Numbers 23:1-12

Balaam’s First Message 1Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”

2Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

3Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.

4God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

5The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.” 6So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.

7Then Balaam spoke his message: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’

8How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?

9From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.

10Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!”

11Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”

12He answered, “Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?”