DENISON

[column A]

non est aspérsus, immúndus erit, et manébit spurcítia ejus super eum. Ista est lex hóminis qui móritur in tabernáculo: omnes qui ingrediúntur tentórium illíus, et univérsa vasa quæ ibi sunt, pollúta erunt septem diébus. Vas, quod non habúerit opérculum nec ligatúram désuper, immúndum erit. Si quis in agro tetígerit cadáver occísi hóminis, aut per se mórtui, sive os illíus, vel sepúlchrum, immúndus erit septem diébus. Tolléntque de cinéribus combustiónis atque peccáti, et mittent aquas vivas super eos in vas: in quibus cum homo mundus tínxerit hyssópum, aspérget ex eo omne tentórium, et cunctam supelléctilem, et hómines hujuscémodi contagióne pollútos: atque hoc modo mundus lustrábit immúndum tértio et séptimo die: expiatúsque die séptimo, lavábit et se et vestiménta sua, et immúndus erit usque ad vésperum. Si quis hoc ritu non fúerit expiátus, períbit ánima illíus de médio ecclésiæ: quia sanctuárium Dómini pólluit, et non est aqua lustratiónis aspérsus. Erit hoc præcéptum legítimum sempitérnum. Ipse quoque qui aspérgit aquas, lavábit vestiménta sua. Omnis qui tetígerit aquas expiatiónis, immúndus erit usque ad vésperum. Quidquid tetígerit immúndus, immúndum fáciet: et ánima, quæ horum quíppiam tetígerit, immúnda erit usque ad vésperum. XX. Venerúntque fílii Israël et omnis multitúdo in desértum Sin, mense primo, et mansit pópulus in Cades. Mortuáque est ibi María, et sepúlta in eódem loco. Cumque indígeret aqua pópulus, convenérunt advérsum Móysen et Áaron: et versi in seditiónem, dixérunt: Útinam periissémus inter fratres nostros coram Dómino. Cur eduxístis ecclésiam Dómini in solitúdinem, ut et nos et nostra juménta moriámur? quare nos fecístis ascéndere de Ægýpto, et adduxístis in locum istum péssimum, qui seri non potest, qui nec ficum gignit, nec víneas, nec malogranáta, ínsuper et aquam non habet ad bibéndum? Ingressúsque Móyses et Áaron, dimíssa multitúdine, tabernáculum fóederis, corruérunt proni in terram, clamaverúntque ad Dóminum, atque dixérunt: Dómine Deus, audi clamórem hujus pópuli, et áperi eis thesáurum tuum fontem aquæ vivæ, ut satiáti, cesset murmurátio eórum. Et appáruit glória Dómini super eos. Locutúsque est Dóminus ad Móysen, dicens: Tolle virgam, et cóngrega pópulum, tu et Áaron frater tuus, et loquímini ad petram coram eis, et illa dabit aquas. Cumque edúxeris aquam de petra, bibet omnis multitúdo et juménta ejus. Tulit ígitur Móyses virgam, quæ erat in conspéctu Dómini, sicut præcéperat ei, congregáta multitúdine ante petram: dixítque eis: Audíte, rebélles et incréduli: num de petra hac vobis aquam potérimus ejícere? Cumque elevásset Móyses manum, percútiens virga bis sílicem, egréssæ sunt aquæ largíssimæ, ita ut pópulus bíberet et juménta. Dixítque Dóminus ad Móysen et Áaron: Quia non credidístis mihi, ut sanctificarétis me coram fíliis Israël, non introducétis hos pópulos in terram, quam dabo eis. Hæc est aqua contradictiónis, ubi jurgáti sunt fílii Israël contra Dóminum, et sanctificátus est in eis. Misit intérea núntios Móyses de Cades ad regem Edom, qui dícerent: Hæc mandat frater tuus Israël: Nosti omnem labórem qui apprehéndit nos, quómodo descénderint patres nostri in Ægýptum, et habitavérimus ibi multo témpore, afflixeríntque nos Ægýptii, et patres nostros: et quómodo clamavérimus ad Dóminum, et exaudíerit nos, miserítque ángelum, qui edúxerit nos de Ægýpto.

