القراءة بلغتين

ثُمَّ رَحَلَ بَنو إِسْرائيل، فخَيَّموا في عَرَبَةَ موآبَ الَّتي عِبْرَ أُردُنِّ أَريحا

ورأَى بالاقُ بنُ صِفُّورَ كُلَّ ما صَنَعَ إِسْرائيلُ بِالأَمورِيِّين

فخافَ موآبُ بِسَبَبِ هٰذا الشَّعبِ جِدًّا، لأَنَّه كانَ كَثيرًا، وٱرتَعَبَ بِسَبَبِ بَني إِسْرائيل

فقالَ موآبُ لِشُيوخِ مِديَن: «الآنَ تَرْعى هٰذه الجَماعةُ كُلَّ ما حَوالَينا، كَما يَرْعى الثَّورُ خَصِبَ الحُقول». وكانَ بالاقُ بنُ صِفُّورَ مَلِكًا لِموآبَ في ذٰلك الوَقْت

فأَرسَلَ رُسُلًا إِلى بِلْعامَ بنِ بَعور، إِلى فاتورَ الَّتي على النَّهرِ في أَرضِ بَني عَمَّوْ، لِيَستَدْعوه. وقالَ له: «هُوَذا شَعبٌ قد خَرَجَ مِن مِصْر، فغَطَّى وَجهَ الأَرض، وهو مُقيمٌ قُبالَتي

فالآنَ تعالَ فٱلعَنْ لي هٰذا الشَّعْب، لأَنَّه أَقْوى مِنِّي، لَعَلِّي أَستَطيعُ أَن أَضرِبَه وأَطرُدَه مِنَ الأَرض. لأَنِّي أَعلَمُ أَنَّ مَن تُبارِكُه يَكونُ مُبارَكًا ومَن تَلعَنُه يَكونُ مَلْعونًا»

فمَضَى شُيوخُ موآبَ وشُيوخُ مِديَن، وفي أَيديهِم حُلْوانُ العِرافة، وأَتَوا إِلى بِلْعامَ وأَخبَروه بِكَلامِ بالاق

فقالَ لَهم: «بيتوا هٰهُنا اللَّيلَةَ فأَرُدَّ علَيكم جَوابًا كما يَقولُ لِيَ الرَّبّ». فمَكَثَ رُؤَساءُ موآبَ عِندَ بِلْعام. فأَتى اللهُ بِلْعامَ وقالَ له

«مَن هُم هٰؤُلاءِ الرِّجالُ الَّذينَ عِندَكَ؟»

فقال بِلْعامُ للهِ: «إِنَّ بالاقَ بنَ صِفُّور، مَلِكَ موآب، أَرسَلَ إِلَيَّ

أَنْ هُوَذا شَعبٌ قد خَرَجَ مِن مِصرَ فغَطَّى وَجهَ الأَرض. فالآنَ تَعالَ وٱلعَنْه لي، لَعَلِّي أَستَطيعُ أَن أُحارِبَه وأَطرُدَه»

فقالَ اللهُ لِبِلْعام: «لا تَمْضِ معَهم ولا تَلعَنِ الشَّعبَ، فإِنَّه مُبارَكٌ»

فقامَ بِلْعامُ في الصَّباح وقالَ لِرُؤَساءِ بالاق: «إِنصَرِفوا إِلى أَرضِكم، لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ أَبى أَن يأذَنَ لي في الذَّهابِ معَكم»

فقامَ رُؤَساءُ موآبَ وعادوا إِلى بالاقَ وقالوا: «قد أَبى بِلْعامُ أَن يأتِيَ معَنا»

فعادَ بالاقُ فأَرسَلَ رُؤَساءَ كَثيرينَ أَجَلَّ مِن أُولٰئِكَ

فأَتَوا بِلْعامَ وقالوا لَه: «كَذا قالَ بالاقُ بنُ صِفُّور: لا تَمْتَنِعْ مِنَ المَجيءِ إِلَيَّ

فإِنِّي سأُكرِمُكَ جِدًّا، وكُلُّ ما تَقولُه لي أَصنَعُه. تَعالَ فٱلعَنْ لي هٰذا الشَّعْب»

فأَجابَ بِلْعامُ مُرسَلي بالاقَ وقالَ لَهم: «لَو أَعْطاني بالاقُ مِلْءَ بَيتِه فِضَّةً وذَهَبًا، لم أَستَطِعْ أَن أَتَجاوَزَ أَمرَ الرَّبِّ إِلٰهي فأَعمَلَ شَيئًا صَغيرًا أَو كَبيرًا

والآنَ ٱمكُثوا أَنتُم أَيضًا هٰذه اللَّيلَةَ هُنا، فأَعلَمُ ما يَعودُ الرَّبُّ فيُكَلِّمُني بِه»

فأَتى اللهُ بِلْعامَ لَيلًا وقالَ لَه: «إِن كانَ هٰؤُلاءِ النَّاسُ جاءُوا لِيَدعوكَ، فقُمْ وٱمضِ معَهم. لٰكِنَّ الأَمرَ الَّذي أَقولُه لَكَ إِيَّاه تَصنَعُ فَقَط»

فقامَ بِلْعامُ في الصَّباح ووَضَعَ البَرذَعَةَ على أَتانِه ومَضى مع رُؤَساءِ موآب

