Numbers 23

1

Baalam said, "Build me seven altars here,

and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."

2

Balak did as Balaam said,

and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

3

Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering

while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me.

Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went off

to a barren height.

4

God met with him, and Balaam said, "I have prepared seven

altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram." 

5

The LORD put a message in Balaam's mouth and said,

"Go back to Balak and give him this message."

6

So he went back to him, and fouind him stamding beside

his offering with all the princes of Moab.

7

Then Balaam uttered his oracle: "Balak brought me from

Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.

'Come,' he said, 'curse Jacob for me; come, denounce

Israel.'

8

How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not

denounced?

9

From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights

I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not

consider themselves one of the nations.

10

Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth

part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous,

and may my end be like theirs!"

11

Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me?

I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done

nothing but bless them!"

12

He answered, "Must I not speak what the LORD puts

in my mouth?"

13

Then Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place

where you can see them; you will see only a part but

not all of them. And from there, curse them for me." 

14

So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of

Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered

a bull and a ram on each altar.

15

Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering

while I meet with him over there."

16

The LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his

mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this

message."

17

So he went to him and found him standing beside

his offering, with the princes of Moab. Balak asked him,

"What did the LORD say?"

18

Then he uttered his oracle: "Arise, Balak, and listen;

hear me, son of Zippor.

19

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man,

that he should change his mind. Does he speak and

then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

20

I have received a command to bless; he has blessed,

and I cannot change it.

21

"No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed

in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout

of the King is among them.

22

God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength

of a wild ox.

23

There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against

Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel,

'See what God has done!'

24

The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves

like a lion that does not rest till he devours his prey

and drinks the blood of his victims."

25

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all!

nor bless them at all!"

26

Balaam answered, "Did I tell you I must do whatever

the LORD says?"

27

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come, let me take you

to another place. Perhaps it will please Got to let you

curse them for me from there."

28

And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking

the wasteland.

29

Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare

seven bulls and seven rams for me."

30

Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and

a ram on each altar.