Balaam's First Message
1 Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars here, then bring seven bulls and seven rams.”
2 After Balak had done this, they sacrificed a bull and a ram on each altar. 3 Then Balaam said, “Wait here beside your offerings, and I'll go somewhere to be alone. Maybe the Lord will appear to me. If he does, I will tell you everything he says.” And he left.
4 When God appeared to him, Balaam said, “I have built seven altars and have sacrificed a bull and a ram on each one.”
5 The Lord gave Balaam a message, then sent him back to tell Balak. 6 When Balaam returned, he found Balak and his officials standing beside the offerings.
7 Balaam said:
“King Balak of Moab brought me
from the hills of Syria
to curse Israel
and announce its doom.
8 But I can't go against God!
He did not curse
or condemn Israel.
* 9 “From the mountain peaks,
I look down and see Israel,
the obedient people of God.
10 They are living alone in peace.
And though they are many,
they don't bother
the other nations.
“I hope to obey God
for as long as I live
and to die in such peace.”
11 Balak said, “What are you doing? I asked you to come and place a curse on my enemies. But you have blessed them instead!”
12 Balaam answered, “I can say only what the Lord tells me.”
Balaam's Second Message
13 Balak said to Balaam, “Let's go somewhere else. Maybe if you see a smaller part of the Israelites, you will be able to curse them for me.” 14 So he took Balaam to a field on top of Mount Pisgah where lookouts were stationed. Then he built seven altars there and sacrificed a bull and a ram on each one.
15 “Wait here beside your offerings,” Balaam said. “The Lord will appear to me over there.”
16 The Lord appeared to Balaam and gave him another message, then he told him to go and tell Balak. 17 Balaam went back and saw him and his officials standing beside the offerings.
Balak asked, “What did the Lord say?”
18 Balaam answered:
“Pay close attention
to my words—
19 God is no mere human!
He doesn't tell lies
or change his mind.
God always keeps his promises.
20 “My command from God
was to bless these people,
and there's nothing I can do
to change what he has done.
21 Israel's king is the Lord God.
He lives there with them
and intends them no harm.
22 With the strength of a wild ox,
God led Israel out of Egypt.
23 No magic charms can work
against them—
just look what God has done
for his people.
24 They are like angry lions
ready to attack;
and they won't rest
until their victim
is gobbled up.”
25 Balak shouted, “If you're not going to curse Israel, then at least don't bless them.”
26 “I've already told you,” Balaam answered. “I will say only what the Lord tells me.”
Balaam's Third Message
27 Balak said to Balaam, “Come on, let's try another place. Maybe God will let you curse Israel from there.” 28 So he took Balaam to Mount Peor overlooking the desert north of the Dead Sea.
29 Balaam said, “Build seven altars here, then bring me seven bulls and seven rams.”
30 After Balak had done what Balaam asked, he sacrificed a bull and a ram on each altar.
1 Balama atate Balaka ri ekye: “Mibe vo tori oloro njidrieri märi noŋwa, ago nyezi 'daŋgoi njidrieri ago timelegogoi njidrieri märi noŋwa.”
2 Balaka yete oso se Balama katabe ronye; ago Balaka ndi Balama be loyi 'daŋgoi ndi timelegogoi be te ba alo alo vo tori oloro alo alo drisi. 3 'Dooko Balama atate Balaka ri ekye: “Nyedre ŋgapäṛi ozaro miro lomvo, mate dri oyi, kode azaya OPI ikyina 'da drio'bene mabe; ago ŋgase nda kabe ka'dana märi mitina tana 'da miri.” Ndi Balama oyite driku'du'du lutu aza roya.
4 Lu 'bedrite Balama be; ago Balama atate ndäri ekye: Mabe vo tori oloro njidrieri te, ago maza 'daŋgo ndi timelegogo be te ba alo alo vo tori oloro alo alo drisi. 5 OPI ititate Balama ri atane Balaka ri ago atate ndäri ekye: Migo Balaka re, ago mipe ta ndäri. 6 Ta'dota Balama gote kovole ago 'dooko Balaka dri gi'du edrevoya ndi dri'bai cini Moaba robe ŋgapäṛi ozaro ndaro lomvosi. 7 'Dooko Balama eto taope ndaro ono te, atate ekye:
“Balaka ezi mate ni Arona yasi.
'Bädri'ba Moaba ro ezi mate ni 'bereŋwa 'buzelesi yasi ekye:
‘Nyikyi mitri Yakoba märi,
ago nyikyi nyata ta kozi lidri Yisaraele ro robe.’
8 Matrina 'dise Lu kotri ko ono eŋwanyeya?
Kode matana takozi 'dise OPI kata takozi ko lomvoigye ono lomvo eŋwanyeya?
