10. Balaam said to God, “The king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, sent them to me with this message:
11. ‘A nation has come out of Egypt that covers the land. So come and put a curse on them, and maybe I can fight them and force them out of my land.’ ”
12. But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. Don’t put a curse on those people, because I have blessed them.”
13. The next morning Balaam awoke and said to Balak’s leaders, “Go back to your own country; the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14. So the Moabite leaders went back to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15. So Balak sent other leaders—this time there were more of them, and they were more important.
16. They went to Balaam and said, “Balak son of Zippor says this: Please don’t let anything stop you from coming to me.
17. I will pay you very well, and I will do what you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”
18. But Balaam answered Balak’s servants, “King Balak could give me his palace full of silver and gold, but I cannot disobey the Lord my God in anything, great or small.