maneatis etiam hac nocte et scire queam quid mihi rursum respondeat Dominus
I beg you to remain for this night also, so that I may know what the Lord will answer me again.”
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 praecepero facias
Therefore, God came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: “If these men have arrived to call you, then rise up and go with them; yet only in so far as you shall do what I will command you.”
21 surrexit Balaam mane et strata asina profectus est cum eis
Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddling his donkey, he set out with them.
22 et iratus est Deus stetitque angelus Domini in via contra Balaam qui sedebat asinae et duos pueros habebat secum
And God was angry. And an Angel of the Lord stood in the way opposite Balaam, who was sitting on the donkey, and he had two servants 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, discerning that the Angel was standing in the way with a drawn sword, turned herself from the road and went through a field. And when Balaam beat her and intended to return her to the path,
24 stetit angelus in angustiis duarum maceriarum quibus vineae cingebantur
the Angel stood in a narrow place between the two walls, with which the vineyards were enclosed.
25 quem videns asina iunxit se parieti et adtrivit sedentis pedem at ille iterum verberabat
And the donkey, seeing this, drew herself close to the wall and scraped the foot of the rider. So he beat her again.
26 et nihilominus angelus ad locum angustum transiens ubi nec ad dextram nec ad sinistram poterat deviari obvius stetit
And, nevertheless, the Angel passing on to a narrow place, where one would not be able to deviate either to the right or to the left, stood to meet him.
27 cumque vidisset asina stantem angelum concidit sub pedibus sedentis qui iratus vehementius caedebat fuste latera
And when the donkey had seen the Angel standing there, she fell under the feet of the rider, who, being angry, struck her sides more vehemently with a club.
28 aperuitque Dominus os asinae et locuta est quid feci tibi cur percutis me ecce iam tertio
And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said: “What have I done to you? Why do strike you me, behold now, for the third time?”
29 respondit Balaam quia commeruisti et inlusisti mihi utinam haberem gladium ut te percuterem
Balaam responded, “Because you have deserved it, and you have mistreated me. If only I had a sword, so that I might pierce you.”
30 dixit asina nonne animal tuum sum cui semper sedere consuesti usque in praesentem diem dic quid simile umquam fecerim tibi at ille ait numquam
The donkey said: “Am not I your animal, on which you have always been accustomed to sit, even until this present day? Tell me, when did I ever do the same thing to you.” But he said, “Never.”
31 protinus aperuit Dominus oculos Balaam et vidit angelum stantem in via evaginato gladio adoravitque eum pronus in terram
Immediately, the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he reverenced him prone on the ground.
32 cui angelus cur inquit tertio verberas asinam tuam ego veni ut adversarer tibi quia perversa est via tua mihique contraria
And the Angel said to him: “Why did you beat your donkey three times? I have come to be an adversary to you, because your way is perverse and contrary to me.
33 et nisi asina declinasset de via dans locum resistenti te occidissem et illa viveret
And unless the donkey had turned aside from the way, allowing a place for my opposition, I would have killed you, and she would have lived.”
34 dixit Balaam peccavi nesciens quod tu stares contra me et nunc si displicet tibi ut vadam revertar
Balaam said: “I have sinned, not knowing that you stood against me. And now, if it displeases you for me to continue on, I will return.”
35 ait angelus vade cum istis et cave ne aliud quam praecepero tibi loquaris ivit igitur cum principibus
The Angel said, “Go with them, but be careful not to speak anything other than what I shall instruct you.” And so, he went with the leaders.
36 quod cum audisset Balac egressus est in occursum eius in oppido Moabitarum quod situm est in extremis finibus Arnon
And when Balak had heard it, he went out to meet him in a town of the Moabites, which is situated at the furthest borders of Arnon.
37 dixitque ad Balaam misi nuntios ut vocarent te cur non statim venisti ad me an quia mercedem adventui tuo reddere nequeo
And he said to Balaam: “I sent messengers to call you. Why did you not come to me immediately? Was it because I am not able to pay the cost for your arrival?”
38 cui ille respondit ecce adsum numquid loqui potero aliud nisi quod Deus posuerit in ore meo
He answered him: “Behold, here I am. Am I able to speak anything other than what God will put into my mouth?”
39 perrexerunt ergo simul et venerunt in urbem quae in extremis regni eius finibus erat
Therefore, they continued on together, and they arrived at a city, which was at the furthest borders of his kingdom.
40 cumque occidisset Balac boves et oves misit ad Balaam et principes qui cum eo erant munera
And after Balak had killed oxen and sheep, he sent the gifts to Balaam, and to the leaders who were with him.
41 mane autem facto duxit eum ad excelsa Baal et intuitus est extremam partem populi
Then, when morning arrived, he led him to the heights of Baal, and he gazed upon the most distant portions of the population.