[column B]

Ecce in urbe Cades, quæ est in extrémis fínibus tuis, pósiti, obsecrámus ut nobis transíre líceat per terram tuam. Non íbimus per agros, nec per víneas; non bibémus aquas de púteis tuis: sed gradiémur via pública, nec ad déxteram nec ad sinístram declinántes, donec transeámus términos tuos. Cui respóndit Edom: Non transíbis per me, alióquin armátus occúrram tibi. Dixerúntque fílii Israël: Per tritam gradiémur viam: et si bibérimus aquas tuas, nos et pécora nostra, dábimus quod justum est: nulla erit in prétio difficúltas, tantum velóciter transeámus. At ille respóndit: Non transíbis. Statímque egréssus est óbvius, cum infiníta multitúdo, et manu forti, nec vóluit acquiéscere deprecánti, ut concéderet tránsitum per fines suos. Quam ob rem divértit ab eo Israël. Cumque castra movíssent de Cades, venérunt in montem Hor, qui est in fínibus terræ Edom: ubi locútus est Dóminus ad Móysen: Pergat, inquit, Áaron ad pópulos suos: non enim intrábit terram, quam dedi fíliis Israël, eo quod incrédulus fúerit ori meo, ad aquas contradictiónis. Tolle Áaron et fílium ejus cum eo, et duces eos in montem Hor. Cumque nudáveris patrem veste sua, índues ea Eleazárum fílium ejus: Áaron colligétur, et moriétur ibi. Fecit Móyses ut præcéperat Dóminus: et ascendérunt in montem Hor coram omni multitúdine. Cumque Áaron spoliásset véstibus suis, índuit eis Eleazárum fílium ejus. Illo mórtuo in montis supercílio, descéndit cum Eleazáro. Omnis autem multitúdo videns occubuísse Áaron, flevit super eo trigínta diébus per cunctas famílias suas. XXI. Quod cum audísset Chananaeus rex Arad, qui habitábat ad merídiem, venísse scílicet Israël per exploratórum viam, pugnávit contra illum, et victor exístens, duxit ex eo prædam. At Israël voto se Dómino óbligans, ait: Si tradíderis pópulum istum in manu mea, delébo urbes ejus. Exaudivítque Dóminus preces Israël, et trádidit Chananaeum, quem ille interfécit subvérsis úrbibus ejus: et vocávit nomen loci illíus Horma, id est, anáthema. Profécti sunt autem et de monte Hor, per viam quæ ducit ad mare Rubrum, ut circumírent terram Edom. Et tædére cœpit pópulum itíneris ac labóris: locutúsque contra Deum et Móysen, ait: Cur eduxísti nos de Ægýpto, ut morerémur in solitúdine? deest panis, non sunt aquæ: ánima nostra jam náuseat super cibo isto levíssimo. Quam ob rem misit Dóminus in pópulum ignítos serpéntes, ad quorum plagas et mortes plurimórum, venérunt ad Móysen, atque dixérunt: Peccávimus, quia locúti sumus contra Dóminum et te: ora ut tollat a nobis serpéntes. Oravítque Móyses pro pópulo, et locútus est Dóminus ad eum: Fac serpéntem aeneum, et pone eum pro signo: qui percússus aspéxerit eum, vivet. Fecit ergo Móyses serpéntem aeneum, et pósuit eum pro signo: quem cum percússi aspícerent, sanabántur. Profectíque fílii Israël castrametáti sunt in Oboth. Unde egréssi fíxere tentória in Jeabárim, in solitúdine quæ réspicit Moab contra orientálem plagam. Et inde movéntes, venérunt ad torréntem Zared. Quem relinquéntes castrametáti sunt contra Arnon, quæ est in desérto, et próminet in fínibus Amorrhaei. Síquidem Arnon términus est Moab, dívidens Moábitas et Amorrhaeos. Unde dícitur in libro bellórum Dómini: Sicut fecit in mari Rubro, sic fáciet in torréntibus Arnon. Scópuli torréntium inclináti

[Numbers 19:13-21:15]

