Holman Christian Standard Bible

Numbers 22:10-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

10. Balaam replied to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me:

11. ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’ ”

12. Then God said to Balaam, “You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

13. So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your land, because the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”

14. The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15. Balak sent officials again who were more numerous and higher in rank than the others.

16. They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me,

17. for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me! ’ ”

18. But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the Lord my God to do anything small or great.