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Saturday, August 16th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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Read the Bible

New Century Version

Numbers 24:10

Then Balak was angry with Balaam, and he pounded his fist. He said to Balaam, "I called you here to curse my enemies, but you have continued to bless them three times.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Anger;   Prayer;   Thompson Chain Reference - Balaam;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Hands, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Prophets;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Balaam;   Blessing;   Magic;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Balaam;   Balak;   Hand;   Moab, Moabites;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Targums;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Blessing;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Hand;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Cæsarea;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Balak's anger was kindled against Bil`am, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Bil`am, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
King James Version
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
Lexham English Bible
Then Balak became angry with Balaam, and he clapped his hands and said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have surely blessed them these three times.
English Standard Version
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 blessed them these three times.
New English Translation
Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times!
Amplified Bible
Then 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, but behold, you have done nothing but bless them these three times.
New American Standard Bible
Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Balak was very angry with Balaam, and smote his handes together: so Balak sayde vnto Balaam, I sent for thee to curse mine enemies, and beholde, thou hast blessed them nowe three times.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have blessed them repeatedly these three times!
Contemporary English Version
When Balak heard this, he was so furious that he pounded his fist against his hand and said, "I called you here to place a curse on my enemies, and you've blessed them three times.
Complete Jewish Bible
Balak blazed with fury against Bil‘am. He struck his hands together and said to Bil‘am, "I summoned you to curse my enemies. But here, you have done nothing but bless them — three times already!
Darby Translation
Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times!
Easy-to-Read Version
When Balak heard this, he angrily struck his fist against his hand and said to Balaam, "I called you to come and curse my enemies. But you have blessed them. You have blessed them three times.
George Lamsa Translation
And Balaks 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 surely blessed them these three times.
Good News Translation
Balak clenched his fists in anger and said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but three times now you have blessed them instead.
Christian Standard Bible®
Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, “I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times.
Literal Translation
And Balak's anger glowed against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies; and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The was Balac furious i wrath against Balaam, & smote his hades together, & sayde vnto him: I haue called the, yt thou shuldest curse myne enemies, and beholde, thou hast blessed the now thre tymes:
American Standard Version
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
Bible in Basic English
Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Balac was wroth with Balaam, and smote his handes together, and Balac said vnto Balaam: I sent for thee to curse mine enemies, and behold thou hast blessed them this three tymes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam: 'I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
King James Version (1611)
And Balaks anger was kindled against Balaam, and hee smote his hands together: and Balak said vnto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Balac was angry with Balaam, and clapped his hands together; and Balac said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemy, and behold thou hast decidedly blessed him this third time.
English Revised Version
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
be arettid in to cursyng And Balaach was wrooth ayens Balaam, and seide, whanne the hondis weren wrungun to gidere, I clepide thee to curse myn enemyes, whiche ayenward thou hast blessid thries.
Young's Literal Translation
And the anger of Balak burneth against Balaam, and he striketh his hands; and Balak saith unto Balaam, `To pierce mine enemies I called thee, and lo, thou hast certainly blessed -- these three times;
Update Bible Version
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, look, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times.
World English Bible
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 altogether blessed them these three times.
New King James Version
Then Balak's anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times!
New Living Translation
King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, "I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times.
New Life Bible
Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he hit his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse those who hate me. But see, you have done nothing but pray that good would come to them these three times!
New Revised Standard
Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead you have blessed them these three times.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then kindled the anger of Balak against Balaam, and he smote together his hands, - and Balak said unto Balaam - To revile my foes, I called thee, And lo! thou hast kept on blessing, these three times.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Balac being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together and said: I called thee to curse my enemies, and thou on the contrary hast blessed them three times.
Revised Standard Version
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 blessed them these three times.
THE MESSAGE
Balak lost his temper with Balaam. He shook his fist. He said to Balaam: "I got you in here to curse my enemies and what have you done? Blessed them! Blessed them three times! Get out of here! Go home! I told you I would pay you well, but you're getting nothing. You can blame God ."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!

Contextual Overview

10 Then Balak was angry with Balaam, and he pounded his fist. He said to Balaam, "I called you here to curse my enemies, but you have continued to bless them three times. 11 Now go home! I said I would pay you well, but the Lord has made you lose your reward." 12 Balaam said to Balak, "When you sent messengers to me, I told them, 13 ‘Balak could give me his palace filled with silver and gold, but I still cannot go against the Lord 's commands. I could not do anything, good or bad, on my own, but I must say what the Lord says.' 14 Now I am going back to my own people, but I will tell you what these people will do to your people in the future."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he smote: Job 27:23, Ezekiel 21:14, Ezekiel 21:17, Ezekiel 22:13

I called: Numbers 22:6, Numbers 22:11, Numbers 22:17, Numbers 23:11, Deuteronomy 23:4, Deuteronomy 23:5, Joshua 24:9, Joshua 24:10, Nehemiah 13:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:2 - General Judges 7:14 - his fellow 1 Samuel 26:25 - Blessed Ezekiel 6:11 - Smite Matthew 2:16 - when Acts 11:10 - three

Cross-References

Genesis 11:31
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran's son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai (Abram's wife) and moved out of Ur of Babylonia. They had planned to go to the land of Canaan, but when they reached the city of Haran, they settled there.
Genesis 24:2
Abraham said to his oldest servant, who was in charge of everything he owned, "Put your hand under my leg.
Genesis 24:4
Instead, go back to my country, to the land of my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac."
Genesis 24:5
The servant said to him, "What if this woman does not want to return with me to this land? Then, should I take your son with me back to your homeland?"
Genesis 24:6
Abraham said to him, "No! Don't take my son back there.
Genesis 24:8
If the girl won't come back with you, you will be free from this promise. But you must not take my son back there."
Genesis 24:9
So the servant put his hand under his master's leg and made a promise to Abraham about this.
Genesis 24:10
The servant took ten of Abraham's camels and left, carrying with him many different kinds of beautiful gifts. He went to Northwest Mesopotamia to Nahor's city.
Genesis 24:22
After the camels had finished drinking, he gave Rebekah a gold ring weighing one-fifth of an ounce and two gold arm bracelets weighing about four ounces each.
Genesis 24:23
He asked, "Who is your father? Is there a place in his house for me and my men to spend the night?"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam,.... He had bore much and long, but he could bear no longer, he was quite impatient, his last words more especially must exceedingly nettle him:

and he smote his hands together; as expressive of his indignation, vexation, and disappointment:

and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies; he had sent princes to him, one set of them after another, to invite him into his country, and to his court, with great promises of reward to curse Israel, whom he reckoned his enemies, and not to bless them:

and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times; done nothing else but bless them with blessing upon blessing, time after time; even everyone of the three times he opened his mouth, as Balak expected, to have cursed them.


 
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