...because he was not sprinkled with the water of expiation, he shall be unclean, and his uncleanness shall remain upon him. 14 This is the law of a man that dieth in a tent: All that go into his tent and all the vessels that are there, shall be unclean seven days. 15 The vessel that hath no cover, nor binding over it, shall be unclean. 16 If any man in the field touch the corpse of a man that was slain, or that died of himself, or his bone, or his grave, he shall be unclean seven days. 17 And they shall take of the ashes of the burning and of the sin offering, and shall pour living waters upon them into a vessel. 18 And a man that is clean shall dip hyssop in them, and shall sprinkle therewith all the tent, and all the furniture, and the men that are defiled with touching any such thing: 19 And in this manner he that is clean shall purify the unclean on the third and on the seventh day. And being expiated the seventh day, he shall wash both himself and his garments, and be unclean until the evening. 20 If any man be not expiated after this rite, his soul shall perish out of the midst of the church: because he hath profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, and was not sprinkled with the water of purification. 21 This precept shall be an ordinance for ever. He also that sprinkled the water, shall wash his garments. Every one that shall touch the waters of expiation, shall be unclean until the evening. 22 Whatsoever a person toucheth who is unclean, he shall make it unclean: and the person that toucheth any of these things, shall be unclean until the evening.

1 And the children of Israel, and all the multitude came into the desert of Sin, in the first month: and the people abode in Cades. And Mary died there, and was buried in the same place. 2 And the people wanting water, came together against Moses and Aaron: 3 And making a sedition, they said: Would God we had perished among our brethren before the Lord. 4 Why have you brought out the church of the Lord into the wilderness, that both we and our cattle should die? 5 Why have you made us come up out of Egypt, and have brought us into this wretched place which cannot be sowed, nor bringeth forth figs, nor vines, nor pomegranates, neither is there any water to drink? 6 And Moses and Aaron leaving the multitude, went into the tabernacle of the covenant, and fell flat upon the ground, and cried to the Lord, and said: O Lord God, hear the cry of this people, and open to them thy treasure, a fountain of living water, that being satisfied, they may cease to murmur. And the glory of the Lord appeared over them. 7 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 8 Take the rod, and assemble the people together, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall yield waters. And when thou hast brought forth water out of the rock, all the multitude and their cattle shall drink. 9 Moses therefore took the rod, which was before the Lord, as he had commanded him, 10 And having gathered together the multitude before the rock, he said to them: Hear, ye rebellious and incredulous: Can we bring you forth water out of this rock? 11 And when Moses had lifted up his hand, and struck the rock twice with the rod, there came forth water in great abundance, so that the people and their cattle drank, 12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: Because you have not believed me, to sanctify me before the children of Israel, you shall not bring these people into the land, which I will give them. 13 This is the Water of contradiction, where the children of Israel strove with words against the Lord, and he was sanctified in them. 14 In the mean time Moses sent messengers from Cades to the king of Edom, to say: Thus saith thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the labour that hath come upon us: 15 In what manner our fathers went down into Egypt, and there we dwelt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers. 16 And how we cried to the Lord, and he heard us, and sent an angel, who hath brought us out of Egypt. Lo, we are now in the city of Cades, which is in the uttermost of thy borders, 17 And we beseech thee that we may have leave to pass through thy country. We will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards, we will not drink the waters of thy wells, but we will go by the common highway, neither turning aside to the right hand, nor to the left, till we are past thy borders. 18 And Edom answered them: Thou shalt not pass by me: if thou dost I will come out armed against thee. 19 And the children of Israel said: We will go by the beaten way: and if we and our cattle drink of thy waters, we will give thee what is just: there shall be no difficulty in the price, only let us pass speedily. 20 But he answered: Thou shalt not pass. And immediately he came forth to meet them with an infinite multitude, and a strong hand, 21 Neither would he condescend to their desire to grant them passage through his borders. Wherefore Israel turned another way from him. 22 And when they had removed the camp from Cades, they came to mount Hor, which is in the borders of the land of Edom: 23 Where the Lord spoke to Moses: 24 Let Aaron, saith he, go to his people: for he shall not go into the land which I have given the children of Israel, because he was incredulous to my words, at the waters of contradiction. 25 Take Aaron and his son with him, and bring them up into mount Hor: 26 And when thou hast stripped the father of his vesture, thou shalt vest therewith Eleazar his son: Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and die there. 27 Moses did as the Lord had commanded: and they went up into mount Hor before all the multitude. 28 And when he had stripped Aaron of his vestments, he vested Eleazar his son with them. 29 And Aaron being dead in the top of the mountain, he came down with Eleazar. 30 And all the multitude seeing that Aaron was dead, mourned for him thirty days throughout all their families.

