^23:25Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all⁶⁰ nor bless them at all!”⁶¹^23:26But Balaam replied⁶² to Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord speaks,⁶³ I must do’?”

^23:27Balak said to Balaam, “Come, please; I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God⁶⁴ to let you curse them for me from there.”⁶⁵^23:28So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks toward the wilderness.⁶⁶^23:29Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars here for me, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams.” ^23:30So Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

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Footnotes

60 The verb is preceded by the infinitive absolute: “you shall by no means curse” or “do not curse them at all.” He brought him to curse, and when he tried to curse there was a blessing. Balak can only say it would be better not to bother.
61 The same construction now works with “nor bless them at all.” The two together form a merism—“don’t say anything.” He does not want them blessed, so Balaam is not to do that, but the curse isn’t working either.
62 Heb “answered and said.”
63 This first clause, “all that the Lord speaks”—is a noun clause functioning as the object of the verb that comes at the end of the verse. It is something of an independent accusative case, since it is picked up with the sign of the accusative: “all that the Lord speaks, it I must do.”
64 Heb “be pleasing in the eyes of God.”
65 Balak is stubborn, as indeed Balaam is persistent. But Balak still thinks that if another location were used it just might work. Balaam had actually told Balak in the prophecy that other attempts would fail. But Balak refuses to give up so easily. So he insists they perform the ritual and try again. This time, however, Balaam will change his approach, and this will result in a dramatic outpouring of power on him.
66 Or perhaps as a place name, “Jeshimon” (cf. 21:20).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.” But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?” And Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert. And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”

Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.

Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then Balak told Balaam, “Don’t curse them and don’t bless them!”

But Balaam answered him, “Didn’t I tell you: Whatever the Lord says, I must do?”

Again Balak said to Balaam, “Please come. I will take you to another place. Maybe it will be agreeable to God that you can put a curse on them for me there.” So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.

Balaam told Balak, “Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” So Balak did as Balaam said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

NLTNew Living Translation

Then Balak said to Balaam, “Fine, but if you won’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!”

But Balaam replied to Balak, “Didn’t I tell you that I can do only what the Lord tells me?”

Then King Balak said to Balaam, “Come, I will take you to one more place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them from there.”

So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, overlooking the wasteland. Balaam again told Balak, “Build me seven altars, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.” So Balak did as Balaam ordered and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, nor bless them at all!” But Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Whatever Yahweh speaks I will do’?”

Then Balak said to Balaam, “Please, come, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will be acceptable to God, and you will curse for me from there.” So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which looks down on the face of the Jeshimon. And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me these seven altars, and prepare for me these seven bulls and seven rams.” Balak did just as Balaam said, and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

KJV 1900King James Version

And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do? And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence. And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

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