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.'
8. How shall I curse him, whom God has not cursed? For what reason would I condemn him, whom the Lord does not condemn?
9. I will look upon him from the tops of the stones, and I will consider him from the hills. This people shall dwell alone, and they shall not be counted among the nations.
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?"