1 And when king Arad the Chanaanite, who dwelt towards the south, had heard this, to wit, that Israel was come by the way of the spies, he fought against them, and overcoming them carried off their spoils. 2 But Israel binding himself by vow to the Lord, said: If thou wilt deliver this people into my hand, I will utterly destroy their cities. 3 And the Lord heard the prayers of Israel, and delivered up the Chanaanite, and they cut them off and destroyed their cities: and they called the name of that place Horma, that is to say, Anathema. 4 And they marched from mount Hor, by the way that leadeth to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom. And the people began to be weary of their journey and labour: 5 And speaking against God and Moses, they said: Why didst thou bring us out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, nor have we any waters: our soul now loatheth this very light food. 6 Wherefore the Lord sent among the people fiery serpents, which bit them and killed many of them. 7 Upon which they came to Moses, and said: We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and thee: pray that he may take away these serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to him: Make a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: whosoever being struck shall look on it, shall live. 9 Moses therefore made a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: which when they that were bitten looked upon, they were healed. 10 And the children of Israel setting forwards camped in Oboth. 11 And departing thence they pitched their tents in Jeabarim, in the wilderness, that faceth Moab toward the east. 12 And removing from thence, they came to the torrent Zared: 13 Which they left and encamped over against Arnon, which is in the desert and standeth out on the borders of the Amorrhite. For Arnon is the border of Moab, dividing the Moabites and the Amorrhites. 14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord: As he did in the Red Sea, so will he do in the streams of Arnon. 15 The rocks of the torrents...

[column A]

