1 以色列人起行，在摩押平原，约旦河东，对着耶利哥安营。
Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
2 以色列人向亚摩利人所行的一切事，西拨的儿子巴勒都看见了。
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3 摩押人因以色列民甚多，就大大惧怕，心内忧急，
and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
4 对米甸的长老说，现在这众人要把我们四围所有的一概舔尽，就如牛舔尽田间的草一般。那时西拨的儿子巴勒作摩押王。
The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, 'This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.' So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
5 他差遣使者往大河边的毗夺去，到比珥的儿子巴兰本乡那里，召巴兰来，说，有一宗民从埃及出来，遮满地面，与我对居。
sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land. Balak said: 'A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
6 这民比我强盛，现在求你来为我咒诅他们，或者我能得胜，攻打他们，赶出此地。因为我知道，你为谁祝福，谁就得福。你咒诅谁，谁就受咒诅。
Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.'
7 摩押的长老和米甸的长老手里拿着卦金，到了巴兰那里，将巴勒的话都告诉了他。
The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 巴兰说，你们今夜在这里住宿，我必照耶和华所晓谕我的回报你们。摩押的使臣就在巴兰那里住下了。
'Spend the night here,' Balaam said to them, 'and I will bring you back the answer the Lord gives me.' So the Moabite princes stayed with him.
9 神临到巴兰那里，说，在你这里的人都是谁？
God came to Balaam and asked, 'Who are these men with you?'
10 巴兰回答说，是摩押王西拨的儿子巴勒打发人到我这里来，说，
Balaam said to God, 'Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 从埃及出来的民遮满地面，你来为我咒诅他们，或者我能与他们争战，把他们赶出去。
'A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.' '
12 神对巴兰说，你不可同他们去，也不可咒诅那民，因为那民是蒙福的。
But God said to Balaam, 'Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.'
13 巴兰早晨起来，对巴勒的使臣说，你们回本地去吧，因为耶和华不容我和你们同去。
The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's princes, 'Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.'
14 摩押的使臣就起来，回巴勒那里去，说，巴兰不肯和我们同来。
So the Moabite princes returned to Balak and said, 'Balaam refused to come with us.'
