3. Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I go to see whether or not the Lord will meet me. I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” So he went alone to the top of a hill,
4. and God met him. Balaam said to him, “I have built the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each.”
5. The Lord told Balaam what to say and sent him back to Balak to give him his message.
6. So he went back and found Balak still standing by his burnt offering, with all the leaders of Moab.
7. Balaam uttered this prophecy:“Balak king of Moab has brought meFrom Syria, from the eastern mountains.‘Come and speak for me,’ he said.‘Put a curse on the people of Israel.’
8. How can I curse what God has not cursed,Or speak of doom when the Lord has not?
9. From the high rocks I can see them;I can watch them from the hills.They are a nation that lives alone;They know they are blessed more than other nations.
10. The descendants of Israel are like the dust —There are too many of them to be counted.Let me end my days like one of God's people;Let me die in peace like the righteous.”
11. Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you have done is bless them.”
12. He answered, “I can say only what the Lord tells me to say.”
13. Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come with me to another place from which you can see only some of the Israelites. Curse them for me from there.”
14. He took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Mount Pisgah. There also he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each of them.