Numbers 22:20

18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.

19 So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”

That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”

21 So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

22 Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
KJV
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
WEB
God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”
ASV
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.
DARBY
Then God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men have come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but only what I shall say unto thee shalt thou do.
BLB
And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise [and] go with them. And only the word that I speak to you, that shall you do.”
ÅB
Og Gud kom til Bileam om natten og sa til ham: Dersom disse menn er kommet for å hente deg, så gjør deg ferdig og dra med dem! Men gjør ikke annet enn hva jeg sier til deg!
OTB
Den natten kom Gud til Bileam og sa: «Siden disse mennene har kommet for å kalle deg, gå med dem, men gjør bare det jeg sier til deg.»
B1930
Og Gud kom til Bileam om natten og sa til ham: Dersom disse menn er kommet for å hente dig, så gjør dig ferdig og dra med dem! Men gjør ikke annet enn hvad jeg sier til dig!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 24:13

    that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:26

    But Balaam replied, “Did I not tell you that whatever the LORD says, I must do?”

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:12

    But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”

    Read in context
  • Numbers 22:35

    But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

    Read in context
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12

    The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,

    Read in context
  • Psalms 81:12

    So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 8:5–9

    “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:16

    And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”

    Read in context