¹Profectique castrametati sunt in campestribus Moab,And they set out and made camp in the plains of Moab,ubi trans Jordanem Jericho sita est.across the Jordan, where Jericho is situated.

¹Profectique castrametati sunt in campestribus Moab,And they set out and made camp in the plains of Moab,ubi trans Jordanem Jericho sita est.across the Jordan, where Jericho is situated.

²Videns autem Balac filius Sephor omnia quæ fecerat Israël Amorrhæo,Then Balak, the son of Zippor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorite,

²Videns autem Balac filius Sephor omnia quæ fecerat Israël Amorrhæo,Then Balak, the son of Zippor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorite,

³et quod pertimuissent eum Moabitæ,and that the Moabites had great fear of him,et impetum ejus ferre non possent,and that they were not able to bear his assault,

³et quod pertimuissent eum Moabitæ,and that the Moabites had great fear of him,et impetum ejus ferre non possent,and that they were not able to bear his assault,

⁴dixit ad majores natu Madian:said to those greater by birth of Midian:Ita delebit hic populus omnes, qui in nostris finibus commorantur,“So will this people wipe away all those who are dwelling within our borders,quomodo solet bos herbas usque ad radices carpere.in the same way that the ox is accustomed to tear out grass,Ipse erat eo tempore rex in Moab.all the way to the roots.” At that time, he was king of Moab.

⁴dixit ad majores natu Madian:said to those greater by birth of Midian:Ita delebit hic populus omnes, qui in nostris finibus commorantur,“So will this people wipe away all those who are dwelling within our borders,quomodo solet bos herbas usque ad radices carpere.in the same way that the ox is accustomed to tear out grass,Ipse erat eo tempore rex in Moab.all the way to the roots.” At that time, he was king of Moab.

⁵Misit ergo nuntios ad Balaam filium Beor ariolum,Therefore, he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor,qui habitabat super flumen terræ filiorum Ammon, ut vocarent eum,a seer who lived above the river of the land of the sons of Ammon, to call him,et dicerent:and to say:Ecce egressus est populus ex Ægypto,“Behold, a people has gone forth from Egypt,qui operuit superficiem terræ,which has covered the face of the earth.sedens contra me.They are encamped opposite me.

⁵Misit ergo nuntios ad Balaam filium Beor ariolum,Therefore, he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor,qui habitabat super flumen terræ filiorum Ammon, ut vocarent eum,a seer who lived above the river of the land of the sons of Ammon, to call him,et dicerent:and to say:Ecce egressus est populus ex Ægypto,“Behold, a people has gone forth from Egypt,qui operuit superficiem terræ,which has covered the face of the earth.sedens contra me.They are encamped opposite me.

⁶Veni igitur,Therefore,et maledic populo huic,come and curse this people,quia fortior me est:for they are stronger than I am.si quomodo possim percutere et ejicere eum de terra mea.If only, in some way, I might be able to strike them and to drive them from my land.Novi enim quod benedictus sit cui benedixeris,For I know that he whom you bless shall be blessed,et maledictus in quem maledicta congesseris.and he whom you curse shall be cursed.”

⁶Veni igitur,Therefore,et maledic populo huic,come and curse this people,quia fortior me est:for they are stronger than I am.si quomodo possim percutere et ejicere eum de terra mea.If only, in some way, I might be able to strike them and to drive them from my land.Novi enim quod benedictus sit cui benedixeris,For I know that he whom you bless shall be blessed,et maledictus in quem maledicta congesseris.and he whom you curse shall be cursed.”

