10. Who can number the dust that is Jacob, and who can know the number of the stock of Israel? May my soul die a just death, and may my end be like theirs."
11. And Balak said to Balaam: "What is this that you are doing? I called for you, in order to curse my enemies, and to the contrary, you bless them."
12. He answered him, "How can I say anything other than what the Lord orders?"
13. Therefore, Balak said: "Come with me to another place, from where you may see a portion of Israel, though you cannot see them all. Curse them from there."
14. And when he had led him to a lofty place, on the top of mount Pisgah, Balaam built seven altars, and placing upon each a calf and a ram,
15. he said to Balak, "Stand here next to your holocaust, while I continue on to meet him."
16. And when the Lord had met him, and had put the word in his mouth, he said, "Return to Balak, and you shall say this to him."
17. Returning, he found him standing next to his holocaust, and the leaders of the Moabites were with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the Lord spoken?"
18. But, taking up his parable, he said: "Stand, Balak, and pay attention. Listen, you son of Zippor.
19. God is not like a man, so that he would lie, nor is he like a son of man, so that he would be changed. Therefore, having spoken, will he not act? Has he ever spoken, and not fulfilled?
20. I was led here to bless, and I have no strength to hinder the blessing.
21. There is no idol in Jacob; neither is there a false image to be seen in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, and the resound of royal victory is in him.
22. God has led him away from Egypt; his strength is like that of the rhinoceros.
23. There is no soothsaying in Jacob, nor any divination in Israel. In their times, it shall be told to Jacob and to Israel what God has wrought.
24. Behold, the people will rise up like a lioness, and lie down like a lion. But they will not lie down until they devour the prey and drink the blood of the slain."