Numbers
Chapter22
11ThentheIsraelitesmovedonandencampedintheplainsofMoabontheothersideoftheJerichostretchoftheJordan.
以色列子民再起程出发，在约旦东边的摩阿布旷野中，对着耶里哥城扎了营。
2NowBalak,sonofZippor,sawallthatIsraeldidtotheAmorites.
漆颇尔的儿子巴拉克，见了以色列对阿摩黎人所做的一切；
3Indeed,MoabfearedtheIsraelitesgreatlybecauseoftheirnumbers,anddetestedthem.
摩阿布人十分怕这民族，因为他们众多；摩阿布人对以色列子民大起恐慌，
4SoMoabsaidtotheeldersofMidian,＂Soonthishordewilldevourallthecountryaroundusasanoxdevoursthegrassofthefield.＂AndBalak,Zippor'sson,whowaskingofMoabatthattime,
于是对米德扬的长老说：＂现在这些人要吞并我们四周的一切，有如牛吃尽田间的青草。＂漆颇尔的儿子巴拉克，其时正是摩阿布的君王，
5sentmessengerstoBalaam,sonofBeor,atPethorontheEuphrates,inthelandoftheAmawites,summoninghimwiththesewords,＂ApeoplehascomeherefromEgyptwhonowcoverthefaceoftheearthandaresettlingdownoppositeus!
遂遣使者往幼发拉的河阿玛伍人之地的培托尔去，见贝敖尔的儿子巴郎，请他说：＂看，由埃及来了一个民族，遮盖了地面，现今正住在我的对面。
62Pleasecomeandcursethispeopleforus;theyarestrongerthanweare.Wemaythenbeabletodefeatthemanddrivethemoutofthecountry.ForIknowthatwhoeveryoublessisblessedandwhoeveryoucurseiscursed.＂
现在请你来，替我咒骂这民族，因为他们比我强大，或许这样我能将他们击败，从此地赶走；因为我知道，你祝福的，必蒙祝福；你咒骂的，必蒙咒骂。＂
7ThentheeldersofMoabandofMidianleftwiththedivinationfeeinhandandwenttoBalaam.WhentheyhadgivenhimBalak'smessage,
摩阿布和米德扬的长老于是带着卜金去了；到了巴郎那里，将巴拉克的话告诉了他。
8hesaidtotheminreply,＂Stayhereovernight,andIwillgiveyouwhateveranswertheLORDgivesme.＂SotheprincesofMoablodgedwithBalaam.
他回答他们说：＂今夜你们在这里过夜，我要依照上主吩咐我的话答复你们。＂这样，摩阿布的缙绅就在巴郎那里住下了。
9ThenGodcametoBalaamandsaid,＂Whoarethesemenvisitingyou?＂
天主来到巴郎那里说：＂与你在一起的是些什么人？＂
10BalaamansweredGod,＂Balak,sonofZippor,kingofMoab,sentmethemessage:
巴郎答复天主说：＂是摩阿布的君王，漆颇尔的儿子巴拉克，打发些人来告诉我说：
11‘ThispeoplethatcameherefromEgyptnowcoverthefaceoftheearth.Pleasecomeandlayacurseonthemforus;wemaythenbeabletogivethembattleanddrivethemout.'＂
看，从埃及来了一个民族，遮盖了地面，现在请你来替我咒骂他们，使我或许能与他们交战，将他们驱逐。＂
12ButGodsaidtoBalaam,＂Donotgowiththemanddonotcursethispeople,fortheyareblessed.＂
天主对巴郎说：＂你不可与他们同去，你不可咒骂这民族，因为他们是受祝福的。＂
13ThenextmorningBalaamaroseandtoldtheprincesofBalak,＂Gobacktoyourowncountry,fortheLORDhasrefusedtoletmegowithyou.＂
巴郎早晨起来就对巴拉克的缙绅说：＂你们回本国去吧！因为上主不许我同你们一起去。＂
14SotheprincesofMoabwentbacktoBalakwiththereport,＂Balaamrefusedtocomewithus.＂
摩阿布的缙绅就起身回到巴拉克那里说：＂巴郎不愿同我们一起来。＂
15Balakagainsentprinces,whoweremorenumerousandmoredistinguishedthantheothers.
