15. So Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering, and I will meet with God over there.”
16. So the Lord came to Balaam and told him what to say. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and say such and such.”
17. So Balaam went to Balak, where he and the leaders of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
18. Then Balaam gave this message:“Stand up, Balak, and listen.Hear me, son of Zippor.
19. God is not a human being, and he will not lie.He is not a human, and he does not change his mind.What he says he will do, he does.What he promises, he makes come true.
20. He told me to bless them,so I cannot change the blessing.
21. He has found no wrong in the people of Jacob;he saw no fault in Israel.The Lord their God is with them,and they praise their King.
22. God brought them out of Egypt;they are as strong as a wild ox.
23. No tricks will work on the people of Jacob,and no magic will work against Israel.People now say about them,‘Look what God has done for Israel!’
24. The people rise up like a lioness;they get up like a lion.Lions don’t rest until they have eaten,until they have drunk their enemies’ blood.”
25. Then Balak said to Balaam, “You haven’t cursed these people, so at least don’t bless them!”
26. Balaam answered Balak, “I told you before that I can only do what the Lord tells me.”
27. Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, I will take you to another place. Maybe God will be pleased to let you curse them from there.”
28. So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, the mountain that looks over the desert.