--- title: Numbers 23 — the Tanakh in Hebrew, Aramaic and English, with trees description: Numbers chapter 23 of the Tanakh (The Torah) in Hebrew, Aramaic (Targum Onkelos) and English (JPS 1917), every verse with its syntax tree and pragmatics. It begins: And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.' --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM/23/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tanakh/) / [Torah](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/) / [Numbers](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM/) / chapter 23 # Numbers 23 30 verses, each with its tree and pragmatics: Hebrew, Aramaic (Targum Onkelos) and English (JPS 1917), the English sentence by sentence. - [23:1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.1/) — וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל־בָּלָק בְּנֵה־לִי בָזֶה שִׁבְעָה מִזְבְּחֹת וְהָכֵן לִי בָּזֶה שִׁבְעָה פָרִים וְשִׁבְעָה אֵילִֽים׃ — And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.' - [23:2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.2/) — וַיַּעַשׂ בָּלָק כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בִּלְעָם וַיַּעַל בָּלָק וּבִלְעָם פָּר וָאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ — And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. - [23:3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.3/) — וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם לְבָלָק הִתְיַצֵּב עַל־עֹלָתֶךָ וְאֵֽלְכָה אוּלַי יִקָּרֵה יְהוָה לִקְרָאתִי וּדְבַר מַה־יַּרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָךְ וַיֵּלֶךְ שֶֽׁפִי׃ — And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go; peradventure the LORD will come to meet me; and whatsoever He showeth me I will tell thee.' And he went to a bare height. - [23:4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.4/) — וַיִּקָּר אֱלֹהִים אֶל־בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֶת־שִׁבְעַת הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת עָרַכְתִּי וָאַעַל פָּר וָאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ — And God met Balaam; and he said unto Him: 'I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.' - [23:5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.5/) — וַיָּשֶׂם יְהוָה דָּבָר בְּפִי בִלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוּב אֶל־בָּלָק וְכֹה תְדַבֵּֽר׃ — And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said: 'Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.' - [23:6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.6/) — וַיָּשָׁב אֵלָיו וְהִנֵּה נִצָּב עַל־עֹלָתוֹ הוּא וְכָל־שָׂרֵי מוֹאָֽב׃ — And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab. - [23:7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.7/) — וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר מִן־אֲרָם יַנְחֵנִי בָלָק מֶֽלֶךְ־מוֹאָב מֵֽהַרְרֵי־קֶדֶם לְכָה אָֽרָה־לִּי יַעֲקֹב וּלְכָה זֹעֲמָה יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ — And he took up his parable, and said: From Aram Balak bringeth me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East: 'Come, curse me Jacob, and come, execrate Israel.' - [23:8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.8/) — מָה אֶקֹּב לֹא קַבֹּה אֵל וּמָה אֶזְעֹם לֹא זָעַם יְהוָֽה׃ — How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I execrate, whom the LORD hath not execrated? - [23:9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.9/) — כִּֽי־מֵרֹאשׁ צֻרִים אֶרְאֶנּוּ וּמִגְּבָעוֹת אֲשׁוּרֶנּוּ הֶן־עָם לְבָדָד יִשְׁכֹּן וּבַגּוֹיִם לֹא יִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃ — For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, it is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. - [23:10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.10/) — מִי מָנָה עֲפַר יַעֲקֹב וּמִסְפָּר אֶת־רֹבַע יִשְׂרָאֵל תָּמֹת נַפְשִׁי מוֹת יְשָׁרִים וּתְהִי אַחֲרִיתִי כָּמֹֽהוּ׃ — Who hath counted the dust of Jacob, or numbered the stock of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let mine end be like his! - [23:11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.11/) — וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל־בִּלְעָם מֶה עָשִׂיתָ לִי לָקֹב אֹיְבַי לְקַחְתִּיךָ וְהִנֵּה בֵּרַכְתָּ בָרֵֽךְ׃ — And Balak said unto Balaam: 'What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.' - [23:12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.12/) — וַיַּעַן וַיֹּאמַר הֲלֹא אֵת אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים יְהוָה בְּפִי אֹתוֹ אֶשְׁמֹר לְדַבֵּֽר׃ — And he answered and said: 'Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD putteth in my mouth?' - [23:13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.13/) — וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו בָּלָק לְכָה־נָּא אִתִּי אֶל־מָקוֹם אַחֵר אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶנּוּ מִשָּׁם אֶפֶס קָצֵהוּ תִרְאֶה וְכֻלּוֹ לֹא תִרְאֶה וְקָבְנוֹ־לִי מִשָּֽׁם׃ — And Balak said unto him: 'Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them; thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all; and curse me them from thence.' - [23:14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.14/) — וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ שְׂדֵה צֹפִים אֶל־רֹאשׁ הַפִּסְגָּה וַיִּבֶן שִׁבְעָה מִזְבְּחֹת וַיַּעַל פָּר וָאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ — And he