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Numbers 23:1–5

Balaam’s First Oracle

23 And Balaam said to Balak, i“Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam joffered on each altar a bull and a ram. And Balaam said to Balak, k“Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come lto meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height, mand God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” And the Lord nput a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”

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Numbers 23:1–5 — The New International Version (NIV)

Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.

God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”

Numbers 23:1–5 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 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. 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. And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

Numbers 23:1–5 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Then Balaam said to King Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.” Balak followed his instructions, and the two of them sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offerings, and I will go to see if the Lord will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” So Balaam went alone to the top of a bare hill, and God met him there. Balaam said to him, “I have prepared seven altars and have sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.”

The Lord gave Balaam a message for King Balak. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.”

Numbers 23:1–5 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”

And Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever He shows me I will tell you.” So he went to a desolate height. And God met Balaam, and he said to Him, “I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.”

Then the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”

Numbers 23:1–5 — New Century Version (NCV)

Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven male sheep for me.” Balak did what Balaam asked, and they offered a bull and a male sheep on each of the altars.

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering and I will go. If the Lord comes to me, I will tell you whatever he shows me.” Then Balaam went to a higher place.

God came to Balaam there, and Balaam said to him, “I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a male sheep on each altar.”

The Lord told Balaam what he should say. Then the Lord said, “Go back to Balak and give him this message.”

Numbers 23:1–5 — American Standard Version (ASV)

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go: peradventure Jehovah will come to meet me; and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to a bare height. And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. And Jehovah put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

Numbers 23:1–5 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had said; and Balak and Balaam offered up a bullock and a ram on each altar. And Balaam said to Balak, Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go; perhaps Jehovah will come to meet me; and whatever he shews me I will tell thee. And he went to a hill. And God met Balaam; and Balaam said to him, I have disposed seven altars, and have offered up a bullock and a ram upon each altar. And Jehovah put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.

Numbers 23:1–5 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” Balak did what Balaam told him, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 

Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I’m gone. Maybe the Lord will come and meet with me. I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” Then Balaam went off to a higher place where there were no trees. 

God came to him, and Balaam said, “I have set up seven altars, and I offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” 

The Lord told Balaam, “Go back to Balak, and give him my message.” 

Numbers 23:1–5 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” So Balak did as Balaam directed, and they offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone. Maybe the Lord will meet with me. I will tell you whatever He reveals to me.” So he went to a barren hill.

God met with him and Balaam said to Him, “I have arranged seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” Then the Lord put a message in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak and say what I tell you.”

Numbers 23:1–5 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” Balak did as Balaam had said; and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offerings while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height.

Then God met Balaam; and Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars, and have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and this is what you must say.”

Numbers 23:1–5 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me this: seven altars. And prepare for me this: seven bulls and seven rams.” And Balak did just as Balaam spoke, and Balak offered Balaam a bull and a ram on the altar. And Balaam said to Balak, “Station yourself at your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell to you.” So he went to a barren height.

And God met with Balaam, and he said to him, “I have arranged seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a ram on the altar.” Yahweh put a word in the mouth of Balaam and said, “Return to Balak, and you must speak thus.”

Numbers 23:1–5 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here. Prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.” Balak did just as Balaam said. The two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering. I’ll go and try to find out what the Lord wants me to do. Maybe he’ll come and meet with me. Then I’ll tell you what he says to me.” So Balaam went off to a bare hilltop.

God met with him there. Balaam said, “I’ve prepared seven altars. On each altar I’ve offered a bull and a ram.”

The Lord put a message in Balaam’s mouth. The Lord said, “Go back to Balak. Give him my message.”

Numbers 23:1–5 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”

Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever He shows me I will tell you.” So he went to a bare hill.

Now God met Balaam, and he said to Him, “I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.”

Then the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”


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