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.’"