sunt, ut requiéscerent in Ar, et recúmberent in fínibus Moabitárum. Ex eo loco appáruit púteus, super quo locútus est Dóminus ad Móysen: Cóngrega pópulum, et dabo ei aquam. Tunc cécinit Israël carmen istud: Ascéndat púteus. Concinébant: Púteus, quem fodérunt príncipes et paravérunt duces multitúdinis in datóre legis, et in báculis suis. De solitúdine, Matthána. De Matthána in Naháliel: de Naháliel in Bamoth. De Bamoth, vallis est in regióne Moab, in vértice Phasga, quod réspicit contra desértum. Misit autem Israël núntios ad Sehon regem Amorrhæórum, dicens: Óbsecro ut transíre mihi líceat per terram tuam: non declinábimus in agros et víneas; non bibémus aquas ex púteis: via régia gradiémur, donec transeámus términos tuos. Qui concédere nóluit ut transíret Israël per fines suos: quin pótius exércitu congregáto, egréssus est óbviam in desértum, et venit in Jasa, pugnavítque contra eum. A quo percússus est in ore gládii, et posséssa est terra ejus ab Arnon usque Jeboc, et fílios Ammon: quia forti præsídio tenebántur términi Ammonitárum. Tulit ergo Israël omnes civitátes ejus, et habitávit in úrbibus Amorrhaei, in Hesébon scílicet, et vículis ejus. Urbs Hesébon fuit Sehon regis Amorrhaei, qui pugnávit contra regem Moab: et tulit omnem terram, quæ ditiónis illíus fúerat usque Arnon. Idcírco dícitur in provérbio: Veníte in Hesébon: ædificétur, et construátur cívitas Sehon: ignis egréssus est de Hesébon, flamma de óppido Sehon, et devorávit Ar Moabitárum, et habitatóres excelsórum Arnon. Væ tibi Moab; perísti pópule Chamos. Dedit fílios ejus in fugam, et fílias in captivitátem regi Amorrhæórum Sehon. Jugum ipsórum dispériit ad Hesébon usque Dibon: lassi pervenérunt in Nophe, et usque Medába. Habitávit ítaque Israël in terra Amorrhaei. Misítque Móyses qui explorárent Jazer: cujus cepérunt vículos, et possedérunt habitatóres. Verterúntque se, et ascendérunt per viam Basan, et occúrrit eis Og, rex Basan, cum omni pópulo suo, pugnatúrus in Édrai. Dixítque Dóminus ad Móysen: Ne tímeas eum, quia in manu tua trádidi illum, et omnem pópulum ac terram ejus: faciésque illi sicut fecísti Sehon, regi Amorrhæórum habitatóri Hesébon. Percussérunt ígitur et hunc cum fíliis suis, universúmque pópulum ejus usque ad interneciónem, et possedérunt terram illíus. XXII. Profectíque castrametáti sunt in campéstribus Moab, ubi trans Jordánem Jéricho sita est. Videns autem Balac fílius Sephor ómnia quæ fécerat Israël Amorrhaeo, et quod pertimuíssent eum Moábitæ, et ímpetum ejus ferre non possent, dixit ad majóres natu Mádian: Ita delébit hic pópulus omnes, qui in nostris fínibus commorántur, quómodo solet bos herbas usque ad radíces cárpere. Ipse erat eo témpore rex in Moab. Misit ergo núntios ad Bálaam fílium Beor aríolum, qui habitábat super flumen terræ filiórum Ammon, ut vocárent eum, et dícerent: Ecce egréssus est pópulus ex Ægýpto, qui opéruit superfíciem terræ, sedens contra me. Veni ígitur, et máledic pópulo huic, quia fórtior me est: si quómodo possim percútere et ejícere eum de terra mea. Novi enim quod benedíctus sit cui benedíxeris, et maledíctus in quem maledícta congésseris. Perrexerúntque senióres Moab, et majóres natu Mádian, habéntes divinatiónis prétium in mánibus. Cumque veníssent ad Bálaam, et narrássent ei ómnia verba Balac, ille respóndit: Manéte hic nocte, et

[column B]

