7. So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and reported to him the words of Balak.
8. He replied to them, “Stay here tonight, and I will bring back to you whatever word the Lord may speak to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9. And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10. Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent a message to me, saying,
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.”
20. God came to Balaam that night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them; but the word that I will say to you, that you must do.”
21. So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.