12. Balaam answered, “I must say what the Lord tells me to say.”
13. Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, where you can see the Israelites. You will see only some of them, not all of them. Curse them for me from there.”
14. So he took him to the Field of Zophim on top of Mount Pisgah, where he built seven altars. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
15. Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet with God over there.”
16. The Lord came to Balaam and told him, “Go back to Balak, and give him my message.”
17. He came to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
18. Then Balaam delivered this message:“Stand up, Balak, and listen!Hear me, son of Zippor!
19. God is not like people. He tells no lies.He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind.When he says something, he does it.When he makes a promise, he keeps it.
20. I have received a command to bless.He has blessed, and I can’t change it.
21. He doesn’t want any trouble for the descendants of Jacob.He sees no misfortune for the people of Israel.The Lord their God is with them,praised as their king.
22. The God who brought them out of Egypthas the strength of a wild bull.
23. No spell can curse the descendants of Jacob.No magic can harm the people of Israel.Now it will be said of Jacob and Israel:‘See what God has done!’
24. Here is a nation that attacks like a lionessand is as ferocious as a lion.It doesn’t lie down until it eats its preyand drinks the blood of its victim.”
25. Balak said to Balaam, “If you won’t curse them, then at least don’t bless them!”
26. Balaam answered, “Didn’t I tell you that I must do whatever the Lord says?”
27. Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Maybe God wants you to curse them for me from there.”