Numbers [In the desert] 23:1-18

¹Balaam Not people, Destroyer of people said to Balak, “Build here seven altars for me, and prepare here seven bulls and seven rams for me.”

²Balak did as Balaam Not people, Destroyer of people had spoken; and Balak and Balaam Not people, Destroyer of people offered on every altar a bull and a ram.

³Balaam Not people, Destroyer of people said to Balak, “Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps Adonai will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you.” He went to a bare height.

⁴God met Balaam Not people, Destroyer of people, and he said to him, “I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.”

⁵Adonai put a word in Balaam Not people, Destroyer of people’s mouth, and said, “Teshuvah ·Completely return· to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”

⁶He returned to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab From father.

⁷He took up his parable, and said, “From Aram Elevated has Balak brought me, the king of Moab From father from the mountains of the East. Come, curse Jacob Supplanter for me. Come, defy Israel God prevails.

⁸How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom Adonai has not defied?

⁹For from the top of the rocks I see him. From the hills I see him. Behold, it is a people that dwells alone, and shall not be listed among the nations.

¹⁰Who can count the dust of Jacob Supplanter, or count the fourth part of Israel God prevails? Let me die the death of the upright! Let my last end be like his!”

¹¹Balak said to Balaam Not people, Destroyer of people, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether.”

¹²He answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak that which Adonai puts in my mouth?” (LY:5)

¹³Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, where you may see them. You shall see just part of them, and shall not see them all. Curse them from there for me.”

¹⁴He took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.

¹⁵He said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet over there.”

¹⁶Adonai met Balaam Not people, Destroyer of people, and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Teshuvah ·Completely return· to Balak, and say this.”

¹⁷He came to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab From father with him. Balak said to him, “What has Adonai spoken?”

¹⁸He took up his parable, and said, “Rise up, Balak, and sh'ma ·hear obey·! Listen to me, you son of Zippor.