Read Good News Bible Numbers 23 Bible Online

Numbers 23 - Good News Bible bible

Numbers 23

¹He said to Balak, "Build seven altars here for me, and bring me seven bulls and seven rams."

²Balak did as he was told, and he and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

³Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, while I go to see whether or not the LORD will meet me. I will tell you whatever he reveals to me." So he went alone to the top of a hill,

⁴and God met him. Balaam said to him, "I have built the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each."

⁵The LORD told Balaam what to say and sent him back to Balak to give him his message.

⁶So he went back and found Balak still standing by his burnt offering with all the leaders of Moab.

⁷Balaam uttered this prophecy: "Balak king of Moab has brought me From Syria, from the eastern mountains. 'Come speak for me,' he said. 'Put a curse on the people of Israel.'

⁸How can I curse what God has not cursed, Or speak of doom when the LORD has not?

⁹From the high rocks I can see them; I can watch them from the hills. They are a nation that lives alone; They know they are blessed more than other nations.

¹⁰The descendants of Israel are like the dust--- There are too many of them to be counted. Let me end my days like one of God's people; Let me die in peace like the righteous."

¹¹Then Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you have done is bless them."

¹²He answered, "I can say only what the LORD tells me to say."

¹³Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come with me to another place from which you can see only some of the Israelites. Curse them for me from there."

¹⁴He took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Mount Pisgah. There also he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each of them.

¹⁵Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, and I will meet God over there."

¹⁶The LORD met Balaam, told him what to say, and sent him back to Balak to give him his message.

¹⁷So he went back and found Balak still standing by his burnt offering, with the leaders of Moab. Balak asked what the LORD had said,

¹⁸and Balaam uttered this prophecy: "Come, Balak son of Zippor, And listen to what I have to say.

¹⁹God is not like people, who lie; He is not a human who changes his mind. Whatever he promises, he does; He speaks, and it is done.

²⁰I have been instructed to bless, And when God blesses, I cannot call it back.

²¹I foresee that Israel's future Will bring her no misfortune or trouble. The LORD their God is with them; They proclaim that he is their king.

²²God has brought them out of Egypt; He fights for them like a wild ox.

²³There is no magic charm, no witchcraft, That can be used against the nation of Israel. Now people will say about Israel, 'Look what God has done!'

²⁴The nation of Israel is like a mighty lion: It doesn't rest until it has torn and devoured, Until it has drunk the blood of those it has killed."

²⁵Then Balak said to Balaam, "You refuse to curse the people of Israel, but at least don't bless them!"

²⁶Balaam answered, "Didn't I tell you that I had to do everything that the LORD told me?"

²⁷Balak said, "Come with me, and I will take you to another place. Perhaps God will be willing to let you curse them for me from there."

²⁸So he took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor overlooking the desert.

²⁹Balaam said to him, "Build seven altars for me here and bring me seven bulls and seven rams."

³⁰Balak did as he was told, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.