Numbers 23:25

NETBible

Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all 1  nor bless them at all!” 2 

NIV ©

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!"

NASB ©

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all nor bless them at all!"

NLT ©

Then Balak said to Balaam, "If you aren’t going to curse them, at least don’t bless them!"

MSG ©

Balak said to Balaam, "Well, if you can't curse them, at least don't bless them."

BBE ©

Then Balak said to Balaam, If you will not put a curse on them, at all events do not give them a blessing.

NRSV ©

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all."

NKJV ©

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all!"

KJV
And Balak
<01111>
said
<0559> (8799)
unto Balaam
<01109>_,
Neither curse
<05344> (8799)
them at all
<06895> (8800)_,
nor bless
<01288> (8762)
them at all
<01288> (8763)_.
NASB ©
Then Balak
<1111>
said
<559>
to Balaam
<1109>
, "Do not curse
<6895>
them at all
<6895>
nor
<3808>
bless
<1288>
them at all
<1288>
!"
LXXM
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
eipen {V-AAI-3S} balak
<904> 
N-PRI
prov
<4314> 
PREP
balaam
<903> 
N-PRI
oute
<3777> 
CONJ
kataraiv
<2671> 
N-DPF
katarash {V-FMI-2S} moi
<1473> 
P-DS
auton
<846> 
D-ASM
oute
<3777> 
CONJ
eulogwn
<2127> 
V-PAPNS
mh
<3165> 
ADV
euloghshv
<2127> 
V-AAS-2S
auton
<846> 
D-ASM
NET [draft] ITL
Balak
<01111>
said
<0559>
to
<0413>
Balaam
<01109>
, “Neither
<03808>

<01571>
curse
<06895>
them at all
<06895>
nor
<03808>
bless
<01288>
them at all
<01288>
!”
HEBREW
wnkrbt
<01288>
al
<03808>
Krb
<01288>
Mg
<01571>
wnbqt
<05344>
al
<03808>
bq
<06895>
Mg
<01571>
Melb
<01109>
la
<0413>
qlb
<01111>
rmayw (23:25)
<0559>
NETBible

Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all 1  nor bless them at all!” 2 

NET Notes

1 tn The verb is preceded by the infinitive absolute: “you shall by no means curse” or “do not curse them at all.” He brought him to curse, and when he tried to curse there was a blessing. Balak can only say it would be better not to bother.

2 tn The same construction now works with “nor bless them at all.” The two together form a merism – “don’t say anything.” He does not want them blessed, so Balaam is not to do that, but the curse isn’t working either.