8. "Spend the night here," Balaam said to them. "I'll bring you back the answer the Lord gives me." So the princes of Moab stayed with him.
9. God came to Balaam. He asked, "Who are these men who are with you?"
10. Balaam said to God, "Balak king of Moab, the son of Zippor, sent me a message.
11. He said, 'A nation has come out of Egypt. They are covering the whole surface of the land. So come. Put a curse on them for me. Maybe I'll be able to fight them. Maybe I'll be able to drive them away.' "
12. But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people. I have blessed them."
13. The next morning Balaam got up. He said to Balak's princes, "Go back to your own country. The Lord won't let me go with you."