1. Then the children of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho.
2. Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3. Moab was very afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4. Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up all that are around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.”And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5. He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying,“A people went out from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they dwell next to me.
6. And now, please come curse this people for me because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I will prevail, and we will defeat them, and I will drive them out of the land because I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7. The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went with the divination payments in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8. He said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord will speak to me.” And the leaders of Moab dwelt with Balaam.
9. God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10. And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, saying,
11. ‘A people went out of Egypt who covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to battle them and drive them out.’ ”
12. God said to Balaam, “You will not go with them. You will not curse the people because they are blessed.”
13. So Balaam rose up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land because the Lord refuses to let me to go with you.”
14. The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15. Again Balak sent officials, more numerous and more honorable than they.
16. They came to Balaam and said to him,“Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Please, let nothing hold you back from coming to me,