Skip to main content

Scripture

Numbers 22

WEBWorld English BiblewithASVAmerican Standard Version

Reading options

Reading options

Choose translations and a comfortable presentation. Scripture stays first.

Side-by-side comparison remains paired across screen sizes. Choose Always stacked when you prefer one full-width translation after the other.

Choose a Bible passage

Numbers 22 Bible text

WEB: 1WEB

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

ASV: 1ASV

And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

WEB: 2WEB

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

ASV: 2ASV

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

WEB: 3WEB

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

ASV: 3ASV

And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

WEB: 4WEB

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.”

ASV: 4ASV

And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

WEB: 5WEB

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.

ASV: 5ASV

And he sent messengers unto 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 come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.

WEB: 6WEB

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.”

ASV: 6ASV

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

WEB: 7WEB

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.

ASV: 7ASV

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

WEB: 8WEB

He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

ASV: 8ASV

And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

WEB: 9WEB

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

ASV: 9ASV

And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

WEB: 10WEB

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

ASV: 10ASV

And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

WEB: 11WEB

‘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.’”

ASV: 11ASV

Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.

WEB: 12WEB

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

ASV: 12ASV

And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.

WEB: 13WEB

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

ASV: 13ASV

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

WEB: 14WEB

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

ASV: 14ASV

And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

WEB: 15WEB

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

ASV: 15ASV

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

WEB: 16WEB

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

ASV: 16ASV

And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

WEB: 17WEB

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.’”

ASV: 17ASV

for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

WEB: 18WEB

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 Yahweh my God, to do less or more.

ASV: 18ASV

And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.

WEB: 19WEB

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

ASV: 19ASV

Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more.

WEB: 20WEB

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.”

ASV: 20ASV

And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.

WEB: 21WEB

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

ASV: 21ASV

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

WEB: 22WEB

God’s anger burned because he went; and Yahweh’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.

ASV: 22ASV

And God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

WEB: 23WEB

The donkey saw Yahweh’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.

ASV: 23ASV

And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

WEB: 24WEB

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

ASV: 24ASV

Then the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

WEB: 25WEB

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

ASV: 25ASV

And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

WEB: 26WEB

Yahweh’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.

ASV: 26ASV

And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

WEB: 27WEB

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

ASV: 27ASV

And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.

WEB: 28WEB

Yahweh 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?”

ASV: 28ASV

And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

WEB: 29WEB

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.”

ASV: 29ASV

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.

WEB: 30WEB

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?”

ASV: 30ASV

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.

WEB: 31WEB

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

ASV: 31ASV

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

WEB: 32WEB

Yahweh’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.

ASV: 32ASV

And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:

WEB: 33WEB

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.”

ASV: 33ASV

and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.

WEB: 34WEB

Balaam said to Yahweh’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.”

ASV: 34ASV

And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

WEB: 35WEB

Yahweh’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.”

ASV: 35ASV

And the angel of Jehovah said unto Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

WEB: 36WEB

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.

ASV: 36ASV

And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.

WEB: 37WEB

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?”

ASV: 37ASV

And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?

WEB: 38WEB

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.”

ASV: 38ASV

And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

WEB: 39WEB

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

ASV: 39ASV

And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth.

WEB: 40WEB

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

ASV: 40ASV

And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.

WEB: 41WEB

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.

ASV: 41ASV

And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.