respondébo quidquid mihi díxerit Dóminus. Manéntibus illis apud Bálaam, venit Deus, et ait ad eum: Quid sibi volunt hómines isti apud te? Respóndit: Balac fílius Sephor rex Moabitárum misit ad me, dicens: Ecce pópulus qui egréssus est de Ægýpto, opéruit superfíciem terræ: veni, et máledic ei, si quómodo possim pugnans abígere eum. Dixítque Deus ad Bálaam: Noli ire cum eis, neque malédicas pópulo: quia benedíctus est. Qui mane consúrgens dixit ad príncipes: Ite in terram vestram, quia prohíbuit me Dóminus veníre vobíscum. Revérsi príncipes dixérunt ad Balac: Nóluit Bálaam veníre nobíscum. Rursum ille multo plures et nobilióres quam ante míserat, misit. Qui cum veníssent ad Bálaam, dixérunt: Sic dicit Balac fílius Sephor: Ne cúncteris veníre ad me: parátus sum honoráre te, et quidquid volúeris, dabo tibi: veni, et máledic pópulo isti. Respóndit Bálaam: Si déderit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argénti et auri, non pótero immutáre verbum Dómini Dei mei, ut vel plus, vel minus loquar. Óbsecro ut hic maneátis étiam hac nocte, et scire queam quid mihi rursum respóndeat Dóminus. Venit ergo Deus ad Bálaam nocte, et ait ei: Si vocáre te venérunt hómines isti, surge, et vade cum eis: ita dumtáxat, ut quod tibi præcépero, fácias. Surréxit Bálaam mane, et strata ásina sua proféctus est cum eis. Et irátus est Deus. Stetítque ángelus Dómini in via contra Bálaam, qui insidébat ásinæ, et duos púeros habébat secum. Cernens ásina ángelum stantem in via, evagináto gládio, avértit se de itínere, et ibat per agrum. Quam cum verberáret Bálaam, et vellet ad sémitam redúcere, stetit ángelus in angústiis duárum maceriárum, quibus víneæ cingebántur. Quem videns ásina, junxit se paríeti, et attrívit sedéntis pedem. At ille íterum verberábat eam: et nihilóminus ángelus ad locum angústum tránsiens, ubi nec ad déxteram, nec ad sinístram póterat deviáre, óbvius stetit. Cumque vidísset ásina stantem ángelum, concídit sub pédibus sedéntis: qui irátus, veheméntius cædébat fuste látera ejus. Aperuítque Dóminus os ásinæ, et locúta est: Quid feci tibi? cur pércutis me ecce jam tértio? Respóndit Bálaam: Quia commeruísti, et illusísti mihi: útinam habérem gládium, ut te percúterem! Dixit ásina: Nonne ánimal tuum sum, cui semper sedére consuevísti usque in præséntem diem? dic quid símile umquam fécerim tibi. At ille ait: Numquam. Prótinus apéruit Dóminus óculos Bálaam, et vidit ángelum stantem in via, evagináto gládio, adoravítque eum pronus in terram. Cui ángelus: Cur, inquit, tértio vérberas ásinam tuam? ego veni ut adversárer tibi, quia pervérsa est via tua, mihíque contrária: et nisi ásina declinásset de via, dans locum resisténti, te occidíssem, et illa víveret. Dixit Bálaam: Peccávi, nésciens quod tu stares contra me: et nunc si dísplicet tibi ut vadam, revértar. Ait ángelus: Vade cum istis, et cave ne áliud quam præcépero tibi loquáris. Ivit ígitur cum princípibus. Quod cum audísset Balac, egréssus est in occúrsum ejus in óppido Moabitárum, quod situm est in extrémis fínibus Arnon. Dixítque ad Bálaam: Misi núntios ut vocárent te: cur non statim venísti ad me? an quia mercédem advéntui tuo réddere néqueo? Cui ille respóndit: Ecce adsum: numquid loqui pótero áliud, nisi quod Deus posúerit in ore meo? Perrexérunt ergo simul, et venérunt in urbem

[Numbers 21:15-22:39]

...were bowed down that they might rest in Ar, and lie down in the borders of the Moabites. 16 When they went from that place, the well appeared whereof the Lord said to Moses: Gather the people together, and I will give them water. 17 Then Israel sung this song: Let the well spring up. They sung thereto: 18 The well, which the princes dug, and the chiefs of the people prepared by the direction of the lawgiver, and with their staves. And they marched from the wilderness to Mathana. 19 From Mathana unto Nahaliel: from Nahaliel unto Bamoth. 20 From Bamoth, is a valley in the country of Moab, to the top of Phasga, which looked towards the desert. 21 And Israel sent messengers to Sehon king of the Amorrhites, saying: 22 I beseech thee that I may have leave to pass through thy land: we will not go aside into the fields or the vineyards, we will not drink waters of the wells, we will go the king's highway, till we be past thy borders. 23 And he would not grant that Israel should pass by his borders: but rather gathering an army, went forth to meet them in the desert, and came to Jasa, and fought against them. 24 And he was slain by them with the edge of the sword, and they possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jeboc, and to the confines of the children of Ammon: for the borders of the Ammonites, were kept with a strong garrison. 25 So Israel took all his cities, and dwelt in the cities of the Amorrhite, to wit, in Hesebon, and in the villages thereof. 26 Hesebon was the city of Sehon the king of the Amorrhites, who fought against the king of Moab: and took all the land, that had been of his dominions, as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore it is said in the proverb: Come into Hesebon, let the city of Sehon be built and set up: 28 A fire is gone out of Hesebon, a flame from the city of Sehon, and hath consumed Ar of the Moabites, and the inhabitants of the high places of the Arnon. 29 Woe to thee Moab: thou art undone, O people of Chamos. He hath given his sons to flight, and his daughters into captivity to Sehon the king of the Amorrhites. 30 Their yoke is perished from Hesebon unto Dibon, they came weary to Nophe, and unto Medaba. 31 So Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorrhite. 32 And Moses sent some to take a view of Jazer: and they took the villages of it, and conquered the inhabitants. 33 And they turned themselves, and went up by the way of Basan, and Og the king of Basan came against them with all his people, to fight in Edrai. 34 And the Lord said to Moses: Fear him not, for I have delivered him and all his people, and his country into thy hand: and thou shalt do to him as thou didst to Sehon the king of the Amorrhites, the inhabitant of Hesebon. 35 So they slew him also with his sons, and all his people, not letting any one escape, and they possessed his land.

