Numbers 20 Comparison: Catholic Public Domain vs Douay-Rheims
Numbers 20
1And the sons of Israel, and the entire multitude, went into the desert of Sin, in the first month. And the people stayed at Kadesh. And Miriam died there, and she was buried in the same place.
2And when the people were in need of water, they came together against Moses and Aaron.
3And as it turned into sedition, they said: “If only we had perished among our brothers in the sight of the Lord.
4Why have you led away the Church of the Lord, into the wilderness, so that both we and our cattle would die?
5Why did you cause us to ascend from Egypt, and why have you led us into this most wretched place, which is not able to be sown, which does not produce figs, or vines, or pomegranates, and which, moreover, does not even have water to drink?”
6And Moses and Aaron, dismissing the multitude, entered the tabernacle of the covenant, and they fell prone on the ground, and they cried out to the Lord, and they said: “O Lord God, listen to the outcry of this people, and open for them, from your storehouse, a fountain of living water, so that, being satisfied, their murmuring may cease.” And the glory of the Lord appeared over them.
7And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
8“Take the rod, and gather the people, you and your brother Aaron, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall bestow waters. And when you have brought forth water from the rock, the entire multitude and their cattle shall drink.”
9Therefore, Moses took the rod, which was in the sight of the Lord, just as he had instructed him.
10And having gathered the multitude before the rock, he said to them: “Listen, you who are rebellious and unbelieving. Would we be able to cast out water from this rock?”
11And when Moses had lifted up his hand, striking the stone twice with the rod, very great waters went forth, so much so that the people and their cattle were able to drink.
12And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe me, so as to sanctify me before the sons of Israel, you shall not lead this people into the land, which I will give to them.”
13This is the Water of Contradiction, where the sons of Israel were quarreling against the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
14Meanwhile, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. They said: “Your brother Israel says this: You know of all the hardships which have overtaken us,
15how our fathers descended into Egypt, and we lived there for a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted both us and our fathers,
16and how we cried out to the Lord, and he heeded us and sent an Angel, who led us away from Egypt. Behold, we are situated in the city of Kadesh, which is at the extremity of your borders.
17And we beg you to permit us to cross through your land. We will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards; we will not drink the waters of your wells, but we will travel by the public ways, neither turning aside to the right, nor to the left, until we have passed your borders.”
18Edom responded to them: “You shall not cross through me, otherwise, I will meet you armed.”
19And the sons of Israel said: “We will travel by the well-trodden path. And if we or our cattle drink from your waters, we will give you what is just. There shall be no difficulty in the price, only let us cross through quickly.”
20But he answered, “You shall not cross.” And immediately he went out to meet them with a countless multitude and a strong hand;
21neither was he willing to agree to their petition to concede passage through his borders. For this reason, Israel diverted away from him.
22And when they had moved the camp from Kadesh, they arrived at mount Hor, which is at the borders of the land of Edom,
23where the Lord spoke to Moses:
24“Let Aaron,” he said, “go to his people. For he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because he did not believe my mouth at the Waters of Contradiction.
25Take Aaron, and his son with him, and lead them on to mount Hor.
26And when you have stripped the father of his vestments, you shall put them on Eleazar, his son. Aaron shall be gathered and shall die there.”
27Moses did just as the Lord had instructed. And they ascended mount Hor, in the sight of the entire multitude.
28And when he had despoiled Aaron of his vestments, he clothed his son Eleazar with them.
29And when Aaron had died at the top of the mountain, Moses came down with Eleazar.
30And the entire multitude, seeing that Aaron lay dead, wept over him for thirty days, throughout all their families.
Numbers 20
1And the children of Israel, and all the multitude came into the desert of Sin, in the first month: and the people abode in Cades. And Mary died there, and was buried in the same place.
2And the people wanting water, came together against Moses and Aaron:
3And making a sedition, they said: Would God we had perished among our brethren before the Lord.
4Why have you brought out the church of the Lord into the wilderness, that both we and our cattle should die?
