18. Balaam recited his poem:Rise, Balak, and listen;give ear to my testimony, son of Zippor!
19. God is not a human being who speaks falsely,nor a mortal, who feels regret.Is God one to speak and not act,to decree and not bring it to pass?
20. I was summoned to bless;I will bless; I cannot revoke it!
21. Misfortune I do not see in Jacob,nor do I see misery in Israel.The Lord, their God, is with them;among them is the war-cry of their King.
22. They have the like of a wild ox’s horns:God who brought them out of Egypt.
23. No, there is no augury against Jacob,nor divination against Israel.Now it is said of Jacob,of Israel, “Look what God has done!”
24. Here is a people that rises up like a lioness,and gets up like a lion;It does not rest till it has devoured its preyand has drunk the blood of the slain.
25. “Neither lay a curse on them nor bless them,” said Balak to Balaam.
26. But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘Everything the Lord tells me I must do’?”