God

and the people speak against God, and against Moses, `Why hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to die in a wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water, and our soul hath been weary of this light bread.'

And Jehovah sendeth among the people the burning serpents, and they bite the people, and much people of Israel die;

and the people come in unto Moses and say, `We have sinned, for we have spoken against Jehovah, and against thee; pray unto Jehovah, and He doth turn aside from us the serpent;' and Moses prayeth in behalf of the people.

And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Make for thee a burning serpent , and set it on an ensign; and it hath been, every one who is bitten and hath seen it--he hath lived.

therefore it is said in a book, `The wars of Jehovah,' --`Waheb in Suphah, And the brooks of Arnon;

And from thence they journeyed to Beer; it is the well concerning which Jehovah said to Moses, `Gather the people, and I give to them--water.'

And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Fear him not, for into thy hand I have given him, and all his people, and his land, and thou hast done to him as thou hast done to Sihon king of the Amorite, who is dwelling in Heshbon.'

and he saith unto them, `Lodge here to-night, and I have brought you back word, as Jehovah speaketh unto me;' and the princes of Moab abide with Balaam.

And God cometh in unto Balaam, and saith, `Who are these men with thee?'

And Balaam saith unto God, `Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me:

and God saith unto Balaam, `Thou dost not go with them; thou dost not curse the people; for it is blessed.'

And Balaam riseth in the morning, and saith unto the princes of Balak, `Go unto your land, for Jehovah is refusing to suffer me to go with you;'

And Balaam answereth and saith unto the servants of Balak, `If Balak doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah my God, to do a little or a great thing;

and, now, abide, I pray you, in this place , you also, to-night; and I know what Jehovah is adding to speak with me.'

And God cometh in unto Balaam, by night, and saith to him, `If to call for thee the men have come, rise, go with them, and only the thing which I speak unto thee--it thou dost do.'

and the anger of God burneth because he is going, and a messenger of Jehovah stationeth himself in the way for an adversary to him, and he is riding on his ass, and two of his servants are with him,

and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and the ass turneth aside out of the way, and goeth into a field, and Balaam smiteth the ass to turn it aside into the way.

And the messenger of Jehovah standeth in a narrow path of the vineyards--a wall on this side and a wall on that--

and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah, and is pressed unto the wall, and presseth Balaam's foot unto the wall, and he addeth to smite her;

and the messenger of Jehovah addeth to pass over, and standeth in a strait place where there is no way to turn aside--right or left--

and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah, and croucheth under Balaam, and the anger of Balaam burneth, and he smiteth the ass with a staff.

And Jehovah openeth the mouth of the ass, and she saith to Balaam, `What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?'

And Jehovah uncovereth the eyes of Balaam, and he seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and he boweth and doth obeisance, to his face;

and the messenger of Jehovah saith unto him, `Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? lo, I--I have come out for an adversary, for thy way hath been perverse before me,

And Balaam saith unto the messenger of Jehovah, `I have sinned, for I did not know that thou art standing to meet me in the way; and now, if evil in thine eyes--I turn back by myself.'