⁷Perrexeruntque seniores Moab, et majores natu Madian,And the elders of Moab, and those greater by birth of Midian,habentes divinationis pretium in manibus.continued on, holding the price of divination in their hands.Cumque venissent ad Balaam,And when they had come to Balaam,et narrassent ei omnia verba Balac,and had explained to him all the words of Balak,

⁷Perrexeruntque seniores Moab, et majores natu Madian,And the elders of Moab, and those greater by birth of Midian,habentes divinationis pretium in manibus.continued on, holding the price of divination in their hands.Cumque venissent ad Balaam,And when they had come to Balaam,et narrassent ei omnia verba Balac,and had explained to him all the words of Balak,

⁸ille respondit:he responded,Manete hic nocte,“Remain for this night,et respondebo quidquid mihi dixerit Dominus.and I will answer with whatever the Lord will say to me.”Manentibus illis apud Balaam,And while they stayed with Balaam,venit Deus,God cameet ait ad eum:and said to him,

⁸ille respondit:he responded,Manete hic nocte,“Remain for this night,et respondebo quidquid mihi dixerit Dominus.and I will answer with whatever the Lord will say to me.”Manentibus illis apud Balaam,And while they stayed with Balaam,venit Deus,God cameet ait ad eum:and said to him,

⁹Quid sibi volunt homines isti apud te?“What do these men want with you?”

⁹Quid sibi volunt homines isti apud te?“What do these men want with you?”

¹⁰Respondit:He responded,Balac filius Sephor rex Moabitarum misit ad me,“Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,

¹⁰Respondit:He responded,Balac filius Sephor rex Moabitarum misit ad me,“Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,

¹¹dicens:saying:Ecce populus qui egressus est de Ægypto,‘Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt,operuit superficiem terræ:has covered the face of the earth.veni, et maledic ei,Come and curse them, so that,si quomodo possim pugnans abigere eum.in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.’”

¹¹dicens:saying:Ecce populus qui egressus est de Ægypto,‘Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt,operuit superficiem terræ:has covered the face of the earth.veni, et maledic ei,Come and curse them, so that,si quomodo possim pugnans abigere eum.in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.’”

¹²Dixitque Deus ad Balaam:And God said to Balaam,Noli ire cum eis,“Do not go with them,neque maledicas populo:and do not curse the people,quia benedictus est.for they are blessed.”

¹²Dixitque Deus ad Balaam:And God said to Balaam,Noli ire cum eis,“Do not go with them,neque maledicas populo:and do not curse the people,quia benedictus est.for they are blessed.”

¹³Qui mane consurgens dixit ad principes:And he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders,Ite in terram vestram,“Go into your own land,quia prohibuit me Dominus venire vobiscum.for the Lord has prohibited me from going with you.”

¹³Qui mane consurgens dixit ad principes:And he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders,Ite in terram vestram,“Go into your own land,quia prohibuit me Dominus venire vobiscum.for the Lord has prohibited me from going with you.”

¹⁴Reversi principes dixerunt ad Balac:Returning, the leaders said to Balak,Noluit Balaam venire nobiscum.“Balaam was not willing to come with us.”

¹⁴Reversi principes dixerunt ad Balac:Returning, the leaders said to Balak,Noluit Balaam venire nobiscum.“Balaam was not willing to come with us.”

¹⁵Rursum ille multo pluresAgain,et nobiliores quam ante miserat,he sent many more persons,misit.and these were more noble than those he had sent before.

¹⁵Rursum ille multo pluresAgain,et nobiliores quam ante miserat,he sent many more persons,misit.and these were more noble than those he had sent before.

¹⁶Qui cum venissent ad Balaam,And when these had come to Balaam,dixerunt:they said:Sic dicit Balac filius Sephor:“So says Balak, the son of Zippor.Ne cuncteris venire ad me:Do not hesitate to come to me.

¹⁶Qui cum venissent ad Balaam,And when these had come to Balaam,dixerunt:they said:Sic dicit Balac filius Sephor:“So says Balak, the son of Zippor.Ne cuncteris venire ad me:Do not hesitate to come to me.

¹⁷paratus sum honorare te,For I am ready to honor you,et quidquid volueris,and whatever you would want,dabo tibi:I shall give to you.veni,Comeet maledic populo isti.and curse this people.”

¹⁷paratus sum honorare te,For I am ready to honor you,et quidquid volueris,and whatever you would want,dabo tibi:I shall give to you.veni,Comeet maledic populo isti.and curse this people.”

