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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Numbers 23 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/numbers/23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/numbers/23-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > Numbers 23</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../numbers/22.htm" title="Numbers 22">◄</a> Numbers 23 <a href="../numbers/24.htm" title="Numbers 24">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/numbers/23.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Balaam’s First Sacrifice</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Balaam told Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare here for me seven bulls and seven rams.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>So Balak did just as Balaam instructed. Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Then Balaam instructed Balak, “Stand by your offering and leave me alone by myself. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me. I’ll tell you whatever he reveals to me.”</p> <p class="reg">And so he went to a high place, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>where the LORD met with Balaam, who told him, “I’ve prepared seven altars and offered bulls and rams on an altar.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Then the LORD gave Balaam this message. “Return to Balak and speak to him.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by all the Moabite officials.</p> <p class="heading">Balaam’s First Prophecy</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Then Balaam uttered this prophetic statement:</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop">“King Balak of Moab brought me from Aram,</p> <p class="poetry2">from the eastern mountains,</p> <p class="poetry2">and told me,</p> <p class="poetry2">‘Come and curse Jacob for me.</p> <p class="poetry2">Come and curse Israel.’</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>But how can I curse those whom God hasn’t cursed?</p> <p class="poetry2">How can I denounce</p> <p class="poetry2">those whom the LORD hasn’t denounced?</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>I saw them from the top of the rocks.</p> <p class="poetry2">I watched them from the hills.</p> <p class="poetry2">Truly this is a people that lives by itself</p> <p class="poetry2">and doesn’t matter<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:9 Lit. count">a</a></span> among the nations.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Who can count the dust of Jacob?</p> <p class="poetry2">Who can number the dust of Israel?</p> <p class="poetry2">Let me die the death of the righteous,</p> <p class="poetry2 marginbot">and may I end up like him.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>“What are you doing to me?” Balak asked Balaam. “I brought you to curse my enemies, not pronounce a blessing!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>But in response, Balaam asked, “Shouldn’t I be careful to communicate only what the LORD puts in my mouth?”</p> <p class="heading">Balaam’s Second Sacrifice</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>“Come with me to another place where you can see them,” Balak replied. “You’ll only see a portion of them, because you won’t be able to see them completely. Come and curse them from there for me.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>So Balak<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:14 Lit. he">b</a></span> took him to the field of Zophim, and from there to the top of Mount<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:14 The Heb. lacks Mount">c</a></span> Pisgah, where he built seven altars and then offered a bull and a ram on each altar. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Then he told Balak, “Stand by your offering while I go alone to meet the LORD.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:15 The Heb. lacks with the LORD">d</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Then the LORD met with Balaam and gave a message to him. “Now go back to Balak and speak to him.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by the Moabite officials.</p> <p class="reg">“What did the LORD say?” Balak asked him.</p> <p class="heading">Balaam’s Second Prophecy</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>In response, Balaam uttered this prophetic statement:</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop">“Stand up, Balak, and pay attention!</p> <p class="poetry2">Listen to me, you son of Zippor!</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>God is not a human male—</p> <p class="poetry2">he doesn’t lie,</p> <p class="poetry2">nor is he a human being—</p> <p class="poetry2">he never vacillates.</p> <p class="poetry2">Once he speaks up,</p> <p class="poetry2">he’s going to act, isn’t he?</p> <p class="poetry2">Once he makes a promise,</p> <p class="poetry2">he’ll fulfill it, won’t he?</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Look! I’ve received a blessing,</p> <p class="poetry2">and so I will bless.</p> <p class="poetry2">I won’t withdraw it.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>He has not responded to iniquity in Jacob</p> <p class="poetry2">or gazed at mischief in Israel.</p> <p class="poetry2">The LORD his God is with them,</p> <p class="poetry2">and the triumphant cry of a king is among them.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>From Egypt God brought them—</p> <p class="poetry2">his strength was like a wild ox!</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>No Satanic plan against Jacob</p> <p class="poetry2">nor divination against Israel</p> <p class="poetry2">can ever prevail.</p> <p class="poetry2">When the time is right,</p> <p class="poetry2">it is to be asked about Jacob and Israel,</p> <p class="poetry2">‘What has God accomplished?’</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Look! The people are like lions.</p> <p class="poetry2">Like the lion, he rises up!</p> <p class="poetry2">He does not lie down again</p> <p class="poetry2">until he has consumed his prey</p> <p class="poetry2 marginbot">and drunk the blood of the slain.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Then Balak told Balaam, “Don’t curse them or bless them!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>“Didn’t I tell you,” Balaam responded to Balak, “that I’ll say whatever the LORD tells me to say?”</p> <p class="heading">Balaam’s Third Sacrifice</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>So Balak exhorted Balaam, “Let’s go right now! I’ll take you to another place. Maybe God will agree to have you curse them for me from there.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:28 The Heb. lacks Mount">e</a></span> Peor, which overlooks the open wilderness.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="23:28 Lit. the Jeshimon; a desert wasteland not suitable for agriculture or human habitation">f</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Balaam told Balak, “Build seven altars for me right here. Then prepare seven bulls and seven rams.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/23-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Balak did just what Balaam had instructed—he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 23:9 Lit. <i>count</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 23:14 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 23:14 The Heb. lacks <i>Mount</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 23:15 The Heb. lacks <i>with the L</i>ORD<br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 23:28 The Heb. lacks <i>Mount</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 23:28 Lit. <i>the Jeshimon</i>; a desert wasteland not suitable for agriculture or human habitation<br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../numbers/22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../numbers/24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/numbers/23-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>