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Chapter 23
Balaam’s First Oracle
1
Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me… seven bulls and seven rams.”
בִּלְעָם֙ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־ בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־ לִ֥י שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת בָזֶ֖ה וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים׃ bil·‘ām way·yō·mer ’el- bā·lāq bə·nêh- lî šiḇ·‘āh miz·bə·ḥōṯ ḇā·zeh wə·hā·ḵên lî bā·zeh šiḇ·‘āh p̄ā·rîm wə·šiḇ·‘āh ’ê·lîm — WLC · 1
Καὶ εἶπεν Βαλαὰμ τῴ Βαλάκ οἰκοδόμησόν μοι ἐνταῦθα ἑπτὰ βωμούς, καὶ ἑτοίμασόν μοι ἐνταῦθα ἑπτὰ μόσχους καὶ ἑπτὰ κριούς. — LXX Swete · 1
2
So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
בָּלָ֔ק וַיַּ֣עַשׂ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּלְעָ֑ם דִּבֶּ֣ר בָּלָ֧ק וּבִלְעָ֛ם וַיַּ֨עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ bā·lāq way·ya·‘aś ka·’ă·šer bil·‘ām dib·ber bā·lāq ū·ḇil·‘ām way·ya·‘al pār wā·’a·yil bam·miz·bê·aḥ — WLC · 2
καὶ ἐποίησεν Βαλὰκ ὃν τρόπον εἶπεν αὐτῷ Βαλαάμ, καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν μόσχον καὶ κριὸν ἐπὶ τὸν βωμόν. — LXX Swete · 2
3
“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps… [[YHWH|the LORD]] will meet with me… And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So [Balaam] went off to a barren height,
הִתְיַצֵּב֮ עַל־ עֹלָתֶךָ֒ וְאֵֽלְכָ֗ה בִּלְעָ֜ם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לְבָלָ֗ק אוּלַ֞י יִקָּרֵ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לִקְרָאתִ֔י וּדְבַ֥ר מַה־ יַּרְאֵ֖נִי וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי לָ֑ךְ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ שֶֽׁפִי׃ hiṯ·yaṣ·ṣêḇ ‘al- ‘ō·lā·ṯe·ḵā wə·’ê·lə·ḵāh bil·‘ām way·yō·mer lə·ḇā·lāq ’ū·lay yiq·qā·rêh Yah·weh liq·rā·ṯî ū·ḏə·ḇar mah- yar·’ê·nî wə·hig·gaḏ·tî lāḵ way·yê·leḵ še·p̄î — WLC · 3
καὶ εἶπεν Βαλαὰμ πρὸς Βαλέκ Παράστηθι ἐπὶ τῆς θυσίας σου, καὶ πορεύσομαι, εἴ μοι φανεῖται ὁ θεὸς ἐν συναντήσει· καὶ ῥῆμα ὅ ἐάν μοι δείξη ἀναγγελῶ σοι. καὶ παρέστη Βαλὰκ ἐπὶ τῆς θυσίας αὐτοῦ· καὶ Βαλαὰμ ἐπορεύθη ἐπερωτῆσαι τὸν θεόν, καὶ ἐπορεύθη εὐθεῖαν. — LXX Swete · 3
4
and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said -, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיִּקָּ֥ר אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֑ם עָרַ֔כְתִּי שִׁבְעַ֤ת הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו אֶת־ בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ וָאַ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל ’ĕ·lō·hîm way·yiq·qār ’el- bil·‘ām ‘ā·raḵ·tî šiḇ·‘aṯ ham·miz·bə·ḥōṯ way·yō·mer ’ê·lāw ’eṯ- bam·miz·bê·aḥ wā·’a·‘al pār wā·’a·yil — WLC · 4
καὶ ἐφάνη ὁ θεὸς τῷ Βαλαάμ, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Βαλαάμ τοὺς ἑπτὰ βωμοὺς ἡτοίμασα, καὶ ἀνεβίβασα μόσχον καὶ κριὸν ἐπὶ τὸν βωμόν. — LXX Swete · 4
5
Then [[YHWH|the LORD]] put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”
יְהוָ֛ה וַיָּ֧שֶׂם דָּבָ֖ר בִלְעָ֑ם בְּפִ֣י וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־ בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר׃ Yah·weh way·yā·śem dā·ḇār ḇil·‘ām bə·p̄î way·yō·mer šūḇ ’el- bā·lāq wə·ḵōh ṯə·ḏab·bêr — WLC · 5
καὶ ἐνέβαλεν ὁ θεὸς ῥῆμα εἰς στόμα Βαλαὰμ καὶ εἶπεν Ἐπιστραφεὶς πρὸς Βαλὰκ οὕτως λαλήσεις. — LXX Swete · 5
6
So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab.