9 Mandre ànya ndi ni driku'du'du 'bereŋwai ro yasi,
mandre ànya ndi ni luutui drisi;
ànya orivoya tu'dei se kayi ugu ori iṛe owo;
äṛu ànya te ndrani tu'dei azaka ri!
10 A'di otina zelevoi Yakoba ro oso durufu ronye ono niya?
Kode a'di otina telesi alo lisu lidri Yisaraele ro niya?
Mi'ba madra odra taŋgyero ayani,
ago mi'ba ori ädu maro ka'do oso alo aza lidri Lu ro ronye.”
11 'Dooko Balaka atate Balama ri ekye: “Miye ono e'diyi märi ya? Mezi mi kyila'baazii maro otrine, oko mindre, miye ŋga aza kote oko nyäṛu ànya ro äṛu ayani.” 12 Balama zatadrite ekye: “Inye'do beṛo ko märi tase OPI kitibe märi 'do tana atane ayani ya?”
Taope Ṛiri Balama ro
13 'Dooko Balaka atate Balama ri ekye: “Nyikyi mabe vo kinja aza ya, se ni kigyesi mindrena Yisaraele'bai ndi; mindrena toto ànya se loto 'do ayani, oko miri ànya ondrene kpeye i'do, 'dooko mitri ànya märi ni nasi.” 14 Ndi Balaka ugu Balama te ämvu Zofima roya, le driku'du'du Pisega roya, ago be vo tori oloro njidrieri te, ago za ŋgapäṛi ozaro 'daŋgo ro ndi timelegogo be te ba alo alo, vo tori oloro alo alo drisi. 15 Balama atate Balaka ri ekye: “Nyedre noŋwa ŋgapäṛi ozaro miro lomvo madri oyi drio'bene OPI be lau.” 16 Ago OPI 'bedrite Balama be, ago iti tase atane Balaka ri te ago atate ndäri ekye: Migo Balaka re ago mipe tase ono ndäri. 17 Ta'dota nda gote kovole Balaka re, ago usu nda te ndi dri'bai Moaba robe dri gi'du edrevoya ŋgapäṛi ozaro ndaro lomvo. Balaka eji nda te ekye: “OPI atate ekye e'diya?” 18 'Dooko Balama eto taope ndaro ono te, atate ekye:
“Miŋga Balaka ago nyeri,
miga bi ta maro erine, ŋgwa Zipora ro.
19 Lu ko lidri yi ndäri kowe ogane; Kode ŋgwa lidri ro yi ndäri drietane.
Inye'do nda kata tate oko rigwo oyeako ya?
Kode aza nda katate oko nda 'ba tana sako mina ya ya?
20 Mindre ozo tate märi 'di äṛune
oko ondro ka'do Lu käṛu 'di teni mänina kote drina otane.
21 Nda usu taenji kote Yakoba ya,
ago ndre rriti kote Yisaraele ya,
OPI Lu ànyaro orivoya ànya yibe;
ago äräṛuna oso 'bädri'ba ronye ànya lako.
22 Lu lofo ànya ni tesi Ezipeto yasi;
nda ka kyila oye anyata oso udru ronye.
23 Tana ta läkä ro a'dona i'do Yakoba lomvo,
ca tetedri oyene tu'de Yisaraele ro lomvo i'do.
Lidri atana ta Yisaraele rota ekye:
‘Mindre tase Lu koyebe ayani!’
24 Tu'de Yisaraele ro ka oŋga oso ibitoko ronye, ago ka yi eŋga oso ibiago ronye.
Anya u'du ko vuru madale osina iza lutu,
ago ombena kari ŋgase kufube ro lutu.”
25 'Dooko Balaka atate Balama ri ekye: “Kode inye mitri anya ko alona ago nyäṛu ànya kpa ko alona.” 26 Oko Balama zatadri Balaka rote ekye: “Inye'do mata ṛo ko miri makye: Tase cini OPI kabe atana beṛo märi oyene ayani ya?”
Taope Nina Balama ro
27 Balaka atate Balama ri ekye: “Nyikyi mugu mi robe vo kinja aza ya; kode Lu a'dona 'da yai'dwesi tana mitri ànya robe märi ni nasi.” 28 Ta'dota Balaka ugu Balama te driku'du'du 'Bereŋwa Peora roya, se abe ondrena ni vocowa yasi ana. 29 Balama atate Balaka ri ekye: “Mibe vo tori oloro njidrieri märi noŋwa, ago nyozo 'daŋgo njidrieri ndi timelegogoi njidrieri be märi noŋwa.” 30 Ago Balaka yete oso se Balama katabe ronye, ago za 'daŋgoi ndi timelegogoi be te vo tori oloro alo alo drisi.