took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. - [23:15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.15/) — וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־בָּלָק הִתְיַצֵּב כֹּה עַל־עֹלָתֶךָ וְאָנֹכִי אִקָּרֶה כֹּֽה׃ — And he said unto Balak: 'Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I go toward a meeting yonder.' - [23:16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.16/) — וַיִּקָּר יְהוָה אֶל־בִּלְעָם וַיָּשֶׂם דָּבָר בְּפִיו וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוּב אֶל־בָּלָק וְכֹה תְדַבֵּֽר׃ — And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said: 'Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.' - [23:17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.17/) — וַיָּבֹא אֵלָיו וְהִנּוֹ נִצָּב עַל־עֹלָתוֹ וְשָׂרֵי מוֹאָב אִתּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ בָּלָק מַה־דִּבֶּר יְהוָֽה׃ — And he came to him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him: 'What hath the LORD spoken?' - [23:18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.18/) — וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר קוּם בָּלָק וּֽשֲׁמָע הַאֲזִינָה עָדַי בְּנוֹ צִפֹּֽר׃ — And he took up his parable, and said: Arise, Balak, and hear; give ear unto me, thou son of Zippor: - [23:19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.19/) — לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִֽיכַזֵּב וּבֶן־אָדָם וְיִתְנֶחָם הַהוּא אָמַר וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה וְדִבֶּר וְלֹא יְקִימֶֽנָּה׃ — God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: when He hath said, will He not do it? or when He hath spoken, will He not make it good? - [23:20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.20/) — הִנֵּה בָרֵךְ לָקָחְתִּי וּבֵרֵךְ וְלֹא אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃ — Behold, I am bidden to bless; and when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back. - [23:21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.21/) — לֹֽא־הִבִּיט אָוֶן בְּיַעֲקֹב וְלֹא־רָאָה עָמָל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּֽוֹ׃ — None hath beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath one seen perverseness in Israel; the LORD his God is with him, and the shouting for the King is among them. - [23:22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.22/) — אֵל מוֹצִיאָם מִמִּצְרָיִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹת רְאֵם לֽוֹ׃ — God who brought them forth out of Egypt is for them like the lofty horns of the wild-ox. - [23:23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.23/) — כִּי לֹא־נַחַשׁ בְּיַעֲקֹב וְלֹא־קֶסֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כָּעֵת יֵאָמֵר לְיַעֲקֹב וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל מַה־פָּעַל אֵֽל׃ — For there is no enchantment with Jacob, neither is there any divination with Israel; now is it said of Jacob and of Israel: 'What hath God wrought!' - [23:24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.24/) — הֶן־עָם כְּלָבִיא יָקוּם וְכַאֲרִי יִתְנַשָּׂא לֹא יִשְׁכַּב עַד־יֹאכַל טֶרֶף וְדַם־חֲלָלִים יִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ — Behold a people that riseth up as a lioness, and as a lion doth he lift himself up; he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. - [23:25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.25/) — וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל־בִּלְעָם גַּם־קֹב לֹא תִקֳּבֶנּוּ גַּם־בָּרֵךְ לֹא תְבָרֲכֶֽנּוּ׃ — And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.' - [23:26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.26/) — וַיַּעַן בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־בָּלָק הֲלֹא דִּבַּרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֹתוֹ אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃ — But Balaam answered and said unto Balak: 'Told not I thee, saying: All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?' - [23:27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.27/) — וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל־בִּלְעָם לְכָה־נָּא אֶקָּחֲךָ אֶל־מָקוֹם אַחֵר אוּלַי יִישַׁר בְּעֵינֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וְקַבֹּתוֹ לִי מִשָּֽׁם׃ — And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Come now, I will take thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.' - [23:28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.28/) — וַיִּקַּח בָּלָק אֶת־בִּלְעָם רֹאשׁ הַפְּעוֹר הַנִּשְׁקָף עַל־פְּנֵי הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃ — And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh down upon the desert. - [23:29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.29/) — וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל־בָּלָק בְּנֵה־לִי בָזֶה שִׁבְעָה מִזְבְּחֹת וְהָכֵן לִי בָּזֶה שִׁבְעָה פָרִים וְשִׁבְעָה אֵילִֽים׃ — And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.' - [23:30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM.23.30/) — וַיַּעַשׂ בָּלָק כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר בִּלְעָם וַיַּעַל פָּר וָאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ — And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. - ← previous: [Numbers 22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM/22/) - next →: [Numbers 24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM/24/) - ↑ back to [Numbers](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/NUM/)