וַיָּ֣שָׁב אֵלָ֔יו ה֖וּא נִצָּ֖ב וְהִנֵּ֥ה עַל־ עֹלָת֑וֹ וְכָל־ שָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב׃ way·yā·šāḇ ’ê·lāw hū niṣ·ṣāḇ wə·hin·nêh ‘al- ‘ō·lā·ṯōw wə·ḵāl śā·rê mō·w·’āḇ — WLC · 6
καὶ ἀπεστράφη αὐτόν· καὶ ὅδε ἐφιστήκει ἐπὶ τῶν ὁλοκαυτωμάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες Μωὰβ μετ’ αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐγενήθη πνεῦμα ἐπ’ αὐτῷ· — LXX Swete · 6
7
And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come [and] denounce Israel!’
וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר בָלָ֤ק יַנְחֵ֨נִי מִן־ אֲ֠רָם מֶֽלֶךְ־ מוֹאָב֙ מֵֽהַרְרֵי־ קֶ֔דֶם לְכָה֙ אָֽרָה־ יַעֲקֹ֔ב לִּ֣י וּלְכָ֖ה זֹעֲמָ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ way·yiś·śā mə·šā·lōw way·yō·mar ḇā·lāq yan·ḥê·nî min- ’ă·rām me·leḵ- mō·w·’āḇ mê·har·rê- qe·ḏem lə·ḵāh ’ā·rāh- ya·‘ă·qōḇ lî ū·lə·ḵāh zō·‘ă·māh yiś·rā·’êl — WLC · 7
καὶ ἀναλαβὼν τὴν παραβολὴν αὐτοῦ εἶπεν Ἐκ Μεσοποταμίας μετεπέμψατό με Βαλάκ, βασιλεὺς Μωὰβ ἐξ ὀρέων ἀπ’ ἀνατολῶν, λέγων Δεῦρο ἄρασαί μοι τὸν Ἰακώβ, καὶ δεῦρο ἐπικατάρασαί μοι τὸν Ἰσραήλ; — LXX Swete · 7
8
How can I curse [those whom] God has not cursed? How can I denounce [those whom] [[YHWH|the LORD]] has not denounced?
מָ֣ה קַבֹּ֖ה אֵ֑ל לֹ֥א אֶקֹּ֔ב וּמָ֣ה אֶזְעֹ֔ם יְהוָֽה׃ לֹ֥א זָעַ֖ם māh qab·bōh ’êl lō ’eq·qōḇ ū·māh ’ez·‘ōm Yah·weh lō zā·‘am — WLC · 8
τί ἀράσωμαι ὃν μὴ καταρᾶται Κύριος; ἢ τί καταράσωμαι ὃν μὴ καταρᾶται ὁ θεός; — LXX Swete · 8
9
For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.
כִּֽי־ אֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ מֵרֹ֤אשׁ צֻרִים֙ אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ וּמִגְּבָע֖וֹת הֶן־ עָם֙ יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן לְבָדָ֣ד לֹ֥א יִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃ וּבַגּוֹיִ֖ם kî- ’er·’en·nū mê·rōš ṣu·rîm ’ă·šū·ren·nū ū·mig·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ hen- ‘ām yiš·kōn lə·ḇā·ḏāḏ lō yiṯ·ḥaš·šāḇ ū·ḇag·gō·w·yim — WLC · 9
ὅτι ἀπὸ κορυφῆς ὀρέων ὄψομαι αὐτόν, καὶ ἀπὸ βουνῶν προσνοήσω αὐτόν. ἰδοὺ λαὸς μόνος κατοικήσει, καὶ ἐν ἔθνεσιν οὐ συλλογισθήσεται. — LXX Swete · 9
10
Who can count the dust of Jacob or number [even] a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous; let my end be like theirs!”
