11. ‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse me them. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
12. God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13. Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for the Lord refuses to permit 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. Balak again sent princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16. They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17. for I will promote you to very great honour, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’”
18. Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
19. Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the Lord will speak to me.”
20. God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”
21. Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22. God’s anger burnt because he went; and the Lord’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23. The donkey saw the Lord’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.