forsakingthe rightway,they have gone astray,having followedthe wayof Balaam,the [son] of Beor,wholovedthe wagesof unrighteousness;
He said,"I have not troubledIsrael,but you and your father'shouse[have], because you have forsakenthe commandmentsof the LORDand you have followedthe Baals.
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."
becausethey did not meetthe sonsof Israelwith breadand water,but hiredBalaamagainstthem to cursethem. However, our Godturnedthe curseinto a blessing.
Those who forsakethe lawpraisethe wicked,But those who keepthe lawstrivewith them.
"But as for Me, My eyewill havenopitynorwill I spare,but I will bringtheir conductupon their heads."
O Ephraim,whatmorehave I to do with idols?It is I who answerand lookafter you. I am like a luxuriantcypress;From Me comesyour fruit.
"My people,remembernowWhatBalakkingof MoabcounseledAnd whatBalaamsonof Beoransweredhim, [And] from Shittimto Gilgal,Sothat you might knowthe righteousactsof the LORD."
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.
And the LORDopenedthe mouthof the donkey,and she saidto Balaam,"Whathave I doneto you, that you have struckme thesethreetimes?"
The angelof the LORDsaidto him, "Whyhave you struckyour donkeythesethreetimes?Behold,I have comeout as an adversary,becauseyour waywas contraryto me.
"Behold,thesecausedthe sonsof Israel,through the counselof Balaam,to trespassagainst the LORDin the matterof Peor,so the plaguewas among the congregationof the LORD.
"For this[perfume] mighthave been soldfor a high priceand [the money] givento the poor."
(Nowthis manacquireda fieldwith the priceof his wickedness,and fallingheadlong,he burst openin the middleand allhis intestinesgushedout.
and said,"You who are fullof alldeceitand fraud,you sonof the devil,you enemyof allrighteousness,will you not ceaseto make crookedthe straightwaysof 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,
Woeto them! For they have gonethe wayof Cain,and for paythey have rushed headlonginto the errorof Balaam,and perishedin the rebellionof Korah.
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.
"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.
