11. “Look, a nation has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Come now and put a curse on them for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out.”
12. But God said to Balaam, “You must not go with them; you must not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13. So Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land, for the Lord has refused to permit me to go with you.”
14. So the princes of Moab departed and went back to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15. Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.
16. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming to me.
17. For I will honor you greatly, and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.’”
18. Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment of the Lord my God to do less or more.
19. Now therefore, please stay the night here also, that I may know what more the Lord might say to me.”