forsakingthe rightway,they have gone astray,having followedthe wayof Balaam,the [son] of Beor,wholovedthe wagesof unrighteousness;
But I havea few thingsagainstyou, becauseyou havetheresome who holdthe teachingof Balaam,whokept teachingBalakto puta stumbling blockbeforethe sonsof Israel,to eatthings sacrificed to idolsand to commit [acts of] immorality.
Woeto them! For they have gonethe wayof Cain,and for paythey have rushed headlonginto the errorof Balaam,and perishedin the rebellionof Korah.
"Behold,thesecausedthe sonsof Israel,through the counselof Balaam,to trespassagainst the LORDin the matterof Peor,so the plaguewas among the congregationof the LORD.
becausethey did not meetthe sonsof Israelwith breadand water,but hiredBalaamagainstthem to cursethem. However, our Godturnedthe curseinto a blessing.
"My people,remembernowWhatBalakkingof MoabcounseledAnd whatBalaamsonof Beoransweredhim, [And] from Shittimto Gilgal,Sothat you might knowthe righteousactsof the LORD."
suffering wrongas the wagesof doing wrong.They countit a pleasureto revelin the daytime.They are stainsand blemishes,revelingin their deceptions,as they carousewith you,
and said,"You who are fullof alldeceitand fraud,you sonof the devil,you enemyof allrighteousness,will you not ceaseto make crookedthe straightwaysof the Lord?
(Nowthis manacquireda fieldwith the priceof his wickedness,and fallingheadlong,he burst openin the middleand allhis intestinesgushedout.
Those who forsakethe lawpraisethe wicked,But those who keepthe lawstrivewith them.
O Ephraim,whatmorehave I to do with idols?It is I who answerand lookafter you. I am like a luxuriantcypress;From Me comesyour fruit.
"But as for Me, My eyewill havenopitynorwill I spare,but I will bringtheir conductupon their heads."
He said,"I have not troubledIsrael,but you and your father'shouse[have], because you have forsakenthe commandmentsof the LORDand you have followedthe Baals.
"Moreover,as for me, farbe it from me that I should sinagainst the LORDby ceasingto prayfor you; but I will instructyou in the goodand rightway.
And the LORDopenedthe mouthof the donkey,and she saidto Balaam,"Whathave I doneto you, that you have struckme thesethreetimes?"
When the donkeysawthe angelof the LORDstandingin the waywith his drawnswordin his hand,the donkeyturnedoff from the wayand wentinto the field;but Balaamstruckthe donkeyto turnher backinto the way.
He said,"I have beenveryzealousfor the LORD,the Godof hosts;for the sonsof Israelhave forsakenYour covenant,torndownYour altarsand killedYour prophetswith the sword.And I aloneam left;and they seekmy life,to takeit away."
The angelof the LORDsaidto him, "Whyhave you struckyour donkeythesethreetimes?Behold,I have comeout as an adversary,becauseyour waywas contraryto me.
"For this[perfume] mighthave been soldfor a high priceand [the money] givento the poor."