מִ֤י מָנָה֙ עֲפַ֣ר יַעֲקֹ֔ב וּמִסְפָּ֖ר אֶת־ רֹ֣בַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל נַפְשִׁי֙ תָּמֹ֤ת מ֣וֹת יְשָׁרִ֔ים אַחֲרִיתִ֖י וּתְהִ֥י כָּמֹֽהוּ׃ mî mā·nāh ‘ă·p̄ar ya·‘ă·qōḇ ū·mis·pār ’eṯ- rō·ḇa‘ yiś·rā·’êl nap̄·šî tā·mōṯ mō·wṯ yə·šā·rîm ’a·ḥă·rî·ṯî ū·ṯə·hî kā·mō·hū — WLC · 10
τίς ἐξηκριβάσατο τὸ σπέρμα Ἰακώβ; καὶ τίς ἐξαριθμήσεται δήμους Ἰσραήλ; ἀποθάνοι ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν ψυχαῖς δικαίων, καὶ γένοιτο τὸ σπέρμα μου ὡς τὸ σπέρμα τούτων. — LXX Swete · 10
11
Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you [here] to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them…!”
בָּלָק֙ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֔ם מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ לִ֑י לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ לָקֹ֤ב אֹיְבַי֙ וְהִנֵּ֖ה בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ בָרֵֽךְ׃ bā·lāq way·yō·mer ’el- bil·‘ām meh ‘ā·śî·ṯā lî lə·qaḥ·tî·ḵā lā·qōḇ ’ō·yə·ḇay wə·hin·nêh bê·raḵ·tā ḇā·rêḵ — WLC · 11
καὶ εἶπεν Βαλὰκ πρὸς Βαλαάμ τί πεποίηκάς μοι; εἰς κατάρασιν ἐχθρῶν μου κέκληκά σε, καὶ ἰδοὺ εὐλόγηκας εὐλογίαν. — LXX Swete · 11
12
But [Balaam] replied,… “Should I not speak exactly what [[YHWH|the LORD]] puts in my mouth -?”
וַיַּ֖עַן וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הֲלֹ֗א אֵת֩ לְדַבֵּֽר׃ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהוָה֙ יָשִׂ֤ים בְּפִ֔י אֹת֥וֹ אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר way·ya·‘an way·yō·mar hă·lō ’êṯ lə·ḏab·bêr ’ă·šer Yah·weh yā·śîm bə·p̄î ’ō·ṯōw ’eš·mōr — WLC · 12
καὶ Βαλαὰμ πρὸς Βαλάκ οὐχὶ ὅσα ἐὰν ἐμβάλῃ ὁ θεὸς εἰς τὸ μου, τοῦτο φυλάξω λαλῆσαι; — LXX Swete · 12
Balaam’s Second Oracle
13
Then Balak said to him, “Please come… with me to another place where you can see them. You will only see the outskirts of their camp— not all of them. And from there, curse them for me.”
בָּלָ֗ק וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו לְךָ נָּ֨א אִתִּ֜י אֶל־ אַחֵר֙ מָק֤וֹם אֲשֶׁ֣ר מִשָּׁ֔ם תִּרְאֶ֣נּוּ אֶ֚פֶס תִרְאֶ֔ה קָצֵ֣הוּ לֹ֣א תִרְאֶ֑ה וְכֻלּ֖וֹ מִשָּֽׁם׃ וְקָבְנוֹ־ לִ֖י bā·lāq way·yō·mer ’ê·lāw lə·ḵå̄ ’it·tî ’el- ’a·ḥêr mā·qō·wm ’ă·šer miš·šām tir·’en·nū ’e·p̄es ṯir·’eh qā·ṣê·hū lō ṯir·’eh wə·ḵul·lōw miš·šām wə·qā·ḇə·nōw- lî — WLC · 13
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Βαλάκ Δεῦρο ἔτι μετ’ ἐμοῦ εἰς τόπον ἄλλον, ἐξ ὧν οὐκ ὄψῃ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖθεν, ἀλλ’ ἢ μέρος τι αὐτοῦ ὄψη, πάντας δὲ οὐ μὴ ἴδῃς· καὶ κατάρασαί μοι αὐτὸν ἐκεῖθεν. — LXX Swete · 13
14
So Balak took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
וַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙ שְׂדֵ֣ה צֹפִ֔ים אֶל־ רֹ֖אשׁ הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֔ת וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ way·yiq·qā·ḥê·hū śə·ḏêh ṣō·p̄îm ’el- rōš hap·pis·gāh way·yi·ḇen šiḇ·‘āh miz·bə·ḥōṯ way·ya·‘al pār wā·’a·yil bam·miz·bê·aḥ — WLC · 14
καὶ παρέλαβεν αὐτὸν εἰς ἀγροῦ σκοπιὰν ἐπὶ κορυφὴν Λελαξευμένου, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ ἑπτὰ βωμούς, καὶ ἀνεβίβασεν μόσχον καὶ κριὸν ἐπὶ τὸν βωμόν. — LXX Swete · 14
15
Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet [[[YHWH|the LORD]]] over there.”
