Numbers 23:7-18

7Then Balaam started to speak his message from God. He said, ‘Balak, the king of Moab, has brought me from Syria. He brought me from the mountains in the east. He said “Come and curse Jacob's descendants for me. Say bad things against the Israelites!”

8But I cannot curse these people, because God has not cursed them. I cannot speak against people that the Lord does not speak against.

9When I stand on the rocks, I can see the Israelites. I can watch them from the hills. They are people who are separate from other nations.

10Nobody can count Jacob's descendants. They are as many as the dust on the ground! It would be too difficult to count even a quarter of the Israelites. I would like to die in peace like those righteous people!’

11Balak said to Balaam, ‘You have not done what I wanted you to do! I brought you here to curse my enemies. But you have blessed them!’

12Balaam answered, ‘I can only speak the message that the Lord has told me.’

13Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Please come with me to another place where you can see the Israelites. You will not see all of them from there. Then curse those people for me.’

14Balak took Balaam to the field of Zophim. It was at the top of Pisgah mountain. Balak built seven altars there. He offered a bull and a male sheep on each altar as sacrifices.

15Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stay here beside your burnt offering. I will go to meet with the Lord.’

16The Lord met Balaam and told him the message that he should speak to Balak. He told Balaam to go and tell it to Balak.

17So Balaam went back to Balak. Balak and the Moabite officers were standing beside the burnt offerings. Balak asked Balaam, ‘What did the Lord say?’

18Balaam spoke his message from God. He said, ‘Balak, son of Zippor, be ready! Listen carefully to me.