Numbers 23 בְּמִדְבַּר פרק כ״ג

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Numbers 23 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidבִּלְעָםBil/AMBalaamאֶל־בָּלָקel-Ba/LAKto Balakבְּנֵה־לִיbe/NE-libuild meבָזֶהva/ZEhereשִׁבְעָהshiv/Asevenמִזְבְּחֹתmiz/be/CHOTaltarsוְהָכֵןve/ha/KHENand prepareלִיlifor meבָּזֶהba/ZEhereשִׁבְעָהshiv/Asevenפָרִיםfa/RIMbullsוְשִׁבְעָהve/shiv/Aand sevenאֵילִים׃e/LIMrams

   And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

2. 2

   וַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand didבָּלָקBa/LAKBalakכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasדִּבֶּרdib/BERhad spokenבִּלְעָםBil/AMBalaamוַיַּעַלvay/YA/aland offeredבָּלָקBa/LAKBalakוּבִלְעָםu/Vil/AMand Balaamפָּרpara bullוָאַיִלva/A/yiland a ramבַּמִּזְבֵּחַ׃bam/miz/BE/achon the altar

   And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidבִּלְעָםBil/AMBalaamלְבָלָקle/Va/LAKto Balakהִתְיַצֵּבhit/yats/TSEVstandעַל־עֹלָתֶךָal-o/la/TE/khaby your burnt offeringוְאֵלְכָהve/el/KHAand I will goאוּלַיu/LAYperhapsיִקָּרֵהyik/ka/REwill comeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלִקְרָאתִיlik/ra/TIto meet meוּדְבַרu/de/VARand the word ofמַה־יַּרְאֵנִיma-yar/E/niwhatever He shows meוְהִגַּדְתִּיve/hig/GAD/tiI will tellלָךְlakhto youוַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand wentשֶׁפִי׃SHE/fito a bare height

   And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

4. 4

   וַיִּקָּרvay/yik/KARand metאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodאֶל־בִּלְעָםel-Bil/AMBalaamוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himאֶת־שִׁבְעַתet-shiv/ATseven ofהַמִּזְבְּחֹתham/miz/be/CHOTthe altarsעָרַכְתִּיa/RAKH/tiI have preparedוָאַעַלva/A/aland I have offeredפָּרpara bullוָאַיִלva/A/yiland a ramבַּמִּזְבֵּחַ׃bam/miz/BE/achon the altar

   And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.

5. 5

   וַיָּשֶׂםvay/YA/semand putיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDדָּבָרda/VARa wordבְּפִיbe/FIin the mouth ofבִלְעָםVil/AMBalaamוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשׁוּבshuvreturnאֶל־בָּלָקel-Ba/LAKto Balakוְכֹהve/KHOand thusתְדַבֵּר׃te/dab/BERshall you speak

   And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

6. 6

   וַיָּשׇׁבvay/YA/shovand he returnedאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdנִצָּבnits/TSAVhe stoodעַל־עֹלָתוֹal-o/la/TOby his burnt offeringהוּאhuheוְכׇל־שָׂרֵיve/KHOL-sa/REand all the princes ofמוֹאָב׃Mo/AVMoab

   And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

7. 7

   וַיִּשָּׂאvay/yis/SAand he took upמְשָׁלוֹme/sha/LOhis oracleוַיֹּאמַרvay/yo/MARand saidמִן־אֲרָםmin-A/RAMfrom Aramיַנְחֵנִיyan/CHE/nihas brought meבָלָקVa/LAKBalakמֶלֶךְ־מוֹאָבME/lekh-Mo/AVthe king of Moabמֵהַרְרֵי־קֶדֶםme/har/RE-KE/demout of the mountains of the eastלְכָהle/KHAcomeאָרָה־לִּיa/RA-licurse for meיַעֲקֹבYa/a/KOVJacobוּלְכָהu/le/KHAand comeזֹעֲמָהzo/a/MAdenounceיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELIsrael

   And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

8. 8

   מָהmahowאֶקֹּבek/KOVshall I curseלֹאlonotקַבֹּהkab/BOhas cursedאֵלelGodוּמָהu/MAand howאֶזְעֹםez/OMshall I denounceלֹאlonotזָעַםza/AMhas denouncedיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?

