^2:15By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor,⁵⁷ who loved the wages of unrighteousness,⁵⁸^2:16yet was rebuked⁵⁹ for his own transgression (a dumb donkey,⁶⁰ speaking with a human voice,⁶¹ restrained the prophet’s madness).⁶²

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Footnotes

57 Although many modern translations (e.g., , , , , ) read “Beor” here, this is due to harmonization with the OT rather than following a variant textual reading. The Greek text of reads “Bosor,” an otherwise unattested form of the name of Balaam’s father.
58 “Wages of unrighteousness” in Greek is the same expression found in v. 13, “wages for harmful ways.” The repetition makes the link between the false teachers and Balaam more concrete.
59 Grk “but he had a rebuke.”
60 The Greek word ἄφωνος (aphōnos) means “mute, silent” or “incapable of speech.” For reasons of English style the word “dumb” was used in the translation. Despite the potential for misunderstanding (since “dumb” can refer to a lack of intellectual capability) more dynamic glosses were judged to be inelegant.
61 Grk “a voice of a (man/person).”
62 Balaam’s activities are detailed in Num 22–24 (see also Num 31:8, 16).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

They have gone astray by abandoning the straight path and have followed the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of wickedness but received a rebuke for his lawlessness: A speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

NLTNew Living Translation

They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

By leaving the straight path, they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but received a rebuke for his own lawlessness: a speechless donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness.

KJV 1900King James Version

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

Public Domain