Numbers 22:4-18

⁴The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This multitude will eat up all that is around us as an ox eats up the grass in a field.” Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

⁵He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor, at Pethor which is by the Euphrates River, in the land of his nation and his people. He called him and said, “Look, a nation has come here from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and they are right now next to me.

⁶So please come now and curse this nation for me, because they are too strong for me. Perhaps then I can manage to attack them and drive them out of the land. I know that whomever you bless will be blessed, and whomever you curse will be cursed.”

⁷So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left, taking payment for divination. They came to Balaam and spoke to him Balak's words.

⁸Balaam said to them, “Stay here tonight. I will bring you what Yahweh says to me.” So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam that night.

⁹God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men who came to you?”

¹⁰Balaam answered God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent them to me. He said,

¹¹'Look, the people who have come from Egypt cover the surface of my land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I will manage to fight them and drive them out.'”

¹²God replied to Balaam, “You must not go with those men. You must not curse the people of Israel because they have been blessed.”

¹³Balaam rose up in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, “Go back to your land because Yahweh refuses to allow me to go with you.”

¹⁴So the leaders of Moab left and went back to Balak. They said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

¹⁵Balak sent again more leaders who were even more honored than the first group.

¹⁶They came to Balaam and said to him, “Balak son of Zippor says this, 'Please let nothing stop you from coming to me,

¹⁷because I will pay you extremely well and give you great honor, and I will do whatever you tell me to do. So please come and curse this people for me.'”

¹⁸Balaam answered and said to Balak's men, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Yahweh, my God, and do less or more than what he tells me.