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ בָּלָ֔ק הִתְיַצֵּ֥ב כֹּ֖ה עַל־ עֹלָתֶ֑ךָ וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִקָּ֥רֶה כֹּֽה׃ way·yō·mer ’el- bā·lāq hiṯ·yaṣ·ṣêḇ kōh ‘al- ‘ō·lā·ṯe·ḵā wə·’ā·nō·ḵî ’iq·qā·reh kōh — WLC · 15
καὶ εἶπεν Βαλαὰμ πρὸς Βαλάκ Παράστηθι ἐπὶ τῆς θυσίας σου, ἐγὼ δὲ πορεύσομαι ἐπερωτῆσαι τὸν θεόν. — LXX Swete · 15
16
And [[YHWH|the LORD]] met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”
יְהוָה֙ וַיִּקָּ֤ר אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיָּ֥שֶׂם דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֑יו וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־ בָּלָ֖ק תְדַבֵּֽר׃ וְכֹ֥ה Yah·weh way·yiq·qār ’el- bil·‘ām way·yā·śem dā·ḇār bə·p̄îw way·yō·mer šūḇ ’el- bā·lāq ṯə·ḏab·bêr wə·ḵōh — WLC · 16
καὶ συνήντησεν ὁ θεὸς τῷ Βαλαὰμ καὶ ἐνέβαλεν ῥῆμα εἰς τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν Ἀποστράφητι πρὸς Βαλάκ, καὶ τάδε λαλήσεις. καὶ ἀπεστράφη πρὸς αὐτόν· — LXX Swete · 16
17
So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. “What did [[YHWH|the LORD]] say?” Balak asked
וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵלָ֗יו נִצָּב֙ וְהִנּ֤וֹ עַל־ עֹ֣לָת֔וֹ אִתּ֑וֹ וְשָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָ֖ב מַה־ יְהוָֽה׃ דִּבֶּ֖ר בָּלָ֔ק וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ way·yā·ḇō ’ê·lāw niṣ·ṣāḇ wə·hin·nōw ‘al- ‘ō·lā·ṯōw ’it·tōw wə·śā·rê mō·w·’āḇ mah- Yah·weh dib·ber bā·lāq way·yō·mer lōw — WLC · 17
ὁ δὲ ἐφιστήκει ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄρχοντες Μωὰβ μετ’ αὐτοῦ. αὐτῷ Βαλὰκ Ti ἐλάλησεν κύριος; — LXX Swete · 17
18
Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor.
וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר ק֤וּם בָּלָק֙ וּֽשֲׁמָ֔ע הַאֲזִ֥ינָה עָדַ֖י בְּנ֥וֹ צִפֹּֽר׃ way·yiś·śā mə·šā·lōw way·yō·mar qūm bā·lāq ū·šă·mā‘ ha·’ă·zî·nāh ‘ā·ḏay bə·nōw ṣip·pōr — WLC · 18
καὶ ἀναλαβὼν τὴν παραβολὴν αὐτοῦ εἶπεν Ἀνάστηθι Βαλάκ, καὶ ἄκουε. ἐνώτισαι μάρτυς, υἱὸς Σεπφώρ. — LXX Swete · 18
19
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
אֵל֙ לֹ֣א אִ֥ישׁ וִֽיכַזֵּ֔ב וּבֶן־ אָדָ֖ם וְיִתְנֶחָ֑ם הַה֤וּא אָמַר֙ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְדִבֶּ֖ר וְלֹ֥א יְקִימֶֽנָּה׃ ’êl lō ’îš wî·ḵaz·zêḇ ū·ḇen- ’ā·ḏām wə·yiṯ·ne·ḥām ha·hū ’ā·mar wə·lō ya·‘ă·śeh wə·ḏib·ber wə·lō yə·qî·men·nāh — WLC · 19
οὐχ ὡς ἄνθρωπος ὁ θεὸς διαρτηθῆναι, οὐδὲ ὡς υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου ἀπειληθῆναι· αὐτὸς εἴπας οὐχὶ ποιήσει; λαλήσει, καὶ οὐχὶ ἐμμενεῖ; — LXX Swete · 19
20
I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.