فغَضِبَ اللهُ لِمُضِيِّه ووَقَفَ ملاكُ الرَّبِّ في الطَّريقِ لِيُقاوِمَه، وهو راكِبٌ على أَتانِه ومعَه خادِماه

فرَأتِ الأَتانُ ملاكَ الرَّبِّ واقِفًا في الطَّريق، وسَيفُه مُجَرَّدٌ بِيَدِه، فمالَت عنِ الطَّريقِ وسارَت في الحُقول. فَضَرَبَها بِلْعامُ لِيَرُدَّها إِلى الطَّريق

فوَقَفَ ملاكُ الرَّبِّ في مَضيقٍ بَينَ الكُروم، وكانَ حائِطٌ مِن هُنا وحائِطٌ مِن هُناك

فلَمَّا رَأَتِ الأَتانُ مَلاكَ الرَّبّ، اِلتَصَقَت بِالحائِطِ فضَغَطَت على رِجْلِ بِلْعامَ بِالحائط، فعادَ إِلى ضَرْبِها

ثُمَّ عادَ ملاكُ الرَّبِّ فجازَ ووَقَفَ في مَوضِعٍ ضَيِّقٍ لا سَبيلَ فيه لِلتَّحَوُّلِ يَمنَةً أَو يَسرَةً

فلَمَّا رَأَتِ الأَتانُ مَلاكَ الرَّبّ، رَبَضَت تَحتَ بِلْعام، فغَضِبَ بِلْعامُ وضَرَبَ الأَتانَ بِالعَصا

ففَتَحَ الرَّبُّ فَمَ الأَتانِ فقالَت لِبِلْعام: «ماذا صَنَعتُ بِكَ حتَّى ضَرَبْتَني ثَلاثَ مَرَّات؟»

فقالَ بِلْعامُ لِلأَتان: «لأَنَّكِ سَخِرتِ مِنِّي، ولَو كانَ في يَدي سَيفٌ لَكُنتُ قَتَلتُكِ على الفَور»

فقالَتِ الأَتانُ لِبِلْعام: «أَلَستُ أَنا أَتانَكَ الَّتي رَكِبتَها مُنذُ كُنتَ إِلى اليَوم؟ هَل عَوَّدتُكَ أَن أَصنَعَ بِكَ كَذا؟» قالَ «لا»

فكَشَفَ الرَّبُّ عن بَصَرِ بِلْعام، فرَأَى مَلاكَ الرَّبِّ واقِفًا في الطَّريق، وسَيفُه مُجَرَّدٌ بِيَدِه، فٱنحَنى ساجِدًا على وَجهِه

فقالَ لَه مَلاكُ الرَّبّ: «لِماذا ضَرَبتَ أَتانَكَ ثَلاثَ مَرَّات؟ فهاءَنَذا خَرَجتُ ووَقَفتُ مُقاوِمًا، لأَنَّ الطَّريقَ مَسْدود

فرَأَتني الأَتانُ فمالَت مِن أَمامي ثَلاثَ مَرَّات، ولَو لم تَمِلْ عَنِّي لَقَتَلتُكَ على الفَورِ وأَبقَيتُها»

فقالَ بِلْعامُ لِمَلاكِ الرَّبّ: «قد خَطِئتُ لأَنِّي لم أَعلَمْ أَنَّكَ واقفٌ تجاهي في الطَّريق. والآنَ فإِن ساءَ في عَينَيكَ فإِنِّي أَرجِع»

فقالَ مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ لِبِلْعام: «إِمْضِ مع النَّاس، والقَولُ الَّذي أَقولُه لَكَ إِيَّاه تَقولُ فقَط». فمَضى بِلْعامُ مع رُؤَساءِ بالاق

فلَمَّا سَمِعَ بالاقُ بِمَجيءِ بِلْعام، خَرَجَ لِمُلاقاتِه إِلى عارَ مُوآبَ الَّتي على حُدودِ أَرْنونَ الواقِعَةِ في طَرَفِ الحُدود

فقالَ بالاقُ لِبِلْعام: «أَلَم أُرسِلْ إِلَيكَ لأَدعُوَكَ؟ فلِماذا لم تَأتِ إِلَيَّ؟ أَتُراني لَستُ قادِرًا على إِكْرامِكَ؟

فقالَ بِلْعامُ لِبالاق: «والآنَ وقد أَتَيتُ إِلَيكَ، أَتُراني أَستَطيعُ أَن أَقولَ أَيَّ شَيء؟ فالكَلامُ الَّذي يَضَعُه اللهُ على فمي إِيَّاه أَقولُ»

ومَضَى بِلْعامُ مع بالاق ودَخَلا قِرْيَتَ حُصوت

فذَبَحَ بالاقُ بَقَرًا وغَنَمًا وأَرسَلَ مِنها إِلى بِلْعامَ وإِلى الرُّؤَساءِ الَّذينَ معَه

وفي الصَّباح، أَخَذَ بالاقُ بِلْعامَ وصَعِدَ بِه إِلى باموتَ بَعْل، فرأَى مِن هُناكَ أَقْصى الشَّعْب

The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

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.

He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.

Please come now therefore, and 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.”

The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.

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.

God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”

Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,

‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”

God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you.”

The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they.

They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’”

Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the LORD will speak to me.”

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.”

Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

God’s anger burned because he went; and the LORD’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

The donkey saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.

Then the LORD’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.

The LORD’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

The LORD 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?”

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.”

The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.

The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”

Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”

The LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

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.

Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”

Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”

Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.

Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.

In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.