Numbers 22:5-18

⁵Therefore he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, a false diviner, that dwelled (in Pethor) 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. (And so he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, a false diviner, who lived at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in the land of the sons of Amaw, and instructed the messengers to say to him, Behold! a people went out of Egypt, which people covered the face of the earth, and now they be ready to come 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. (And so come thou, and curse these people who be stronger than I, and then I may be able to fight against them, and drive them out of my land; for I know that he is blessed whom thou blessest, and he is cursed whom thou cursest.)

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, (The elders of Moab and of Midian went forth, having in their hands the payment for the curse; and when they had come to Balaam, and had told him all of Balak’s words,)

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 (or And so the leaders of Moab stayed that night with Balaam).

⁹God came, and said to him, What will these men with thee? (And God came, and said to him, Who be these men with thee?)

¹⁰Balaam answered, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moabites, sent (them) to me, and (he) 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 (or for then I may be able to fight against 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 (or for they be blessed, or for on the contrary, they should be blessed).

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

¹⁴The princes turned again (or So the leaders returned), 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 (or who said), when they had come to Balaam, Balak, the son of Zippor, saith thus, Tarry thou not to come to me,

¹⁷(for I am) ready to honour thee; and whatever thing thou wilt, I shall give to thee; come thou, and curse this people, (or so then come thou, and curse these 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. (But Balaam answered, Even if Balak should give me all the gold and silver in his house, I could not change the word of my God, so that I speak something else, either more or less.)