¹⁸Respondit Balaam:Balaam responded:Si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri,“Even if Balak were to give to me his own house, filled with silver and gold,non potero immutare verbum Domini Dei mei,I still would not be able to change the word of the Lord my God,ut vel plus, vel minus loquar.neither to say more, nor to say less.

¹⁸Respondit Balaam:Balaam responded:Si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri,“Even if Balak were to give to me his own house, filled with silver and gold,non potero immutare verbum Domini Dei mei,I still would not be able to change the word of the Lord my God,ut vel plus, vel minus loquar.neither to say more, nor to say less.

¹⁹Obsecro ut hic maneatis etiam hac nocte,I beg you to remain for this night also,et scire queam quid mihi rursum respondeat Dominus.so that I may know what the Lord will answer me again.”

¹⁹Obsecro ut hic maneatis etiam hac nocte,I beg you to remain for this night also,et scire queam quid mihi rursum respondeat Dominus.so that I may know what the Lord will answer me again.”

²⁰Venit ergo Deus ad Balaam nocte,Therefore, God came to Balaam in the night,et ait ei:and said to him:Si vocare te venerunt homines isti,“If these men have arrived to call you,surge, et vade cum eis:then rise up and go with them;ita dumtaxat, ut quod tibi præcepero, facias.yet only in so far as you shall do what I will command you.”

²⁰Venit ergo Deus ad Balaam nocte,Therefore, God came to Balaam in the night,et ait ei:and said to him:Si vocare te venerunt homines isti,“If these men have arrived to call you,surge, et vade cum eis:then rise up and go with them;ita dumtaxat, ut quod tibi præcepero, facias.yet only in so far as you shall do what I will command you.”

²¹Surrexit Balaam mane,Balaam rose up in the morning,et strata asina sua profectus est cum eis.and saddling his donkey, he set out with them.

²¹Surrexit Balaam mane,Balaam rose up in the morning,et strata asina sua profectus est cum eis.and saddling his donkey, he set out with them.

²²Et iratus est Deus.And God was angry.Stetitque angelus Domini in via contra Balaam,And an Angel of the Lord stood in the way opposite Balaam,qui insidebat asinæ,who was sitting on the donkey,et duos pueros habebat secum.and he had two servants with him.

²²Et iratus est Deus.And God was angry.Stetitque angelus Domini in via contra Balaam,And an Angel of the Lord stood in the way opposite Balaam,qui insidebat asinæ,who was sitting on the donkey,et duos pueros habebat secum.and he had two servants with him.

²³Cernens asina angelum stantem in via,The donkey,evaginato gladio,discerning that the Angel was standing in the way with a drawn sword,avertit se de itinere,turned herself from the roadet ibat per agrum.and went through a field.Quam cum verberaret Balaam,And when Balaam beat heret vellet ad semitam reducere,and intended to return her to the path,

²³Cernens asina angelum stantem in via,The donkey,evaginato gladio,discerning that the Angel was standing in the way with a drawn sword,avertit se de itinere,turned herself from the roadet ibat per agrum.and went through a field.Quam cum verberaret Balaam,And when Balaam beat heret vellet ad semitam reducere,and intended to return her to the path,

²⁴stetit angelus in angustiis duarum maceriarum,the Angel stood in a narrow place between the two walls,quibus vineæ cingebantur.with which the vineyards were enclosed.

²⁴stetit angelus in angustiis duarum maceriarum,the Angel stood in a narrow place between the two walls,quibus vineæ cingebantur.with which the vineyards were enclosed.

²⁵Quem videns asina,And the donkey,junxit se parieti,seeing this,et attrivit sedentis pedem.drew herself close to the wall and scraped the foot of the rider.At ille iterum verberabat eam:So he beat her again.

²⁵Quem videns asina,And the donkey,junxit se parieti,seeing this,et attrivit sedentis pedem.drew herself close to the wall and scraped the foot of the rider.At ille iterum verberabat eam:So he beat her again.

