Numbers 23:5–12

5 And the Lord fput a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. 6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7 And he gtook up his parable, and said,

Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram,

Out of the mountains of the east, saying,

Come, hcurse me Jacob,

And come, idefy Israel.

8  How shall I kcurse, whom God hath not kcursed?

Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?

9  For from the top of the rocks I see him,

And from the hills I behold him:

Lo, lthe people shall dwell alone,

And mshall not be reckoned among the nations.

10  nWho can count the dust of Jacob,

And the number of the fourth part of Israel?

Let †me die othe death of the righteous,

And let my last end be like his!

11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee pto curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 12 And he answered and said, qMust I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?