5Why have you made us come up out of Egypt, and have brought us into this wretched place which cannot be sowed, nor bringeth forth figs, nor vines, nor pomegranates, neither is there any water to drink?
6And Moses and Aaron leaving the multitude, went into the tabernacle of the covenant, and fell flat upon the ground, and cried to the Lord, and said. O Lord God, hear the cry of this people, and open to them thy treasure, a fountain of living water, that being satisfied, they may cease to murmur. And the glory of the Lord appeared over them.
7And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
8Take the rod, and assemble the people together, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall yield waters. And when thou hast brought forth water out of the rock, all the multitude and their cattle shall drink.
9Moses therefore took the rod, which was before the Lord, as he had commanded him,
10And having gathered together the multitude before the rock, he said to them: Hear, ye rebellious and incredulous: Can we bring you forth water out of this rock?
11And when Moses bad lifted up his hand, and struck the rock twice with the rod, there came forth water in great abundance, so that the people and their cattle drank,
12And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: Because you have not believed me, to sanctify me before the children of Israel, you shall not bring these people into the land, which I will give them.
13This is the Water of contradiction, where the children of Israel strove with words against the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
14In the mean time Moses sent messengers from Cades to the king of Edom, to say: Thus saith thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the labour that hath come upon us:
15In what manner our fathers went down into Egypt, and there we dwelt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers.
16And how we cried to the Lord, and he heard us, and sent an angel, who hath brought us out of Egypt. Lo, we are now in the city of Cades, which is in the uttermost of thy borders,
17And we beseech thee that we may have leave to pass through thy country. We will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards, we will not drink the waters of thy wells, but we will go by the common highway, neither turning aside to the right hand, nor to the left, till we are past thy borders.
18And Edom answered them: Thou shalt not pass by me: if thou dost I will come out armed against thee.
19And the children of Israel said: We will go by the beaten way: and if we and our cattle drink of thy waters, we will give thee what is just: there shall be no difficulty in the price, only let us pass speedily.
20But he answered: Thou shalt not pass. And immediately he came forth to meet them with an infinite multitude, and a strong hand,
21Neither would he condescend to their desire to grant them passage through his borders. Wherefore Israel turned another way from him.
22And when they had removed the camp from Cades, they came to mount Hor, which is in the borders of the land of Edom:
23Where the Lord spoke to Moses:
24Let Aaron, saith he, go to his people: for he shall not go into the land which I have given the children of Israel, because he was incredulous to my words, at the waters of contradiction.
25Take Aaron and his son with him, and bring them up into mount Hor:
26And when thou hast stripped the father of his vesture, thou shalt vest therewith Eleazar his son: Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and die there.
27Moses did as the Lord had commanded: and they went up into mount Hor before all the multitude.
28And when he had stripped Aaron of his vestments, he vested Eleazar his son with them.
29And Aaron being dead in the top of the mountain, he came down with Eleazar.
30And all the multitude seeing that Aaron was dead, mourned for him thirty days throughout all their families.
Understanding Catholic Public Domain vs Douay-Rheims in Numbers 20
Catholic Public Domain (CPDV)
Modern Catholic translation in the public domain with deuterocanonical books. Clear, contemporary English while preserving a formal tone. A strong option for Catholic reading plans and study.
Douay-Rheims (DRC)
Traditional Catholic English translation from the Latin Vulgate. Includes deuterocanonical books used in Catholic tradition. Best for readers who want a classic, historically influential Catholic Bible.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Numbers 20 in the Catholic Public Domain and Douay-Rheims. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Numbers 20:16
"and how we cried out to the Lord, and he heeded us and sent an Angel, who led us away from Egypt. Behold, we are situated in the city of Kadesh, which is at the extremity of your borders."
"And how we cried to the Lord, and he heard us, and sent an angel, who hath brought us out of Egypt. Lo, we are now in the city of Cades, which is in the uttermost of thy borders,"