²⁶et nihilominus angelus ad locum angustum transiens,And, nevertheless, the Angel passing on to a narrow place,ubi nec ad dexteram, nec ad sinistram poterat deviare,where one would not be able to deviate either to the right or to the left,obvius stetit.stood to meet him.

²⁶et nihilominus angelus ad locum angustum transiens,And, nevertheless, the Angel passing on to a narrow place,ubi nec ad dexteram, nec ad sinistram poterat deviare,where one would not be able to deviate either to the right or to the left,obvius stetit.stood to meet him.

²⁷Cumque vidisset asina stantem angelum,And when the donkey had seen the Angel standing there,concidit sub pedibus sedentis:she fell under the feet of the rider,qui iratus,who, being angry,vehementius cædebat fuste latera ejus.struck her sides more vehemently with a club.

²⁷Cumque vidisset asina stantem angelum,And when the donkey had seen the Angel standing there,concidit sub pedibus sedentis:she fell under the feet of the rider,qui iratus,who, being angry,vehementius cædebat fuste latera ejus.struck her sides more vehemently with a club.

²⁸Aperuitque Dominus os asinæ,And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey,et locuta est: Quid feci tibi?and she said: “What have I done to you?cur percutis me ecce jam tertio?Why do strike you me, behold now, for the third time?”

²⁸Aperuitque Dominus os asinæ,And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey,et locuta est: Quid feci tibi?and she said: “What have I done to you?cur percutis me ecce jam tertio?Why do strike you me, behold now, for the third time?”

²⁹Respondit Balaam:Balaam responded,Quia commeruisti,“Because you have deserved it,et illusisti mihi:and you have mistreated me.utinam haberem gladium,If only I had a sword,ut te percuterem!so that I might pierce you.”

²⁹Respondit Balaam:Balaam responded,Quia commeruisti,“Because you have deserved it,et illusisti mihi:and you have mistreated me.utinam haberem gladium,If only I had a sword,ut te percuterem!so that I might pierce you.”

³⁰Dixit asina:The donkey said:Nonne animal tuum sum,“Am not I your animal,cui semper sedere consuevisti usque in præsentem diem?on which you have always been accustomed to sit, even until this present day?dic quid simile umquam fecerim tibi.Tell me, when did I ever do the same thing to you.”At ille ait:But he said,Numquam.“Never.”

³⁰Dixit asina:The donkey said:Nonne animal tuum sum,“Am not I your animal,cui semper sedere consuevisti usque in præsentem diem?on which you have always been accustomed to sit, even until this present day?dic quid simile umquam fecerim tibi.Tell me, when did I ever do the same thing to you.”At ille ait:But he said,Numquam.“Never.”

³¹Protinus aperuit Dominus oculos Balaam,Immediately,et vidit angelum stantem in via,the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam,evaginato gladio,and he saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword,adoravitque eum pronus in terram.and he reverenced him prone on the ground.

³¹Protinus aperuit Dominus oculos Balaam,Immediately,et vidit angelum stantem in via,the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam,evaginato gladio,and he saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword,adoravitque eum pronus in terram.and he reverenced him prone on the ground.

³²Cui angelus: Cur,And the Angel said to him:inquit, tertio verberas asinam tuam?“Why did you beat your donkey three times?ego veni ut adversarer tibi,I have come to be an adversary to you,quia perversa est via tua, mihique contraria:because your way is perverse and contrary to me.

³²Cui angelus: Cur,And the Angel said to him:inquit, tertio verberas asinam tuam?“Why did you beat your donkey three times?ego veni ut adversarer tibi,I have come to be an adversary to you,quia perversa est via tua, mihique contraria:because your way is perverse and contrary to me.

³³et nisi asina declinasset de via,And unless the donkey had turned aside from the way,dans locum resistenti,allowing a place for my opposition,te occidissem,I would have killed you,et illa viveret.and she would have lived.”

