Chapter 23

1Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here and have seven bulls and seven rams ready here for me.”

vai-YO-mer bil-AHM el ba-LAK, b'-NEH-lee ba-ZEH shiv-AH miz-b'-KHOT, v'-ha-KEN lee ba-ZEH shiv-AH fa-REEM v'-shiv-AH ay-LEEM

אוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־לִ֥י בָזֶ֖ה שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים׃

2Balak did as Balaam directed; and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.

vai-YA-as ba-LAK ka-a-SHER di-BER bil-AAM, vai-YA-al ba-LAK u-bil-AAM PAR va-AYIL ba-miz-BAY-akh

בוַיַּ֣עַשׂ בָּלָ֔ק כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיַּ֨עַל בָּלָ֧ק וּבִלְעָ֛ם פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

3Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offerings while I am gone. Perhaps Hashem will grant me a manifestation, and whatever He reveals to me I will tell you.” And he went off alone.

vai-YO-mer bil-AHM l'-va-LAK hit-ya-TZAYV al o-LA-te-KHA v'-el-KHA u-LAI yi-ka-REH a-do-NAI lik-ra-TEE u-d'-VAR mah ya-ra-EY-NEE v'-hi-GA-dee LAKH vai-YAY-lekh SHE-fee

גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם לְבָלָ֗ק הִתְיַצֵּב֮ עַל־עֹלָתֶ֒ךָ֒ וְאֵֽלְכָ֗ה אוּלַ֞י יִקָּרֵ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִקְרָאתִ֔י וּדְבַ֥ר מַה־יַּרְאֵ֖נִי וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי לָ֑ךְ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ שֶֽׁפִי׃

4Hashem manifested Himself to Balaam, who said to Him, “I have set up the seven altars and offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.”

vai-YI-kar e-lo-HIM el bil-AM, vai-YO-mer ay-LAV et shiv-AT ha-miz-B'-khot a-RAKH-tee va-a-AL par va-a-YIL ba-miz-BAY-akh

דוַיִּקָּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו אֶת־שִׁבְעַ֤ת הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ עָרַ֔כְתִּי וָאַ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

5And Hashem put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, “Return to Balak and speak thus.”

va-YA-sem a-do-NAI da-VAR b'-fi bil-AM, va-YO-mer SHUV el BA-lak v'-KHO t'-da-BER

הוַיָּ֧שֶׂם יְהֹוָ֛ה דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֣י בִלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר׃

6So he returned to him and found him standing beside his offerings, and all the Moabite dignitaries with him.

vai-YA-shov e-LAV v'-hi-NEH ni-TZAV al o-LA-to, HU v'-KOL sa-RAY mo-AV

ווַיָּ֣שׇׁב אֵלָ֔יו וְהִנֵּ֥ה נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֹלָת֑וֹ ה֖וּא וְכׇל־שָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב׃

7He took up his theme, and said: From Aram has Balak brought me, Moab's king from the hills of the East: Come, curse me Yaakov, Come, tell Yisrael's doom!

vai-YI-sa m'-sha-LO va-YO-mer, min a-RAM yan-KHE-nee ba-LAK me-lekh mo-AV, me-har-ray KE-dem, l'-KHA a-RAH-LEE ya-a-KOV, u-l'-KHA zo-a-MAH yis-ra-AYL.

זוַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִן־אֲ֠רָ֠ם יַנְחֵ֨נִי בָלָ֤ק מֶֽלֶךְ־מוֹאָב֙ מֵֽהַרְרֵי־קֶ֔דֶם לְכָה֙ אָֽרָה־לִּ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב וּלְכָ֖ה זֹעֲמָ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

8How can I damn whom Hashem has not damned, How doom when Hashem has not doomed?

MAH e-KOV LO ka-BO el, u-MAH e-ZOM LO za-AM a-do-NAI.

חמָ֣ה אֶקֹּ֔ב לֹ֥א קַבֹּ֖ה אֵ֑ל וּמָ֣ה אֶזְעֹ֔ם לֹ֥א זָעַ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה׃

9As I see them from the mountain tops, Gaze on them from the heights, There is a people that dwells apart, Not reckoned among the nations,

kee may-ROSH tzu-REEM er-E-nu u-mig-va-OT a-shu-RE-nu hen AM l'-va-DAD yish-KON u-va-go-YEEM LO yit-kha-SHAV

טכִּֽי־מֵרֹ֤אשׁ צֻרִים֙ אֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ וּמִגְּבָע֖וֹת אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ הֶן־עָם֙ לְבָדָ֣ד יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן וּבַגּוֹיִ֖ם לֹ֥א יִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃

10Who can count the dust of Yaakov, Number the dust-cloud of Yisrael? May I die the death of the upright, May my fate be like theirs!

mi-MA-na a-FAR ya-a-KOV u-mis-PA-et ro-VA yis-ra-AYL ta-MOT naf-SHEE mot y'-sha-REEM u-t'-HI a-cha-REE-TEE ka-mo-HU

