Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible
New King James Version
Numbers 22:38
And Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak."
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Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
Bil`am said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Bil`am said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
King James Version
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Lexham English Bible
Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I came to you now. Am I really able to speak anything at all? I speak the word that God puts in my mouth."
Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I came to you now. Am I really able to speak anything at all? I speak the word that God puts in my mouth."
English Standard Version
Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak."
Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak."
New Century Version
But Balaam answered, "I have come to you now, but I can't say just anything. I can only say what God tells me to say."
But Balaam answered, "I have come to you now, but I can't say just anything. I can only say what God tells me to say."
New English Translation
Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able to speak just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth."
Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able to speak just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth."
Amplified Bible
So Balaam said to Balak, "Indeed I have come to you now, but am I able to say anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
So Balaam said to Balak, "Indeed I have come to you now, but am I able to say anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
New American Standard Bible
So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you now! Am I really able to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that only shall I speak."
So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you now! Am I really able to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that only shall I speak."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Balaam made answere vnto Balak, Lo, I am come vnto thee, and can I nowe say any thing at all? the worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shal I speake.
And Balaam made answere vnto Balak, Lo, I am come vnto thee, and can I nowe say any thing at all? the worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shal I speake.
Legacy Standard Bible
So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
Contemporary English Version
"I'm here now," Balaam answered. "But I will say only what God tells me to say."
"I'm here now," Balaam answered. "But I will say only what God tells me to say."
Complete Jewish Bible
Bil‘am replied to Balak, "Here, I've come to you! But I have no power of my own to say anything. The word that God puts in my mouth is what I will say."
Bil‘am replied to Balak, "Here, I've come to you! But I have no power of my own to say anything. The word that God puts in my mouth is what I will say."
Darby Translation
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to thee; but shall I now be able at all to say anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to thee; but shall I now be able at all to say anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Easy-to-Read Version
Balaam answered, "Well, I am here now. I came, but I might not be able to do what you asked. I can only say the words God tells me to say."
Balaam answered, "Well, I am here now. I came, but I might not be able to do what you asked. I can only say the words God tells me to say."
George Lamsa Translation
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to you; have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to you; have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Good News Translation
Balaam answered, "I came, didn't I? But now, what power do I have? I can say only what God tells me to say."
Balaam answered, "I came, didn't I? But now, what power do I have? I can say only what God tells me to say."
Christian Standard Bible®
Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.”
Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.”
Literal Translation
And Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you. Now am I able to speak anything at all? The word which God puts in my mouth, that I will speak.
And Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you. Now am I able to speak anything at all? The word which God puts in my mouth, that I will speak.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Balaam answered him: Lo, I am come vnto ye But how can I saye eny thinge els, the yt God putteth in my mouth? yt I must speake
Balaam answered him: Lo, I am come vnto ye But how can I saye eny thinge els, the yt God putteth in my mouth? yt I must speake
American Standard Version
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Bible in Basic English
Then Balaam said to Balak, Now I have come to you; but have I power to say anything? Only what God puts into my mouth may I say.
Then Balaam said to Balak, Now I have come to you; but have I power to say anything? Only what God puts into my mouth may I say.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Balaam made aunswere vnto Balac, Lo, I am come vnto thee, and can I nowe say any thyng at all? The worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speake.
And Balaam made aunswere vnto Balac, Lo, I am come vnto thee, and can I nowe say any thyng at all? The worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speake.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Lo, I am come unto thee; have I now any power at all to speak any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.'
And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Lo, I am come unto thee; have I now any power at all to speak any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.'
King James Version (1611)
And Balaam saide vnto Balak, Loe, I am come vnto thee: haue I now any power at all to say any thing? the worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speake.
And Balaam saide vnto Balak, Loe, I am come vnto thee: haue I now any power at all to say any thing? the worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speake.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Balaam said to Balac, Behold, I am now come to thee: shall I be able to say anything? the word which God shall put into my mouth, that I shall speak.
And Balaam said to Balac, Behold, I am now come to thee: shall I be able to say anything? the word which God shall put into my mouth, that I shall speak.
English Revised Version
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Berean Standard Bible
"See, I have come to you," Balaam replied, "but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth."
"See, I have come to you," Balaam replied, "but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
To whom Balaam answeride, Lo! Y am present, whethir Y schal mow speke other thing than that, that God schal putte in my mouth?
To whom Balaam answeride, Lo! Y am present, whethir Y schal mow speke other thing than that, that God schal putte in my mouth?
Young's Literal Translation
And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Lo, I have come unto thee; now -- am I at all able to speak anything? the word which God setteth in my mouth -- it I do speak.'
And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Lo, I have come unto thee; now -- am I at all able to speak anything? the word which God setteth in my mouth -- it I do speak.'
Update Bible Version
And Balaam said to Balak, Look, I have come to you: do I now have any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.
And Balaam said to Balak, Look, I have come to you: do I now have any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
World English Bible
Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
New Living Translation
Balaam replied, "Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth."
Balaam replied, "Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth."
New Life Bible
Balaam said to Balak, "See, I have come to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The Word that God puts in my mouth is what I must speak."
Balaam said to Balak, "See, I have come to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The Word that God puts in my mouth is what I must speak."
New Revised Standard
Balaam said to Balak, "I have come to you now, but do I have power to say just anything? The word God puts in my mouth, that is what I must say."
Balaam said to Balak, "I have come to you now, but do I have power to say just anything? The word God puts in my mouth, that is what I must say."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Balaam said unto Balak - Lo! I am come unto thee, Now, can, I, possibly, promise any-thing? The word that God shall put in my mouth, that, must I speak.
And Balaam said unto Balak - Lo! I am come unto thee, Now, can, I, possibly, promise any-thing? The word that God shall put in my mouth, that, must I speak.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?
He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?
Revised Standard Version
Balaam said to Balak, "Lo, I have come to you! Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak."
Balaam said to Balak, "Lo, I have come to you! Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak."
THE MESSAGE
Balaam said to Balak, "Well, I'm here now. But I can't tell you just anything. I can speak only words that God gives me—no others."
Balaam said to Balak, "Well, I'm here now. But I can't tell you just anything. I can speak only words that God gives me—no others."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
Contextual Overview
36 Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory. 37 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?" 38 And Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak." 39 So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth. 40 Then Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. 41 So it was, the next day, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, that from there he might observe the extent of the people.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
have I: Numbers 22:18, Psalms 33:10, Psalms 76:10, Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 44:25, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 47:12
the word: Numbers 23:16, Numbers 23:26, Numbers 24:13, 1 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 18:13
Reciprocal: Exodus 4:15 - and I Numbers 23:12 - General Numbers 23:20 - I cannot Numbers 24:12 - General Judges 7:14 - his fellow Jeremiah 1:7 - for thou shalt Acts 4:20 - we cannot
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Balaam said unto Balak, lo, I am come unto thee,.... And therefore let nothing more be said of what is past: and as for future things,
have I now any power at all to say anything? that would be agreeable to the king, and answer his purpose in sending for him, namely, to curse the people of Israel; he suggests that he had not, he was under the powerful restraint of God; he could not say what he himself was inclined to say, and what the king would have him say, and he expected he should; he could not say as some in Psalms 12:4: the word
that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak; whether agreeable to Balak's will and design or not, and whether for or against Israel: however, it being expressed in such indefinite terms might leave room for Balak to hope it might answer his expectations and wishes.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Numbers 22:38. The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. — Here was a noble resolution, and he was certainly faithful to it: though he wished to please the king, and get wealth and honour, yet he would not displease God to realize even these bright prospects. Many who slander this poor semi-antinomian prophet, have not half his piety.
