9. "What do these men want with you?"
10. He responded, "Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,
11. saying: 'Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt, has covered the face of the earth. Come and curse them, so that, in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.' "
12. And God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them, and do not curse the people, for they are blessed."
13. And he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders, "Go into your own land, for the Lord has prohibited me from going with you."
14. Returning, the leaders said to Balak, "Balaam was not willing to come with us."
15. Again, he sent many more persons, and these were more noble than those he had sent before.
16. And when these had come to Balaam, they said: "So says Balak, the son of Zippor. Do not hesitate to come to me.
17. For I am ready to honor you, and whatever you would want, I shall give to you. Come and curse this people."
18. Balaam responded: "Even if Balak were to give to me his own house, filled with silver and gold, I still would not be able to change the word of the Lord my God, neither to say more, nor to say less.
19. I beg you to remain for this night also, so that I may know what the Lord will answer me again."
20. Therefore, God came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: "If these men have arrived to call you, then rise up and go with them; yet only in so far as you shall do what I will command you."