ימִ֤י מָנָה֙ עֲפַ֣ר יַעֲקֹ֔ב וּמִסְפָּ֖ר אֶת־רֹ֣בַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל תָּמֹ֤ת נַפְשִׁי֙ מ֣וֹת יְשָׁרִ֔ים וּתְהִ֥י אַחֲרִיתִ֖י כָּמֹֽהוּ׃

11Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? Here I brought you to damn my enemies, and instead you have blessed them!”

vai-YO-mer BA-lak el bil-AM: meh a-SEE-ta LEE la-KOV oy-VAI l'-ka-KH'-tee-KHA, v'-hi-NEH BE-rakh-TA va-REKH

יאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ לִ֑י לָקֹ֤ב אֹיְבַי֙ לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּ֖ה בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ בָרֵֽךְ׃

12He replied, “I can only repeat faithfully what Hashem puts in my mouth.”

vai-YA-an vai-YO-mer ha-LO, et a-SHER ya-SEEM a-do-NAI b'-fi o-TO esh-MOR l'-da-BER

יבוַיַּ֖עַן וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הֲלֹ֗א אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֤ים יְהֹוָה֙ בְּפִ֔י אֹת֥וֹ אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר לְדַבֵּֽר׃

13Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place from which you can see them—you will see only a portion of them; you will not see all of them—and damn them for me from there.”

va-YO-mer e-LAV ba-LAK (LEKH) [LE-kha-NA] a-TEE el ma-KOM a-KHER a-SHER tir-E-nu mi-SHAM, e-FES ka-TZE-hu tir-EH, v'-khu-LO lo tir-EH, v'-ko-v'-NO-lee mi-SHAM.

יגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו בָּלָ֗ק (לך) [לְכָה־]נָּ֨א אִתִּ֜י אֶל־מָק֤וֹם אַחֵר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּרְאֶ֣נּוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם אֶ֚פֶס קָצֵ֣הוּ תִרְאֶ֔ה וְכֻלּ֖וֹ לֹ֣א תִרְאֶ֑ה וְקׇבְנוֹ־לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃

14With that, he took him to Sedehzophim, on the summit of Pisgah. He built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

vai-yi-ka-KHE-hu s'-DEH tzo-FEEM el rosh ha-pis-GAH vai-YI-ven shi-VAH miz-B'-KHOT vai-YA-al PAR va-a-YIL ba-miz-BAY-akh

ידוַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙ שְׂדֵ֣ה צֹפִ֔ים אֶל־רֹ֖אשׁ הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֔ת וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

15And [Balaam] said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offerings, while I seek a manifestation yonder.”

va-YO-mer el BA-lak, hit-ya-TZAYV KO al o-LA-te-KHA, v'-a-NO-khi i-ka-REH KO.

טווַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק הִתְיַצֵּ֥ב כֹּ֖ה עַל־עֹלָתֶ֑ךָ וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִקָּ֥רֶה כֹּֽה׃

16Hashem manifested Himself to Balaam and put a word in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak thus.”

vai-YAK-kar a-do-NAI el bil-AAM va-YA-sem da-VAR b'-pi-VU va-YO-mer SHUV el ba-LAK v'-KHO t'-da-BER

טזוַיִּקָּ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיָּ֥שֶׂם דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֑יו וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר׃

17He went to him and found him standing beside his offerings, and the Moabite dignitaries with him. Balak asked him, “What did Hashem say?”

vai-YA-vo e-LAV v'-hi-NO ni-TZAV al o-LA-to, va-sa-RAY mo-AV i-TO, va-YO-mer LO ba-LAK, mah di-BER a-do-NAI

יזוַיָּבֹ֣א אֵלָ֗יו וְהִנּ֤וֹ נִצָּב֙ עַל־עֹ֣לָת֔וֹ וְשָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָ֖ב אִתּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ בָּלָ֔ק מַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהֹוָֽה׃

18And he took up his theme, and said: Up, Balak, attend, Give ear unto me, son of Zippor!

vai-YI-sa m'-sha-LO va-YO-mer: KUM ba-LAK u-SHE-ma ha-a-ZI-nah a-DAI b'-NO tzi-POR

יחוַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר ק֤וּם בָּלָק֙ וּֽשְׁמָ֔ע הַאֲזִ֥ינָה עָדַ֖י בְּנ֥וֹ צִפֹּֽר׃

19Hashem is not man to be capricious, Or mortal to change His mind. Would He speak and not act, Promise and not fulfill?

