6. Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me; peradventure I shall be able to smite them and drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest shall be blessed, and he whom thou cursest shall be cursed.
7. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the incantations in their hand; and they came unto Balaam and spoke unto him the words of Balak.
8. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will recite the words unto you when the Lord shall speak unto me. So the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9. And God came unto Balaam and said, Who are these men with thee?
10. And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent unto me, saying,
11. Behold, this people that has come out of Egypt, covers the face of the earth; come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out.
12. Then God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; neither shalt thou curse the people; for they are blessed.
13. So Balaam rose up in the morning and said unto the princes of Balak, Go back to your land; for the Lord refuses to give me leave to go with you.
14. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak and said, Balaam refused to come with us.
15. And Balak sent yet again princes, more and more honourable than those.
16. And they came to Balaam and said to him, Thus saith Balak, the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me;
17. for I will without a doubt honour thee greatly, and I will do whatever thou sayest unto me; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.