參考版本 AFV  A  Faithful Version 的希臘文 2009版本   

耶和華的事，不謀利沒有版權

1. And Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, and he did not go, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel pitched, according to their tribes. And the Spirit of God came upon him.

3. And he took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said;

4. He has said; he who heard the words of God, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling down but having his eyes open:

5. How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your tabernacles, O Israel!

6. They are spread forth like the valleys, like gardens by the river’s side, like trees of aloes which the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.

7. He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. And his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8. God brought him forth out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of an ox. He shall eat up the nations and his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

9. He crouched. He lay down as a lion, and as a great lion. Who shall stir him up? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.”

10. And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam. And he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have kept on blessing them these three times.

11. Therefore now flee to your place. I thought to lift you up to great honor, but behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor.”

12. And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not speak also to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,

13. ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, to do good or evil of my own mind. What the LORD said, that I will speak’?

(A Faithful Version)

1. 巴蘭明白耶和華樂意賜福給以色列，便不再像之前去尋求那般熱切，坦然面向曠野。

2. 巴蘭看以色列人按各支派安營，耶和華的靈在他們當中。

3. 他以借喻的方式，說：比珥的兒子巴蘭，眼清目明去陳述，

4. 說他聽到耶和華有話，描述大能者的異象，他就俯伏地上，目光向上。

5. 雅各啊，你的營帳和以色列的會幕是何等美！

6. 在於它展延出一個村落，似花園般散落在溪水旁，當中有耶和華親手栽的沉香，水邊的香柏。

7. 水從他手挽的筲箕中流出，雅各的後代像水一般湧流。將來出現的王比亞甲還來得高尚。

8. 他們相信領出埃及的那位，有牛一般力大，可以吞下那整體與牠為敵的，折斷他們的骨頭，用箭穿透身體。

9. 又像伏地的雄獅，威猛非常，誰敢驚動？祝福他，就蒙福，咒詛他，就受咒詛。

10. 巴勒聽罷即向巴蘭大罵，氣憤得手指指對巴蘭說：請你來是咒詛我的仇敵，如今倒好，竟再三去為他們祝福！

11. 現在，返回你老家罷！原本期望從你處獲得極大勝利，看來，耶和華沒有為你加添榮譽。

12. 巴蘭隨即回巴勒說：我曾對你派來的使者說，我說：

13. 即使巴勒送我滿屋金銀，也不敢無視耶和華吩咐，擅自作主，什麼可說什麼不可，只要祂吩咐，就說什麼。

這是一篇描述巴蘭看耶和華如何對待以色列一族的憧憬，將來的日子，就呈現在今日，以色列人在荒野之地，卻看見未來的美好，那是美得如此不可抗拒。巴蘭這人物似乎在經歷一個心靈的轉變：對耶和華的認識，從真實的經驗，更深體會耶和華的真實，而且信心增加，能藉此異見，看到以色列的將來。

巴蘭看到的以色列，在今日言之，似乎是實現了。以色列的華麗，與世人有別，它在內不在外，在實力不在穆斯林的外在奢華。穆斯林的領袖是尋求個人的慾望，以色列是尋求人與人之和和和平自由，為人人和諧共存進步奮鬥。

巴勒的心情當然不同於巴蘭，是因為期望的差異實在太大。一位要去滅亡，一位卻在歌頌將來的成就。巴勒的後代，穆斯林依舊，要滅以色列。

似乎巴蘭這借喻，今日依舊可以作為參考。。

這個亞甲的引用真有意思：

v.7 And his king shall be higher than Agag 將來出現的王比亞甲還來得高尚。

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agag

亞甲：

The writer uses an allusion to the literal significance of the word “Agag”, meaning “high”, to convey that the king of Israel would be “higher than High”. A characteristic trait of biblical poetry is the use of puns.

覺得巴蘭的領受是何等的真實，也許可以讓更多愛主的人，有更深入的認識，分享是最好的幫助！