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.
18. And Balaam answered and said unto the slaves of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do anything small or great.
19. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night that I may know what the Lord will say unto me again.
20. And God came unto Balaam at night and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.