9. 9

   כִּי־מֵרֹאשׁki-me/ROSHfor from the top ofצֻרִיםtsu/RIMthe rocksאֶרְאֶנּוּer/EN/nuI see himוּמִגְּבָעוֹתu/mig/ge/va/OTand from the hillsאֲשׁוּרֶנּוּa/shu/REN/nuI behold himהֶן־עָםhen-ambehold a peopleלְבָדָדle/va/DADaloneיִשְׁכֹּןyish/KONthat dwellsוּבַגּוֹיִםu/vag/go/YIMand among the nationsלֹאlonotיִתְחַשָּׁב׃yit/chash/SHAVshall be reckoned

   For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

10. 10

    מִיmiwhoמָנָהma/NAcan countעֲפַרa/FARthe dust ofיַעֲקֹבYa/a/KOVJacobוּמִסְפָּרu/mis/PARor numberאֶת־רֹבַעet-RO/vathe fourth part ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelתָּמֹתta/MOTlet dieנַפְשִׁיnaf/SHImy soulמוֹתmotthe death ofיְשָׁרִיםye/sha/RIMthe uprightוּתְהִיu/te/HIand let beאַחֲרִיתִיa/cha/ri/TImy last endכָּמֹהוּ׃ka/MO/hulike his

    Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

11. 11

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidבָּלָקBa/LAKBalakאֶל־בִּלְעָםel-Bil/AMto Balaamמֶהmewhatעָשִׂיתָa/SI/tahave you doneלִיlifor meלָקֹבla/KOVto curseאֹיְבַיoy/VAYmy enemiesלְקַחְתִּיךָle/kach/TI/khaI took youוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdבֵּרַכְתָּbe/RAKH/tayou have blessedבָרֵךְ׃va/REKHbless

    And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.

12. 12

    וַיַּעַןvay/YA/anand he answeredוַיֹּאמַרvay/yo/MARand saidהֲלֹאha/LOmust I notאֵת־אֲשֶׁרet-a/SHERthat whichיָשִׂיםya/SIMputsיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDבְּפִיbe/FIin my mouthאֹתוֹo/TOthatאֶשְׁמֹרesh/MORtake heedלְדַבֵּר׃le/dab/BERto speak

    And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?

13. 13

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himבָּלָקBa/LAKBalak(לך)lakh[לְכָה־]נָּאle/KHA-nacome pleaseאִתִּיit/TIwith meאֶל־מָקוֹםel-ma/KOMto placeאַחֵרa/CHERanotherאֲשֶׁרa/SHERfrom whichתִּרְאֶנּוּtir/EN/nuyou may see themמִשָּׁםmish/SHAMfrom thereאֶפֶסE/fesonlyקָצֵהוּka/TSE/huthe outermost part of themתִרְאֶהtir/Eshall you seeוְכֻלּוֹve/khul/LObut all of themלֹאlonotתִרְאֶהtir/Eshall you seeוְקׇבְנוֹ־לִיve/kov/NO-liand curse them for meמִשָּׁם׃mish/SHAMfrom there

    And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.

14. 14

    וַיִּקָּחֵהוּvay/yik/ka/CHE/huand he brought himשְׂדֵהse/DEinto the field ofצֹפִיםTso/FIMZophimאֶל־רֹאשׁel-roshto the top ofהַפִּסְגָּהHap/pis/GAPisgahוַיִּבֶןvay/YI/venand builtשִׁבְעָהshiv/Asevenמִזְבְּחֹתmiz/be/CHOTaltarsוַיַּעַלvay/YA/aland offeredפָּרpara bullוָאַיִלva/A/yiland a ramבַּמִּזְבֵּחַ׃bam/miz/BE/achon the altar

    And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

15. 15

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֶל־בָּלָקel-Ba/LAKto Balakהִתְיַצֵּבhit/yats/TSEVstandכֹּהkohereעַל־עֹלָתֶךָal-o/la/TE/khaby your burnt offeringוְאָנֹכִיve/a/no/KHIwhile Iאִקָּרֶהik/KA/reI will meetכֹּה׃koyonder

    And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder.

