Numbers 24:13

Verse

that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.

American Standard Version (1901)

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak?

Bible in Basic English

Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say?

Free Bible Version

that even if you gave me your whole palace full of silver and gold, I couldn't do anything I wanted or disobey the command of the Lord my God in any way? I can only say what the Lord tells me.

King James (Authorized) Version

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

One Unity Resource Bible

‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Adonai ’s word, to do either good or bad of my own mind. I will say what Adonai says’? (LY:7)

Translation for Translators

‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good that he does not approve of.’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.

Unlocked Literal Bible

'Even if Balak gave me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond Yahweh's word and anything bad or good, or anything at all that I might want to do. I can say only what Yahweh tells me to say.' Did I not say this to them?

Noah Webster Bible

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

World English Bible

‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’?

Young's Literal Translation

If Balak doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah, to do good or evil of mine own heart — that which Jehovah speaketh — it I speak?

Context

Balak Dismisses Balaam

¹²Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me¹³that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.¹⁴Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

Sermons

Visible Churches Warned

J.C. Ryle

Summary

In this verse, Balak, the king of Moab, expresses frustration to Balaam for blessing the Israelites instead of cursing them as he had requested. Despite the king's persistence, Balaam reminds him that he can only speak the words that God puts in his mouth. This highlights the sovereignty of God over human intentions and the inability to thwart His divine plan. It serves as a reminder that God's will ultimately prevails, even when individuals seek to manipulate circumstances for their own purposes.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold,.... Which are the very words he said to the princes of Moab, Num 22:18, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad; for though here it is the "commandment", and there the "word" of the Lord, yet it is the same word in both places in the original text: indeed, here he omits the relation to the Lord he there claims, saying "my God"; and instead of "little or great", here it is "good or bad", but the sense is the same: and he adds, for explanation sake: of mine own mind: or out of my heart, which was disposed well enough to serve Balak, but was laid under a restraint by the Lord: but what the Lord said, that will I speak; and he had not only said this to the messengers, but to the king himself, and therefore he thought, that as he had openly and honestly told him this at first, he had no reason to be so angry with him; see Num 22:38.