Numbers 22:4–20

⁴And Moab said unto ^dthe elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. ^5eHe sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to ^fPethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: ⁶come now therefore, I pray thee, ^gcurse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. ⁷And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with ^hthe rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. ⁸And he said unto them, ⁱLodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. ^9kAnd God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? ¹⁰And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, ¹¹Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. ¹²And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for ^lthey are blessed. ¹³And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you. ¹⁴And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. ¹⁵And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. ¹⁶And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: ¹⁷for I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: ^mcome therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. ¹⁸And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, ⁿIf Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, ^oI cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. ¹⁹Now therefore, I pray you, ^ptarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. ^20qAnd God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but ^ryet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.