10. And Bil‛am said to Elohim, “Balaq, son of Tsippor, sovereign of Mo’aḇ, has sent to me, saying,
11. ‘See, a people has come out of Mitsrayim and cover the surface of the land. Come now, curse them for me. It might be that I am able to fight against them and drive them out.’ ”
12. And Elohim said to Bil‛am, “Do not go with them. You do not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13. And Bil‛am rose in the morning and said to the heads of Balaq, “Go back to your land, for יהוה has refused to allow me to go with you.”
14. And the heads of Mo’aḇ arose and went to Balaq, and said, “Bil‛am refuses to come with us.”
15. Then Balaq again sent heads, more numerous and more esteemed than they.
16. And they came to Bil‛am and said to him, “This is what Balaq son of Tsippor said: ‘Do not be withheld from coming to me, please,
17. for I esteem you very greatly, and whatever you say to me, I do. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’ ”
18. And Bil‛am answered and said to the servants of Balaq, “Though Balaq were to give me his house filled with silver and gold, I am unable to go beyond the word of יהוה my Elohim, to do less or more.
19. “And now, please, you also stay here tonight, and let me find out what more יהוה says to me.”