7. So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message.
8. And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9. And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10. And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
11. ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”
12. God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13. So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14. So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15. Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.
16. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17. for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’”
18. But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more.
19. So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”
20. And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”
21. So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22. But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.