8. And he said to them, “Spend the night here, and I shall bring back word to you, as יהוה speaks to me.” So the heads of Mo’aḇ stayed with Bil‛am.
9. And Elohim came to Bil‛am and said, “Who are these men with you?”
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.”
20. And Elohim came to Bil‛am at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them, but only the word which I speak to you that you do.”
21. And Bil‛am rose in the morning and saddled his donkey, and went with the heads of Mo’aḇ.
22. But the displeasure of Elohim burned because he went, and the Messenger of יהוה stationed Himself in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.