And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went their way, with the rewards of divination in their hand,—so they came in unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Her heads, for a bribe, pronounce sentence, and, her priests, for a price, give direction, and, her prophets, for silver, divine,—yet, on Yahweh, they lean, saying, Is not, Yahweh, in our midst? there shall not come upon us, calamity.
Alas for them! because—in the way of Cain have they gone, and, in the error of Balaam’s wage, have they run riot, and, in the gainsaying of Korah, have they perished.
For, they who are such, unto our Lord Christ are not doing service, but unto their own belly,—and, through their smooth and flattering speech, deceive the hearts of the innocent.
Thus have ye profaned me unto my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, Putting to death the souls that should not die, and Keeping alive the souls that should not live,— By your lying to my people I who hearken to lies
And, the dogs, are greedy they know not to be satisfied. Yea, they, are shepherds who know not to discern,—All of them unto their own way, have turned, Every man to his unjust gain, on every hand:
And when Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Yahweh to bless Israel, he went not as at other times to invoke enchantments,—but set towards the desert, his face.
And he said unto them—Tarry ye here for the night, and I will bring you back word, as Yahweh shall speak unto me. So the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
For the king of Babylon hath come tea stand At the parting of the way. At the head of the two ways To divine a divination:He hath shaken with arrows He hath asked of the household gods, He hath inspected the liver.
Thy rulers, are unruly, and companions of thieves, Every one of the people, loveth a bribe, and runneth after rewards,—The fatherless, they do not vindicate, And, the plea of the widow, reacheth them not.