הִנֵּ֥ה לָקָ֑חְתִּי בָרֵ֖ךְ וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ וְלֹ֥א אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃ hin·nêh lā·qā·ḥə·tî ḇā·rêḵ ū·ḇê·rêḵ wə·lō ’ă·šî·ḇen·nāh — WLC · 20
ἰδοὺ εὐλογεῖν παρείλημμαι· εὐλογήσω, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἁποστρέψω. — LXX Swete · 20
21
He considers no disaster for Jacob; He sees no trouble for Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of the King is among them.
הִבִּ֥יט לֹֽא־ אָ֙וֶן֙ בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב רָאָ֥ה וְלֹא־ עָמָ֖ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וּתְרוּעַ֥ת מֶ֖לֶךְ בּֽוֹ׃ hib·bîṭ lō- ’ā·wen bə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ rā·’āh wə·lō- ‘ā·māl bə·yiś·rā·’êl Yah·weh ’ĕ·lō·hāw ‘im·mōw ū·ṯə·rū·‘aṯ me·leḵ bōw — WLC · 21
οὐκ ἔσται μόχθος ἐν Ἰακώβ, οὐδὲ ὀφθήσεται πόνος ἐν Ἰσραήλ· κύριος ὁ θεὸς αὐτοῦ μετ’ αὐτοῦ, τὰ ἔνδοξα ἀρχόντων ἐν αὐτῷ. — LXX Swete · 21
22
God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox
אֵ֖ל מוֹצִיאָ֣ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם לֽוֹ׃ ’êl mō·w·ṣî·’ām mim·miṣ·rā·yim kə·ṯō·w·‘ă·p̄ōṯ rə·’êm lōw — WLC · 22
θεὸς ὁ ἐξαγαγὼν αὐτοὺς ἐξ Αὐγύπτου· ὡς δόξα μονοκέρωτος αὐτῷ. — LXX Swete · 22
23
For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’
כִּ֤י לֹא־ נַ֙חַשׁ֙ בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְלֹא־ קֶ֖סֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כָּעֵ֗ת יֵאָמֵ֤ר לְיַעֲקֹב֙ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מַה־ אֵֽל׃ פָּ֖עַל kî lō- na·ḥaš bə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ wə·lō- qe·sem bə·yiś·rā·’êl kā·‘êṯ yê·’ā·mêr lə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ ū·lə·yiś·rā·’êl mah- ’êl pā·‘al — WLC · 23
οὐ γάρ ἐστιν οἰωνισμὸς ἐν Ἰακώβ, οὐδὲ μαντεία ἐν Ἰσραήλ. κατὰ καιρὸν ῥηθήσεται Ἰακὼβ καὶ τῷ Ἰσραὴλ τί ἐπιτελέσει ὁ θεός. — LXX Swete · 23
24
Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”
הֶן־ עָם֙ יָק֔וּם כְּלָבִ֣יא יִתְנַשָּׂ֑א וְכַאֲרִ֖י לֹ֤א יִשְׁכַּב֙ עַד־ יֹ֣אכַל טֶ֔רֶף יִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ וְדַם־ חֲלָלִ֖ים hen- ‘ām yā·qūm kə·lā·ḇî yiṯ·naś·śā wə·ḵa·’ă·rî lō yiš·kaḇ ‘aḏ- yō·ḵal ṭe·rep̄ yiš·teh wə·ḏam- ḥă·lā·lîm — WLC · 24
ἰδοὺ λαὸς ὡς σκύμνος ἀναστήσεται, καὶ ὡς λέων γαυριωθήσεται· οὐ κοιμηθήσεται ἕως φάγῃ θήραν, καὶ αἷμα τραυματιῶν πίεται. — LXX Swete · 24
25
Now Balak said to Balaam, “Then neither curse them at all… nor bless them at all!”
