10. Balaam said to God, “The king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, sent them to give me a message.
11. This is the message: A new nation of people has come out of Egypt. There are so many people that they cover the land. So come and curse these people. Then maybe I will be able to fight them and force them to leave my land.”
12. But God said to Balaam, “Don’t go with them. You must not curse those people. They are my people.”
13. The next morning Balaam got up and said to leaders from Balak, “Go back to your own country. The Lord will not let me go with you.”
14. So the leaders of Moab went back to Balak and told him this. They said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15. So Balak sent other leaders to Balaam. This time he sent many more than the first time. And these leaders were much more important than the first ones he sent.
16. They went to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says to you: Please don’t let anything stop you from coming.
17. I will pay you very much, and I will do whatever you ask. Come and curse these people for me.”
18. Balaam gave Balak’s officials his answer. He said, “I must obey the Lord my God. I cannot do anything, great or small, against his command. Even if King Balak gives me his beautiful home filled with silver and gold, I will not do anything against the Lord’s command.