1. And Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars here for me, and prepare as many calves, and the same number of rams."
2. And when he had acted according to the words of Balaam, they placed a calf and a ram together on each altar.
3. And Balaam said to Balak: "Stand for a little while next to your holocaust, until I go, to see if perhaps the Lord will meet with me. And whatever he will command, I shall speak to you."
4. And after he had quickly departed, God met with him. And Balaam, speaking to him, said: "I have set up seven altars, and I have placed a calf and a ram on each."
5. Then the Lord placed the word in his mouth, and he said: "Return to Balak, and you shall say this."
6. Returning, he found Balak standing next to his holocaust, with all the leaders of the Moabites.
7. And taking up his parable, he said: "Balak, king of the Moabites, has led me from Aram, from the mountains of the east. 'Come forth,' he said, 'and curse Jacob. Hurry and condemn Israel.'