Numbers 23:1-12

¹And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

²And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

³And Balaam said to Balak, Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go: it may be the LORD will come to meet me: and whatever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to a high place.

⁴And God met Balaam: and he said to him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.

⁵And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

⁶And he returned to him and lo, he stood by his burnt-sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

⁷And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying , Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, defy Israel.

⁸How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?

⁹For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

¹⁰Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

¹¹And Balak said to Balaam, What hast thou done to me? I took thee to curse my enemies, and behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.

¹²And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?