Numbers 24:11
9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.
Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me
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.
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
- Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”
- KJV
- Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
- WEB
- Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor.”
- ASV
- Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor.
- DARBY
- And now flee thou to thy place; I said I would very highly honour thee, and behold, Jehovah has kept thee back from honour.
- BLB
- And now flee for yourself to your place! I said I would richly reward you, and in fact YHWH has kept you back from honor.”
- ÅB
- Far nå hjem så fort du kan! Jeg hadde tenkt å vise deg ære, men du ser Herren har nektet deg den.
- OTB
- Derfor, fly til ditt sted nå! Jeg sa jeg ville rikelig belønne deg, men Herren har hindret deg fra å bli æret."
- B1930
- Far nu hjem så fort du kan! Jeg hadde tenkt å vise dig ære, men du ser Herren har nektet dig den.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Numbers 22:17
for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
Read in contextNumbers 22:37
And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?”
Read in contextActs 8:20
But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
Read in contextPhilippians 3:8
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Read in context1 Peter 5:2–3
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
Read in context2 John 1:8
Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
Read in contextHebrews 11:24–26
By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
Read in contextMatthew 19:28–30
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Read in context