{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/kjv/numbers/22","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-29T21:19:58.520Z"},"reference":{"translation":"KJV","book":"Numbers","bookSlug":"numbers","chapter":22,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":21,"nextChapter":23,"totalChapters":36,"totalVerses":41},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan <i>by</i> Jericho."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they <i>were</i> many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all <i>that are</i> round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor <i>was</i> king of the Moabites at that time."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which <i>is</i> by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:"},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they <i>are</i> too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, <i>that</i> we may smite them, and <i>that</i> I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest <i>is</i> blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men <i>are</i> these with thee?"},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, <i>saying</i>,"},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Behold, <i>there is</i> 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."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they <i>are</i> blessed."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"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:"},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, <i>and</i> go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab."},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants <i>were</i> with him."},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way."},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall <i>being</i> on this side, and a wall on that side."},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again."},{"verseNumber":26,"text":"And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where <i>was</i> no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left."},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff."},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?"},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee."},{"verseNumber":30,"text":"And the ass said unto Balaam, <i>Am</i> not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since <i>I was</i> thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay."},{"verseNumber":31,"text":"Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face."},{"verseNumber":32,"text":"And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because <i>thy</i> way is perverse before me:"},{"verseNumber":33,"text":"And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive."},{"verseNumber":34,"text":"And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again."},{"verseNumber":35,"text":"And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak."},{"verseNumber":36,"text":"And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which <i>is</i> in the border of Arnon, which <i>is</i> in the utmost coast."},{"verseNumber":37,"text":"And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?"},{"verseNumber":38,"text":"And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak."},{"verseNumber":39,"text":"And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth."},{"verseNumber":40,"text":"And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that <i>were</i> with him."},{"verseNumber":41,"text":"And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost <i>part</i> of the people."}],"citation":{"inline":"Numbers 22 (KJV)","markdown":"[Numbers 22](https://primebible.com/kjv/numbers/22)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* KJV. https://primebible.com/kjv/numbers/22 (accessed 2026-05-29)."}}