6. Now please come and curse this people for me because they are stronger than I am. Perhaps I’ll be able to destroy them and drive them from the land, for I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed."
7. So the elders of Moab and Midian went with the payment for divination in their hands. They came to Balaam and told him Balak’s words.
8. He said to them, "Spend the night here and I’ll bring back to you a word exactly as the Lord speaks to me." So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9. God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"
10. Balaam said to God, "Moab’s King Balak, Zippor’s son, sent them to me with the message,
11. ‘A people has come out of Egypt and covered the land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I’ll be able to fight against them and drive them out.’"
12. God said to Balaam, "Don’t go with them. Don’t curse the people, because they are blessed."
13. Then Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s officials, "Go to your land, for the Lord has refused to allow me to go with you."
14. The officials of Moab arose, they went to Balak, and they said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
15. Balak continued to send other officials more numerous and important than these.
16. They came to Balaam and said to him, "This is what Balak, Zippor’s son, says: ‘Please let nothing hold you back from coming to me,
17. for I’ll greatly honor you and I’ll do anything you ask of me. Please come and curse this people for me.’"
18. Balaam answered and said to Balak’s servants, "If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I wouldn’t be able to do anything, small or great, to break the command of the Lord my God.
19. Now you also must remain the night here so that I may know what else the Lord may say to me."