10. No one can number the people of Jacob.No one can count a fourth of Israel.Let me die like good men.Let me end up like them!”
11. Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies. But you have only blessed them!”
12. But Balaam answered, “I must say what the Lord tells me to say.”
13. Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place. There you can also see the people. But you can only see part of them, not all of them. Curse them for me from there.”
14. So Balak took Balaam to the field of Zophim. This was on top of Mount Pisgah. There Balak built seven altars. And he offered a bull and a male sheep on each altar.
15. So Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering. I will meet with God over there.”
16. So the Lord came to Balaam. He told Balaam what to say. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and say such and such.”
17. So Balaam went to Balak. Balak and the leaders of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
18. Then Balaam gave this message:“Stand up, Balak, and listen.Hear me, son of Zippor.