בָּלָק֙ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֔ם גַּם־ לֹ֣א תִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּ קֹ֖ב גַּם־ לֹ֥א בָּרֵ֖ךְ תְבָרֲכֶֽנּוּ׃ bā·lāq way·yō·mer ’el- bil·‘ām gam- lō ṯiq·qo·ḇen·nū qōḇ gam- lō bā·rêḵ ṯə·ḇā·ră·ḵen·nū — WLC · 25
καὶ εἶπεν Βαλὰκ πρὸς Βαλαάμ Οὔτε κατάραις καταράσῃ μοι αὐτόν, οὔτε εὐλογῶν μὴ εὐλογήσῃς αὐτόν. — LXX Swete · 25
26
But Balaam… replied -, “Did I not tell you that… whatever [[YHWH|the LORD]] says, I must do?”
בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־ וַיַּ֣עַן בָּלָ֑ק הֲלֹ֗א דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ יְהוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ יְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃ bil·‘ām way·yō·mer ’el- way·ya·‘an bā·lāq hă·lō dib·bar·tî ’ê·le·ḵā lê·mōr kōl ’ă·šer- Yah·weh ’ō·ṯōw yə·ḏab·bêr ’e·‘ĕ·śeh — WLC · 26
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς Βαλαὰμ εἶπεν τῳ Βαλάκ οὐκ ἐλάλησά σοι λέγων Τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐὰν λαλήσῃ ὁ θεός, τοῦτο, ποιήσω; — LXX Swete · 26
27
“Please come,” said Balak -, “I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please… God that you curse them for me from there.”
נָּא֙ לְכָה־ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֔ם אֶקָּ֣חֲךָ֔ אֶל־ אַחֵ֑ר מָק֖וֹם אוּלַ֤י יִישַׁר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקַבֹּ֥תוֹ לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃ nā lə·ḵāh- way·yō·mer bā·lāq ’el- bil·‘ām ’eq·qā·ḥă·ḵā ’el- ’a·ḥêr mā·qō·wm ’ū·lay yî·šar bə·‘ê·nê hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm wə·qab·bō·ṯōw lî miš·šām — WLC · 27
καὶ εἶπεν Βαλὰκ πρὸς Βαλαάμ Δεῦρο παραλάβω σε εἰς τόπον ἄλλον, εἰ ἀρέσει τῷ θεῷ, καὶ κατάρασαί μοι αὐτὸν ἐκεῖθεν. — LXX Swete · 27
28
And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks… the wasteland.
בָּלָ֖ק אֶת־ וַיִּקַּ֥ח בִּלְעָ֑ם רֹ֣אשׁ הַפְּע֔וֹר הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף עַל־ פְּנֵ֥י הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃ bā·lāq ’eṯ- way·yiq·qaḥ bil·‘ām rōš hap·pə·‘ō·wr han·niš·qāp̄ ‘al- pə·nê hay·šî·mōn — WLC · 28
καὶ παρέλαβεν Βαλὰκ τὸν Βαλαὰμ ἐπὶ κορυφὴν τοῦ Φογώρ, τὸ παρατεῖνον εἰς τὴν ἔρημον. — LXX Swete · 28
29
Then Balaam… said -, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me… seven bulls and seven rams.”
בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־ לִ֥י שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת בָזֶ֖ה וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים׃ bil·‘ām ’el- way·yō·mer bā·lāq bə·nêh- lî šiḇ·‘āh miz·bə·ḥōṯ ḇā·zeh wə·hā·ḵên lî bā·zeh šiḇ·‘āh p̄ā·rîm wə·šiḇ·‘āh ’ê·lîm — WLC · 29
καὶ εἶπεν Βαλαὰμ πρὸς Βαλὰκ Οἰκοδόμησόν μοι ὧδε ἑπτὰ βωμούς, καὶ ἑτοίμασόν μοι ὧδε ἑπτὰ μόσχους καὶ ἑπτὰ κριούς. — LXX Swete · 29
30
So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
בָּלָ֔ק וַיַּ֣עַשׂ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּלְעָ֑ם אָמַ֣ר וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ bā·lāq way·ya·‘aś ka·’ă·šer bil·‘ām ’ā·mar way·ya·‘al pār wā·’a·yil bam·miz·bê·aḥ — WLC · 30
καὶ ἐποίησεν Βαλὰκ καθάπερ εἶπεν αὐτ£√ Βαλαάμ, καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν μόσχον καὶ κριὸν ἐπὶ τὸν βωμόν. XXIV — LXX Swete · 30