³³et nisi asina declinasset de via,And unless the donkey had turned aside from the way,dans locum resistenti,allowing a place for my opposition,te occidissem,I would have killed you,et illa viveret.and she would have lived.”

³⁴Dixit Balaam: Peccavi,Balaam said: “I have sinned,nesciens quod tu stares contra me:not knowing that you stood against me. And now,et nunc si displicet tibi ut vadam,if it displeases you for me to continue on,revertar.I will return.”

³⁴Dixit Balaam: Peccavi,Balaam said: “I have sinned,nesciens quod tu stares contra me:not knowing that you stood against me. And now,et nunc si displicet tibi ut vadam,if it displeases you for me to continue on,revertar.I will return.”

³⁵Ait angelus:The Angel said,Vade cum istis, et cave ne aliud quam præcepero tibi loquaris.“Go with them, but be careful not to speak anything other than what I shall instruct you.”Ivit igitur cum principibus.And so, he went with the leaders.

³⁵Ait angelus:The Angel said,Vade cum istis, et cave ne aliud quam præcepero tibi loquaris.“Go with them, but be careful not to speak anything other than what I shall instruct you.”Ivit igitur cum principibus.And so, he went with the leaders.

³⁶Quod cum audisset Balac,And when Balak had heard it,egressus est in occursum ejus in oppido Moabitarum,he went out to meet him in a town of the Moabites,quod situm est in extremis finibus Arnon.which is situated at the furthest borders of Arnon.

³⁶Quod cum audisset Balac,And when Balak had heard it,egressus est in occursum ejus in oppido Moabitarum,he went out to meet him in a town of the Moabites,quod situm est in extremis finibus Arnon.which is situated at the furthest borders of Arnon.

³⁷Dixitque ad Balaam:And he said to Balaam:Misi nuntios ut vocarent te:“I sent messengers to call you.cur non statim venisti ad me?Why did you not come to me immediately?an quia mercedem adventui tuo reddere nequeo?Was it because I am not able to pay the cost for your arrival?”

³⁷Dixitque ad Balaam:And he said to Balaam:Misi nuntios ut vocarent te:“I sent messengers to call you.cur non statim venisti ad me?Why did you not come to me immediately?an quia mercedem adventui tuo reddere nequeo?Was it because I am not able to pay the cost for your arrival?”

³⁸Cui ille respondit:He answered him:Ecce adsum:“Behold,numquid loqui potero aliud,here I am.nisi quod Deus posuerit in ore meo?Am I able to speak anything other than what God will put into my mouth?”

³⁸Cui ille respondit:He answered him:Ecce adsum:“Behold,numquid loqui potero aliud,here I am.nisi quod Deus posuerit in ore meo?Am I able to speak anything other than what God will put into my mouth?”

³⁹Perrexerunt ergo simul,Therefore, they continued on together,et venerunt in urbem,and they arrived at a city,quæ in extremis regni ejus finibus erat.which was at the furthest borders of his kingdom.

³⁹Perrexerunt ergo simul,Therefore, they continued on together,et venerunt in urbem,and they arrived at a city,quæ in extremis regni ejus finibus erat.which was at the furthest borders of his kingdom.

⁴⁰Cumque occidisset Balac boves et oves,And after Balak had killed oxenmisit ad Balaam,and sheep,et principes qui cum eo erant,he sent the gifts to Balaam,munera.and to the leaders who were with him.

⁴⁰Cumque occidisset Balac boves et oves,And after Balak had killed oxenmisit ad Balaam,and sheep,et principes qui cum eo erant,he sent the gifts to Balaam,munera.and to the leaders who were with him.

⁴¹Mane autem facto,Then, when morning arrived,duxit eum ad excelsa Baal,he led him to the heights of Baal,et intuitus est extremam partem populi.and he gazed upon the most distant portions of the population.

⁴¹Mane autem facto,Then, when morning arrived,duxit eum ad excelsa Baal,he led him to the heights of Baal,et intuitus est extremam partem populi.and he gazed upon the most distant portions of the population.