8. But how can I curse thosewhom God has not cursed?How can I condemn thosewhom the lord has not condemned?
9. I see them from the cliff tops;I watch them from the hills.I see a people who live by themselves,set apart from other nations.
10. Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust?Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people?Let me die like the righteous;let my life end like theirs.”
11. Then King Balak demanded of Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them!”
12. But Balaam replied, “I will speak only the message that the lord puts in my mouth.”