16. 16

    וַיִּקָּרvay/yik/KARand metיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־בִּלְעָםel-Bil/AMBalaamוַיָּשֶׂםvay/YA/semand putדָּבָרda/VARa wordבְּפִיוbe/FIVin his mouthוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשׁוּבshuvreturnאֶל־בָּלָקel-Ba/LAKto Balakוְכֹהve/KHOand thusתְדַבֵּר׃te/dab/BERshall you speak

    And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

17. 17

    וַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand he cameאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himוְהִנּוֹve/hin/NOand behold heנִצָּבnits/TSAVhe stoodעַל־עֹלָתוֹal-o/la/TOby his burnt offeringוְשָׂרֵיve/sa/REand the princes ofמוֹאָבMo/AVMoabאִתּוֹit/TOwith himוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלוֹloto himבָּלָקBa/LAKBalakמַה־דִּבֶּרma-dib/BERwhat has spokenיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

    And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?

18. 18

    וַיִּשָּׂאvay/yis/SAand he took upמְשָׁלוֹme/sha/LOhis oracleוַיֹּאמַרvay/yo/MARand saidקוּםkumrise upבָּלָקBa/LAKBalakוּשְׁמָעu/she/MAand hearהַאֲזִינָהha/a/ZI/nalistenעָדַיa/DAYto meבְּנוֹbe/NOson ofצִפֹּר׃Tsip/PORZippor

    And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

19. 19

    לֹאlonotאִישׁisha man isאֵלelGodוִיכַזֵּבvi/khaz/ZEVthat He should lieוּבֶן־אָדָםu/VEN-a/DAMor a son of manוְיִתְנֶחָםve/yit/ne/CHAMthat He should repentהַהוּאha/HUhas Heאָמַרa/MARsaidוְלֹאve/LOand notיַעֲשֶׂהya/a/SEwill He doוְדִבֶּרve/dib/BERor spokenוְלֹאve/LOand notיְקִימֶנָּה׃ye/ki/MEN/nawill He make it good

    God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

20. 20

    הִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdבָרֵךְva/REKHto blessלָקָחְתִּיla/KACH/tiI have receivedוּבֵרֵךְu/ve/REKHand He has blessedוְלֹאve/LOand notאֲשִׁיבֶנָּה׃a/shi/VEN/nacan I reverse it

    Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

21. 21

    לֹא־הִבִּיטlo-hib/BITHe has not beheldאָוֶןA/veniniquityבְּיַעֲקֹבbe/Ya/a/KOVin Jacobוְלֹא־רָאָהve/LO-ra/Anor has He seenעָמָלa/MALperversenessבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלbe/Yis/ra/ELin IsraelיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהָיוe/lo/HAYVhis Godעִמּוֹim/MOis with himוּתְרוּעַתu/te/ru/ATand the shout ofמֶלֶךְME/lekha kingבּוֹ׃bois among them

    He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

22. 22

    אֵלelGodמוֹצִיאָםmo/tsi/AMbrought them outמִמִּצְרָיִםmim/Mits/RA/yimout of Egyptכְּתוֹעֲפֹתke/to/a/FOTlike the horns ofרְאֵםre/EMthe wild oxלוֹ׃lohe has

