Numbers 22:20

18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.

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.

21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, 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

    If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:26

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

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:12

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

    Read in context
  • Numbers 22:35

    And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

    Read in context
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12

    Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

    Read in context
  • Psalms 81:12

    So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 8:5–9

    And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:16

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

    Read in context