Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, August 7th, 2025
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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Read the Bible
New Living Translation
Numbers 22:29
"You have made me look like a fool!" Balaam shouted. "If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!"
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
Bil`am said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed you.
Bil`am said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed you.
King James Version
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
Lexham English Bible
Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you made a mockery of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!"
Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you made a mockery of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!"
English Standard Version
And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you."
And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you."
New Century Version
Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made me look foolish! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!"
Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made me look foolish! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!"
New English Translation
And Balaam said to the donkey, "You have made me look stupid; I wish there were a sword in my hand, for I would kill you right now."
And Balaam said to the donkey, "You have made me look stupid; I wish there were a sword in my hand, for I would kill you right now."
Amplified Bible
Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now!"
Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now!"
New American Standard Bible
And Balaam said to the donkey, "It is because you have made a mockery of me! If only there had been a sword in my hand! For I would have killed you by now!"
And Balaam said to the donkey, "It is because you have made a mockery of me! If only there had been a sword in my hand! For I would have killed you by now!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Balaam saide vnto the asse, Because thou hast mocked me: I woulde there were a sworde in mine hand, for nowe would I kill thee.
And Balaam saide vnto the asse, Because thou hast mocked me: I woulde there were a sworde in mine hand, for nowe would I kill thee.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now."
Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now."
Contemporary English Version
"You made me look stupid!" Balaam answered. "If I had a sword, I'd kill you here and now!"
"You made me look stupid!" Balaam answered. "If I had a sword, I'd kill you here and now!"
Complete Jewish Bible
Bil‘am said to the donkey, "It's because you've been making a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand; I would kill you on the spot!"
Bil‘am said to the donkey, "It's because you've been making a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand; I would kill you on the spot!"
Darby Translation
And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee!
And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee!
Easy-to-Read Version
Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made me look foolish. If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!"
Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made me look foolish. If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!"
George Lamsa Translation
And Balaam said to the she-ass, Because you have mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hands, for now would I kill you.
And Balaam said to the she-ass, Because you have mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hands, for now would I kill you.
Good News Translation
Balaam answered, "Because you have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you."
Balaam answered, "Because you have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you."
Christian Standard Bible®
Balaam answered the donkey, “You made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you now!”
Balaam answered the donkey, “You made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you now!”
Literal Translation
And Balaam said to the ass, Because you have insulted me. If only there were a sword in my hand now I would kill you.
And Balaam said to the ass, Because you have insulted me. If only there were a sword in my hand now I would kill you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Balaam sayde vnto ye Asse: Because thou hast mocked me. Oh yt I had a swerde now in my hande, I wolde kyll the.
Balaam sayde vnto ye Asse: Because thou hast mocked me. Oh yt I had a swerde now in my hande, I wolde kyll the.
American Standard Version
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.
Bible in Basic English
And Balaam said to the ass, You have made me seem foolish: if only I had a sword in my hand I would put you to death.
And Balaam said to the ass, You have made me seem foolish: if only I had a sword in my hand I would put you to death.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Balaam sayd vnto the asse, Because thou hast mocked me: I would also there were a sworde in myne hande, for euen nowe woulde I kyll thee.
And Balaam sayd vnto the asse, Because thou hast mocked me: I would also there were a sworde in myne hande, for euen nowe woulde I kyll thee.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.'
And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.'
King James Version (1611)
And Balaam said vnto the asse, Because thou hast mocked mee: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
And Balaam said vnto the asse, Because thou hast mocked mee: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me; and if I had had a sword in my hand, I would now have killed thee.
And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me; and if I had had a sword in my hand, I would now have killed thee.
English Revised Version
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now I had killed thee.
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now I had killed thee.
Berean Standard Bible
Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!"
Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Balaam answeride, For thou hast disserued, and hast scornyd me; Y wolde that Y hadde a swerd to sle thee.
Balaam answeride, For thou hast disserued, and hast scornyd me; Y wolde that Y hadde a swerd to sle thee.
Young's Literal Translation
and Balaam saith to the ass, `Because thou hast rolled thyself against me; oh that there were a sword in my hand, for now I had slain thee;'
and Balaam saith to the ass, `Because thou hast rolled thyself against me; oh that there were a sword in my hand, for now I had slain thee;'
Update Bible Version
And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, If there were a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.
And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, If there were a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee.
And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee.
World English Bible
Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed you.
Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed you.
New King James Version
And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!"
And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!"
New Life Bible
Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now!"
Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now!"
New Revised Standard
Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!"
Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Balaam said unto the ass, Surely thou hast been making sport of me, - Would there had been a sword in my hand, for, now, would I have slain thee.
And Balaam said unto the ass, Surely thou hast been making sport of me, - Would there had been a sword in my hand, for, now, would I have slain thee.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee.
Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee.
Revised Standard Version
And Balaam said to the ass, "Because you have made sport of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you."
And Balaam said to the ass, "Because you have made sport of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you."
THE MESSAGE
Balaam said, "Because you've been playing games with me! If I had a sword I would have killed you by now."
Balaam said, "Because you've been playing games with me! If I had a sword I would have killed you by now."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now."
Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now."
Contextual Overview
22 But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, 23 Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord , it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. 27 This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff. 28 Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. "What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?" it asked Balaam. 29 "You have made me look like a fool!" Balaam shouted. "If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!" 30 "But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life," the donkey answered. "Have I ever done anything like this before?" "No," Balaam admitted. 31 Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
for now would: Proverbs 12:10, Proverbs 12:16, Ecclesiastes 9:3
Reciprocal: Genesis 3:1 - he said Genesis 30:34 - General Matthew 2:16 - when
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Balaam said unto the ass, because thou hast mocked me,.... Or rather "defiled me", as the word is rendered in Job 16:15 by running with him against a wall, and by lying down with him in the dust and dirt, and so the Arabic version renders it,
"because thou hast rolled me in the dirt;''
the sense of mocking is not easy to be understood, unless it be that it exposed him to be mocked and laughed at by others, by turning aside, and lying down, and being so unruly; but then there were only his servants with him, to whom only he could be exposed in such a manner, which one would think would not have given him so much concern, and put him into such a passion: the word sometimes is used for seeking occasion, and such a sense it may have here, as that it sought an opportunity or occasion to throw him, and so to kill him, or at least to do him harm, see Daniel 6:4
I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee: so enraged was he, and his passion was so great, that he was not at all frightened and amazed to hear the ass speak, though Josephus q represents him as disturbed and astonished at it; but some think, he being used to converse with spirits in the shapes of various creatures, it was no surprise to him to hear it speak.
q Antiqu. l. 4. c. 6. sect. 3.
