^22:38Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able⁵³ to speak⁵⁴ just anything? I must speak⁵⁵ only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

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Footnotes

53 The verb is אוּכַל (’ukhal) in a question—“am I able?” But emphasizing this is the infinitive absolute before it. So Balaam is saying something like, “Can I really say anything?”
54 The Piel infinitive construct (without the preposition) serves as the object of the verb “to be able.” The whole question is rhetorical—he is saying that he will not be able to say anything God does not allow him to say.
55 The imperfect tense is here taken as an obligatory imperfect.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Balaam replied, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I came to you now. Am I really able to speak anything at all? I speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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