8. he responded, "Remain for this night, and I will answer with whatever the Lord will say to me." And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him,
9. "What do these men want with you?"
10. He responded, "Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,
11. saying: 'Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt, has covered the face of the earth. Come and curse them, so that, in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.' "
12. And God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them, and do not curse the people, for they are blessed."
13. And he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders, "Go into your own land, for the Lord has prohibited me from going with you."
14. Returning, the leaders said to Balak, "Balaam was not willing to come with us."
15. Again, he sent many more persons, and these were more noble than those he had sent before.
16. And when these had come to Balaam, they said: "So says Balak, the son of Zippor. Do not hesitate to come to me.