6. ‘Like valleys they spread out,like gardens beside a river,like aloes planted by the Lord,like cedars beside the waters.
7. Water will flow from their buckets;their seed will have abundant water.‘Their king will be greater than Agag;their kingdom will be exalted.
8. ‘God brought them out of Egypt;they have the strength of a wild ox.They devour hostile nationsand break their bones in pieces;with their arrows they pierce them.
9. Like a lion they crouch and lie down,like a lioness – who dares to rouse them?‘May those who bless you be blessedand those who curse you be cursed!’
10. Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, ‘I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.
11. Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.’
12. Balaam answered Balak, ‘Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,
13. “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord – and I must say only what the Lord says”?