1 And they went forward and encamped in the plains of Moab, over against where Jericho is situate beyond the Jordan. 2 And Balac the son of Sephor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorrhite, 3 And that the Moabites were in great fear of him, and were not able to sustain his assault, 4 He said to the elders of Madian: So will this people destroy all that dwell in our borders, as the ox is wont to eat the grass to the very roots. Now he was at that time king in Moab. 5 He sent therefore messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, a soothsayer, who dwelt by the river of the land of the children of Ammon, to call him, and to say: Behold a people is come out of Egypt, that hath covered the face of the earth, sitting over against me. 6 Come therefore, and curse this people, because it is mightier than I: if by any means I may beat them and drive them out of my land: for I know that he whom thou shalt bless is blessed, and he whom thou shalt curse is cursed. 7 And the ancients of Moab, and the elders of Madian, went with the price of divination in their hands. And when they were come to Balaam, and had told him all the words of Balac: 8 He answered: Tarry here this night, and I will answer whatsoever the Lord shall say to me. And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him: 9 What mean these men that are with thee? 10 He answered: Balac the son of Sephor king of the Moabites hath sent to me, 11 Saying: Behold a people that is come out of Egypt, hath covered the face of the land: come and curse them, if by any means I may fight with them and drive them away. 12 And God said to Balaam: Thou shalt not go with them, nor shalt thou curse the people: because it is blessed. 13 And he rose in the morning and said to the princes: Go into your country, because the Lord hath forbid me to come with you. 14 The princes returning, said to Balac: Balaam would not come with us. 15 Then he sent many more and more noble than he had sent before: 16 Who, when they were come to Balaam, said: Thus saith Balac the son of Sephor, Delay not to come to me: 17 For I am ready to honour thee, and will give thee whatsoever thou wilt: come and curse this people. 18 Balaam answered: If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot alter the word of the Lord my God, to speak either more or less. 19 I pray you to stay here this night also, that I may know what the Lord will answer me once more. 20 God therefore came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: It these men be come to call thee, arise and go with them: yet so, that thou do what I shall command thee. 21 Balaam arose in the morning, and saddling his ass went with them. 22 And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against Balaam, who sat on the ass, and had two servants with him. 23 The ass seeing the angel standing in the way, with a drawn sword, turned herself out of the way, and went into the field. And when Balaam beat her, and had a mind to bring her again to the way, 24 The angel stood in a narrow place between two walls, wherewith the vineyards were enclosed. 25 And the ass seeing him, thrust herself close to the wall, and bruised the foot of the rider. But he beat her again: 26 And nevertheless the angel going on to a narrow place, where there was no way to turn aside either to the right hand or to the left, stood to meet him. 27 And when the ass saw the angel standing, she fell under the feet of the rider: who being angry beat her sides more vehemently with a staff. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time? 29 Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee. 30 The ass said: Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always accustomed to ride until this present day? tell me if I ever did the like thing to thee. But he said: Never. 31 Forthwith the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he worshipped him falling flat on the ground. 32 And the angel said to him: Why beatest thou thy ass these three times? I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse, and contrary to me: 33 And unless the ass had turned out of the way, giving place to me who stood against thee, I had slain thee, and she should have lived. 34 Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return. 35 The angel said: Go with these men, and see thou speak no other thing than what I shall command thee. He went therefore with the princes. 36 And when Balac heard it he came forth to meet him in a town of the Moabites, that is situate in the uttermost borders of Arnon. 37 And he said to Balaam: I sent messengers to call thee, why didst thou not come immediately to me? was it because I am not able to reward thy coming? 38 He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth? 39 So they went on together, and came into a city...