Numbers 23:1–10

Balaam’s First Oracle

23And Balaam said to Balak, ⁱ“Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” ²Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam ^joffered on each altar a bull and a ram. ³And Balaam said to Balak, ^k“Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come ^lto meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height, ^4mand God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” ⁵And the Lord ⁿput a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.” ⁶And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. ⁷And Balaam ^otook up his discourse and said,

“From ^pAram Balak has brought me,

the king of Moab ^qfrom the eastern mountains:

‘Come, ^rcurse Jacob for me,

and come, denounce Israel!’

⁸How can I curse whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?

⁹For from the top of the crags ^sI see him,

from the hills I behold him;

behold, ^ta people dwelling alone,

and ^unot counting itself among the nations!

^10vWho can count the dust of Jacob

or number the fourth part¹ of Israel?

Let me die ^wthe death of the upright,

and let my end be like his!”