    God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

23. 23

    כִּיkisurelyלֹא־נַחַשׁlo-NA/chashthere is no enchantmentבְּיַעֲקֹבbe/Ya/a/KOVagainst Jacobוְלֹא־קֶסֶםve/LO-KE/semnor divinationבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלbe/Yis/ra/ELagainst Israelכָּעֵתka/ETnowיֵאָמֵרye/a/MERit shall be saidלְיַעֲקֹבle/Ya/a/KOVof Jacobוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵלu/Le/yis/ra/ELand of Israelמַה־פָּעַלma-PA/alwhat has wroughtאֵל׃elGod

    Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

24. 24

    הֶן־עָםhen-ambehold a peopleכְּלָבִיאke/la/VIas a lionessיָקוּםya/KUMshall rise upוְכַאֲרִיve/kha/a/RIand as a lionיִתְנַשָּׂאyit/nas/SAlift himself upלֹאlonotיִשְׁכַּבyish/KAVhe shall lie downעַד־יֹאכַלad-YO/khaluntil he eatsטֶרֶףTE/refthe preyוְדַם־חֲלָלִיםve/DAM-cha/la/LIMand the blood of the slainיִשְׁתֶּה׃yish/TEdrinks

    Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.

25. 25

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidבָּלָקBa/LAKBalakאֶל־בִּלְעָםel-Bil/AMto Balaamגַּם־קֹבgam-kovalso curseלֹאlonotתִקֳּבֶנּוּtik/ko/VEN/nushall you curse themגַּם־בָּרֵךְgam-ba/REKHalso blessלֹאlonotתְבָרְכֶנּוּ׃te/va/re/KHEN/nushall you bless them

    And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.

26. 26

    וַיַּעַןvay/YA/anand he answeredבִּלְעָםBil/AMBalaamוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֶל־בָּלָקel-Ba/LAKto Balakהֲלֹאha/LOdid notדִּבַּרְתִּיdib/BAR/tiI tellאֵלֶיךָe/LE/khato youלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingכֹּלkolallאֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּרa/SHER-ye/dab/BERthat speaksיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֹתוֹo/TOthatאֶעֱשֶׂה׃e/e/SEI must do

    But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?

27. 27

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidבָּלָקBa/LAKBalakאֶל־בִּלְעָםel-Bil/AMto Balaamלְכָה־נָּאle/KHA-nacome pleaseאֶקָּחֲךָek/ka/cha/KHAI will bring youאֶל־מָקוֹםel-ma/KOMto placeאַחֵרa/CHERanotherאוּלַיu/LAYperhapsיִישַׁרyi/SHARit will pleaseבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodוְקַבֹּתוֹve/kab/BO/tothat you may curse themלִיlifor meמִשָּׁם׃mish/SHAMfrom there

    And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.

28. 28

    וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookבָּלָקBa/LAKBalakאֶת־בִּלְעָםet-Bil/AMBalaamרֹאשׁroshto the top ofהַפְּעוֹרHap/pe/ORPeorהַנִּשְׁקָףhan/nish/KAFthat looks downעַל־פְּנֵיal-pe/NEuponהַיְשִׁימֹן׃hay/shi/MONthe wasteland

    And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.

29. 29

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidבִּלְעָםBil/AMBalaamאֶל־בָּלָקel-Ba/LAKto Balakבְּנֵה־לִיbe/NE-libuild meבָזֶהva/ZEhereשִׁבְעָהshiv/Asevenמִזְבְּחֹתmiz/be/CHOTaltarsוְהָכֵןve/ha/KHENand prepareלִיlifor meבָּזֶהba/ZEhereשִׁבְעָהshiv/Asevenפָרִיםfa/RIMbullsוְשִׁבְעָהve/shiv/Aand sevenאֵילִם׃e/LIMrams

    And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

30. 30

    וַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand didבָּלָקBa/LAKBalakכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasאָמַרa/MARhad saidבִּלְעָםBil/AMBalaamוַיַּעַלvay/YA/aland offeredפָּרpara bullוָאַיִלva/A/yiland a ramבַּמִּזְבֵּחַ׃bam/miz/BE/achon the altar

    And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.