LO ish EL vi-ka-ZEV u-ven a-DAM v'-yit-ne-KHAM ha-HU a-MAR v'-LO ya-a-SEH v'-di-BER v'-LO ye-KI-me-NAH

יטלֹ֣א אִ֥ישׁ אֵל֙ וִֽיכַזֵּ֔ב וּבֶן־אָדָ֖ם וְיִתְנֶחָ֑ם הַה֤וּא אָמַר֙ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְדִבֶּ֖ר וְלֹ֥א יְקִימֶֽנָּה׃

20My message was to bless: When He blesses, I cannot reverse it.

hi-NEH va-REKH la-ka-KH'-tee u-VE-rekh v'-lo a-shi-VE-nah

כהִנֵּ֥ה בָרֵ֖ךְ לָקָ֑חְתִּי וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ וְלֹ֥א אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃

21No harm is in sight for Yaakov, No woe in view for Yisrael. Hashem their God is with them, And their King's acclaim in their midst.

lo-hi-BEET a-VEN b'-ya-a-KOV, v'-lo-ra-AH a-MAL b'-yis-ra-AYL, a-do-NAI e-lo-HAV i-MO, u-t'-ru-A-at ME-lekh BO.

כאלֹֽא־הִבִּ֥יט אָ֙וֶן֙ בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְלֹא־רָאָ֥ה עָמָ֖ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וּתְרוּעַ֥ת מֶ֖לֶךְ בּֽוֹ׃

22Hashem who freed them from Egypt Is for them like the horns of the wild ox.

EL mo-TZI-am mi-mitz-RA-yim k'-to-a-FOT re-EM lo

כבאֵ֖ל מוֹצִיאָ֣ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם לֽוֹ׃

23Lo, there is no augury in Yaakov, No divining in Yisrael: Yaakov is told at once, Yea Yisrael, what Hashem has planned.

ki lo-NA-khash b'-ya-a-KOV v'-lo-KE-sem b'-yis-ra-AYL ka-ET ye-a-MER l'-ya-a-KOV u-l'-yis-ra-AYL mah pa-AL EL

כגכִּ֤י לֹא־נַ֙חַשׁ֙ בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְלֹא־קֶ֖סֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כָּעֵ֗ת יֵאָמֵ֤ר לְיַעֲקֹב֙ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מַה־פָּ֖עַל אֵֽל׃

24Lo, a people that rises like a lion, Leaps up like the king of beasts, Rests not till it has feasted on prey And drunk the blood of the slain.

hen-aM ke-la-VI-yak-UM v'-ka-a-REE yit-na-SA lo yish-KAV ad yo-KHAL TE-ref v'-dam-kha-la-LEEM yish-TEH

כדהֶן־עָם֙ כְּלָבִ֣יא יָק֔וּם וְכַאֲרִ֖י יִתְנַשָּׂ֑א לֹ֤א יִשְׁכַּב֙ עַד־יֹ֣אכַל טֶ֔רֶף וְדַם־חֲלָלִ֖ים יִשְׁתֶּֽה׃

25Thereupon Balak said to Balaam, “Don't curse them and don't bless them!”

vai-YO-mer BA-lak el bil-AHM, GAM-kov lo ti-ko-VAY-nu, GAM-ba-REKH lo t'-va-RE-khe-NU

כהוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם גַּם־קֹ֖ב לֹ֣א תִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּ גַּם־בָּרֵ֖ךְ לֹ֥א תְבָרְכֶֽנּוּ׃

26In reply, Balaam said to Balak, “But I told you: Whatever Hashem says, that I must do.”

vai-YA-an bil-AAM va-YO-mer el BA-lak, ha-LO di-BAR-tee e-LE-kha lay-MOR: KOL a-SHER y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI o-TO e-a-SEH

כווַיַּ֣עַן בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־בָּלָ֑ק הֲלֹ֗א דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃

27Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps Hashem will deem it right that you damn them for me there.”

vai-YO-mer BA-lak el bi-LAM, l'-KHA-na e-ka-KHA-kha el ma-KOM a-KHER, u-LAI yi-SHAR b'-ay-NAY ha-e-lo-HEEM, v'-ka-BO-to li mi-SHAM

כזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם לְכָה־נָּא֙ אֶקָּ֣חֲךָ֔ אֶל־מָק֖וֹם אַחֵ֑ר אוּלַ֤י יִישַׁר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקַבֹּ֥תוֹ לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃

28Balak took Balaam to the peak of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.

vai-YI-kakh BA-lak et bi-LAM, ROSH ha-pe-OR ha-nish-KAF al p'-NAY ha-y'-shi-MON

כחוַיִּקַּ֥ח בָּלָ֖ק אֶת־בִּלְעָ֑ם רֹ֣אשׁ הַפְּע֔וֹר הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃

29Balaam said to Balak, “Build me here seven altars, and have seven bulls and seven rams ready for me here.”

vai-YO-mer bil-AHM el BA-lak, b'-NEH-lee BA-zeh shi-VAH miz-B'-khot, v'-ha-KEN LEE BA-zeh shi-VAH fa-REEM v'-shi-VAH ay-LEEM

כטוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־לִ֥י בָזֶ֖ה שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽם׃

30Balak did as Balaam said: he offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.

vai-YA-as ba-LAK ka-a-SHER a-MAR bil-AM, vai-YA-al PAR va-a-YIL ba-mi-Z'-BE-akh

לוַיַּ֣עַשׂ בָּלָ֔ק כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָמַ֣ר בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