Numbers 22:5-18

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;

¹⁶which said, when they had come to Balaam, Balak, the son of Zippor, saith thus, Tarry thou not to come to me,

¹⁷ready to honour thee; and what-ever thing thou wilt, I shall give to thee; come thou, and curse this people.

¹⁸Balaam answered, Though Balak shall give to me his house full of silver and of gold, I shall not be able to change the word of my God, that I speak either more or less.