巴拉克于是又派比以前更多更尊贵的缙绅去。
16OncomingtoBalaamtheytoldhim,＂ThisiswhatBalak,sonofZippor,hastosay:Pleasedonotrefusetocometome.
他们去见巴郎，对他说：＂漆颇尔的儿子巴拉克这样说：请你不要推辞到我这里来，
17Iwillrewardyouveryhandsomelyandwilldoanythingyouaskofme.Pleasecomeandlayacurseonthispeopleforme.＂
因为我必丰富地酬谢你。凡你要的，我都照办；只要你前来，替我咒骂这民族。＂
18ButBalaamrepliedtoBalak'sofficials,＂EvenifBalakgavemehishousefullofsilverandgold,Icouldnotdoanything,smallorgreat,contrarytothecommandoftheLORD,myGod.
巴郎答复巴拉克的使臣说：＂既使巴拉克给我满屋的金银，我也不能做任何大小的事，违犯上主我天主的命令。
19But,youtooshallstayhereovernight,tillIlearnwhatelsetheLORDmaytellme.＂
现在，请你们今夜也在这里住下，看看上主还要对我说什么。＂
20ThatnightGodcametoBalaamandsaidtohim,＂Ifthesemenhavecometosummonyou,youmaygowiththem;yetonlyontheconditionthatyoudoexactlyasItellyou.＂
夜间天主来到巴郎那里，对他说：＂这些人既然来邀请你，你就起身同他们去吧！但是你只应做我吩咐你的事。＂
21SothenextmorningwhenBalaamarose,hesaddledhisass,andwentoffwiththeprincesofMoab.
巴郎早晨起来，备好驴，就同摩阿布的缙绅一起去了。
223ButnowtheangerofGodflaredupathimforgoing,andtheangeloftheLORDstationedhimselfontheroadtohinderhimashewasridingalongonhisass,accompaniedbytwoofhisservants.
因为他起身走了，天主发了怒；上主的使者在路上挡住他的去路。当时他骑着驴，还有两个僮仆跟着。
23WhentheasssawtheangeloftheLORDstandingontheroadwithsworddrawn,sheturnedofftheroadandwentintothefield,andBalaamhadtobeathertobringherbackontheroad.
那驴一看见上主的使者，持着拔出的刀站在路上，就离开正路，走入田中去了。巴郎便鞭打那驴，要它回到路上。
24ThentheangeloftheLORDtookhisstandinanarrowlanebetweenvineyardswithastonewalloneachside.
以后，上主的使者又站在葡萄园间的窄路上，两面有墙。
25WhentheasssawtheangeloftheLORDthere,sheshrankagainstthewall;andsinceshesqueezedBalaam'slegagainstit,hebeatheragain.
那驴一见上主的使者，就紧靠着墙，将巴郎的脚挤在墙上，他又打了那驴。
26TheangeloftheLORDthenwentahead,andstoppednextinapassagesonarrowthattherewasnoroomtomoveeithertotherightortotheleft.
上主的使者又往前行，站在窄狭的地方，左右无路可走，
27WhentheasssawtheangeloftheLORDthere,shecoweredunderBalaam.So,inanger,heagainbeattheasswithhisstick.
那驴又见上主的使者，遂趴在巴郎下；巴郎大怒，用棍杖打那驴。
28ButnowtheLORDopenedthemouthoftheass,andsheaskedBalaam,＂WhathaveIdonetoyouthatyoushouldbeatmethesethreetimes?＂
上主遂开了驴的口，对巴郎说：＂我对你做了什么？你竟三次打我？＂
29＂Youhaveactedsowillfullyagainstme,＂saidBalaamtotheass,＂thatifIbuthadaswordathand,Iwouldkillyouhereandnow.＂
巴郎回答那驴说：＂因为你玩弄我。我若手中有刀，早杀了你。＂
30ButtheasssaidtoBalaam,＂AmInotyourownbeast,andhaveyounotalwaysriddenuponmeuntilnow?HaveIbeeninthehabitoftreatingyouthiswaybefore?＂＂No,＂repliedBalaam.
那驴对巴郎说：＂我不是你从起初直到今日骑的驴吗？平常我是否对你这样做？＂他回答说：＂不。＂
31ThentheLORDremovedtheveilfromBalaam'seyes,sothathetoosawtheangeloftheLORDstandingontheroadwithsworddrawn;andhefellonhiskneesandbowedtotheground.
