16. So the Lord came to Balaam and told Balaam what to say. Then he told Balaam to go back to Balak and say these things.
17. So Balaam went to Balak. Balak was still standing near the altar. The leaders of Moab were there with him. Balak saw Balaam coming and said, “What did the Lord say?”
18. Then Balaam said this: “Stand up, Balak, and listen to me. Hear me, Balak son of Zippor.
19. God is not a man; he will not lie. God is not a human being; his decisions will not change. If he says he will do something, then he will do it. If he makes a promise, then he will do what he promised.
20. He told me to bless them. He blessed them, so I cannot change that.
21. God saw no wrong in Jacob’s people. He saw no sin in the Israelites. The Lord is their God, and he is with them. The Great King is with them!
22. God brought them out of Egypt. They are as strong as a wild ox.
23. There is no power that can defeat the people of Jacob. There is no magic that can stop the Israelites. People will say this about Jacob and the Israelites: ‘Look at the great things God did!’