15 Balak sent officials again who were more numerous and higher in rank than the others.
16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me,
17 for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!’ ”
18 But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the LORD my God to do anything small or great.
19 Please stay here overnight as the others did, so that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
21 When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab.
Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel
22 But God was incensed that Balaam was going, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand on the path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing on the path with a drawn sword in His hand, she turned off the path and went into the field. So Balaam hit her to return her to the path.
24 Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between the vineyards, with a stone wall on either side. 25 The donkey saw the Angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, squeezing Balaam’s foot against it. So he hit her once again.
26 The Angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or the left.
27 When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she crouched down under Balaam. So he became furious and beat the donkey with his stick.
28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you now!”
30 But the donkey said, “Am I not the donkey you’ve ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?”
“No,” he replied.
31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the path with a drawn sword in His hand. Balaam knelt and bowed with his face to the ground.
32 The Angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because what you are doing is evil in My sight.
33 The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.”
34 Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in Your sight, I will go back.”
35 Then the Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Numbers 22:15–35.
21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22 A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
23 The desire of the righteous turns out well, but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Proverbs 11:21–23.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
He uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
What desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
He burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Psalm 46:1–11.
1 A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.
3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.
4 The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s discipline, but a person who accepts correction is sensible.
6 The house of the righteous has great wealth, but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves the one who pursues righteousness.
10 Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD — how much more, human hearts.
12 A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him; he will not consult the wise.
13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful, but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.
14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict, but a man slow to anger calms strife.
19 A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Foolishness brings joy to one without sense, but a man with understanding walks a straight path.
22 Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
23 A man takes joy in giving an answer; and a timely word — how good that is!
24 For the discerning the path of life leads upward, so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.
25 The LORD destroys the house of the proud, but He protects the widow’s territory.
26 The LORD detests the plans of an evil man, but pleasant words are pure.
27 The one who profits dishonestly troubles his household, but the one who hates bribes will live.
28 The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 Bright eyes cheer the heart; good news strengthens the bones.
31 One who listens to life-giving rebukes will be at home among the wise.
32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.
33 The fear of the LORD is what wisdom teaches, and humility comes before honor.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Proverbs 15:1–33.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Matthew 6:33.
15 Then He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Mark 16:15.
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Philippians 3:6.