上主遂开了巴郎的眼，使他看见上主的使者，手持拔出的刀站在路上，他就躬身俯伏在地。
32ButtheangeloftheLORDsaidtohim,＂Whyhaveyoubeatenyourassthesethreetimes?ItisIwhohavecomearmedtohinderyoubecausethisrashjourneyofyoursisdirectlyopposedtome.
上主的使者对他说：＂你为什么三次打你的驴？看，是我出来挡路，因为你走的这路，在我面前是邪路。
33Whentheasssawme,sheturnedawayfrommethesethreetimes.Ifshehadnotturnedawayfromme,Iwouldhavekilledyou;herIwouldhavespared.＂
驴看见了我，就在我面前回避了三次；幸亏它回避了我，不然我早杀了你，只留下了它。＂
34ThenBalaamsaidtotheangeloftheLORD,＂Ihavesinned.YetIdidnotknowthatyoustoodagainstmetoopposemyjourney.Sinceithasdispleasedyou,Iwillgobackhome.＂
巴郎于是对上主的使者说：＂我犯了罪，因为我不知道是你站在路上阻拦我。现在，如果你以为不对，我就回去好了。＂
35ButtheangeloftheLORDsaidtoBalaam,＂Gowiththemen;butyoumaysayonlywhatItellyou.＂SoBalaamwentonwiththeprincesofBalak.
上主的使者对巴郎说：＂你同这些人去吧！但是你只应说我吩咐你的话。＂巴郎于是同巴拉克的缙绅一起去了。
36WhenBalakheardthatBalaamwascoming,hewentouttomeethimattheboundarycityIr-MoabontheArnonattheendoftheMoabiteterritory.
巴拉克听说巴郎来了，就到阿尔摩阿布──此城临近阿尔农河边，在国界的尽头，──去迎接他。
37AndhesaidtoBalaam,＂Isentanurgentsummonstoyou!Whydidyounotcometome?DidyouthinkIcouldnotrewardyou?＂
巴拉克对巴郎说：＂我不是派遗了使者去请你？你为什么不到我这里来，莫非我不能酬报你？＂
38Balaamansweredhim,＂Well,Ihavecometoyouafterall.ButwhatpowerhaveItosayanything?IcanspeakonlywhatGodputsinmymouth.＂
巴郎答复巴拉克说：＂看，我已到你这里来了，但我能随便说什么吗？我只能说天主吩咐我说的话。＂
39ThenBalaamwentwithBalak,andtheycametoKiriath-huzoth.
巴郎遂同巴拉克起身，来到了克黎雅特胡祚特。
40HereBalakslaughteredoxenandsheep,andsentportionstoBalaamandtotheprinceswhowerewithhim.
巴拉克杀了牛羊，馈送给巴郎和同他在一起的缙绅。
41ThenextmorningBalaktookBalaamuponBamoth-baal,andfromtherehesawsomeoftheclans.
到了次日早晨，巴拉克领巴郎上了巴摩特巴耳去，从那里能看到一部分以色列人民。
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Footnotes(注解)
1[1]TheplainsofMoab:thelowlandstothenortheastoftheDeadSea,betweentheJordanandthefoothillsbelowMountNebo.HeretheIsraelitesremaineduntiltheycrossedtheJordan,astoldinJoshua1-4.JericholaytothewestoftheJordan.
2[6]Cursethispeopleforus:BalakbelievedthatifBalaamforecastanevilomenforIsrael,thisevilwouldcometopass,asifbymagic.Balaamwasasoothsayerorforeteller;cfJoshua13:22.
3[22]TheangerofGodflaredup:notmerelybecauseBalaamwasgoingtoBalak,forhehadGod'spermissionforthejourney(Numbers22:20),butperhapsbecausehewastemptedbyavaricetocurseIsraelagainstGod'scommand.＂TheyhavefollowedthewayofBalaam,sonofBosor,wholovedthewagesofwrongdoing＂(2Peter2:15);＂andhaverushedonthoughtlesslyintotheerrorofBalaamforthesakeofgain＂(Judges1:11).CfNumbers22:32andcompareExodus4:18-26.