以色列人起行，在摩押平原，约旦河东，对着耶利哥安营。
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
摩押的长老和米甸的长老手里拿着卦金，到了巴兰那里，将巴勒的话都告诉了他。
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.
神临到巴兰那里，说，在你这里的人都是谁，
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
从埃及出来的民遮满地面，你来为我咒诅他们，或者我能与他们争战，把他们赶出去。
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
神对巴兰说，你不可同他们去，也不可咒诅那民，因为那民是蒙福的。
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
巴兰早晨起来，对巴勒的使臣说，你们回本地去吧，因为耶和华不容我和你们同去。
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
摩押的使臣就起来，回巴勒那里去，说，巴兰不肯和我们同来。
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
巴勒又差遣使臣，比先前的又多又尊贵。
And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
他们到了巴兰那里，对他说，西拨的儿子巴勒这样说，求你不容什么事拦阻你不到我这里来，
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:
巴兰回答巴勒的臣仆说，巴勒就是将他满屋的金银给我，我行大事小事也不得越过耶和华我神的命。
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 the LORD my God, to do less or more.