Numbers 22:4-15

⁴And he said to the greater men in birth of Midian, So this people shall do away all men that dwell in our coasts, as an ox is wont to do away an herb till to the roots. Forsooth he, that is, Balak, was king in that time in Moab.

⁵Therefore he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, a false diviner, that dwelled on, or nigh, the flood of the land of the sons of Amaw, that they should call him, and should say, Lo! a people went out of Egypt, which people covered the face of the earth, and sitteth against me.

⁶Therefore come thou, and curse this people, that is stronger than I, if in any manner I may smite and drive him out of my land; for I know, that he is blessed whom thou blessest, and he is cursed whom thou hast cursed.

⁷The elder men of Moab and the elder men of Midian went forth, having in their hands the price of false divining; and when they had come to Balaam, and had told to him all the words of Balak,

⁸he answered, Dwell ye here tonight, and I shall answer to Balak whatever thing the Lord shall say to me. And the princes of Moab dwelled at Balaam.

⁹God came, and said to him, What will or desire these men with thee?

¹⁰Balaam answered, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moabites, sent to me, and said,

¹¹Lo! a people that is gone out of Egypt hath covered the face of the earth; come thou, and curse them, if in any manner I may fight with them, and drive them away.

¹²And God said to Balaam, Do not thou go with them, neither curse thou the people, for it is blessed.

¹³And Balaam rose early, and said to the princes, Go ye into your land, for God hath forbade me to come with you.

¹⁴The princes turned again, and said to Balak, Balaam would not come with us.

¹⁵Again Balak sent many more, and nobler, men, than he had sent before;