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.
19. You stay here tonight as the other men did, and I will find out what more the Lord tells me.”
20. That night God came to Balaam and said, “These men have come to ask you to go with them. Go, but only do what I tell you.”
21. Balaam got up the next morning and put a saddle on his donkey. Then he went with the Moabite leaders.