17. So he went to him. He found him standing beside his offering. The princes of Moab were with him. Balak asked him, "What did the Lord say?"
18. Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Balak, rise up and listen. Son of Zippor, hear me.
19. God isn't a mere man. He can't lie. He isn't a human being. He doesn't change his mind. He speaks, and then he acts. He makes a promise, and then he keeps it.
20. He has commanded me to bless Israel. He has given them his blessing. And I can't change it.
21. "I don't see any trouble coming on the people of Jacob. I don't see any suffering in Israel. The Lord their God is with them. The shout of the King is among them.
22. God brought them out of Egypt. They are as strong as a wild ox.
23. There isn't any magic that can hurt the people of Jacob. No one can use magic words to harm Israel. Here is what will be said about the people of Jacob. Here is what will be said about Israel. People will say, 'See what God has done!'
24. The people of Israel are going to wake up like a female lion. They are going to get up like a male lion. They are like a lion that won't rest until it eats what it has caught. They are like a lion that won't rest until it drinks the blood of what it has killed."
25. Then Balak said to Balaam, "Don't put a curse on them at all! And don't give them a blessing at all!"
26. Balaam answered, "Didn't I tell you that I have to do only what the Lord says?"
27. Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come. Let me take you to another place. Perhaps God will be pleased to let you put a curse on them for me from there."
28. Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor. It looks out over a dry and empty land.
29. Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here. Prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice."