5. He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
6. Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for 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 departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8. He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9. God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10. Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,
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 honorable 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 honor, 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 burned 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.
24. Then the Lord’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.