Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam {the son} of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Not as Cain, {who} was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. {in process...: Heb. at the end of days}

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took {men}:

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. {yet...: or, is yet spoken of}

And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This {is that} Dathan and Abiram, {which were} famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:

Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide {it} not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in {yourselves}, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Woe unto the wicked! {it shall be} ill {with him}: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. {given...: Heb. done to him}

And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan {by} Jericho.

I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, {and} thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when {shall it} once {be}? {when...: Heb. after when yet?}

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! {follow: Heb. walk after} {and...: or, and things which they have not seen}

Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword {shall be} upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {erred: or, been seduced}

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took {men}:

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam {the son} of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. {yet...: or, is yet spoken of}

Not as Cain, {who} was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and {into} many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. {smite...: or, smite through the princes of}

{Let your} conversation {be} without covetousness; {and be} content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them. {soothsayer: or, diviner}

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, {Is} not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. {and say: Heb. saying}

O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. {Perverse...: or, Gallings one of another}

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: {adultery: Gr. an adulteress}

Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.

He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which {is} by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: {face: Heb. eye}

The horseleach hath two daughters, {crying}, Give, give. There are three {things that} are never satisfied, {yea}, four {things} say not, {It is} enough: {It is...: Heb. Wealth}

Yea, {they are} greedy dogs {which} can never have enough, and they {are} shepherds {that} cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. {greedy: Heb. strong of appetite} {can...: Heb. know not to be satisfied}

Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness {which} they have prescribed; {that write...: or, to the writers that write grievousness}

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; {namely}, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

They, and all that {appertained} to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

And when they heard {it}, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

{To be} a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which {is} not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! {coveteth...: or, gaineth and evil gain} {power...: Heb. palm of the hand}

In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.

O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, {and} the measure of thy covetousness.

Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

And the king said, And where {is} thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This {is that} Dathan and Abiram, {which were} famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God {is} witness:

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; {given...: or, ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine}

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;