Numbers 22:4-21 - King Balak Of Moab Hires Balaam To Curse Israel

⁴ And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, "Now this company hath licked up all that are round about us, as an ox licketh up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. ⁵ And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, the interpreter, which dwelt upon the river of the land of the children of his folk; to call him, saying, "Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt which covereth the face of the earth and lie even hard by me. ⁶ Come now a fellowship, and curse me this people. For they are too mighty for me, so peradventure I might be able to smite them and to drive them out of the land. For I know that whom thou blessest shall be blessed, and whom thou cursest shall be cursed."

⁷ And the elders of Moab went with the elders of Midian, and the reward of the soothsaying in their hands. And they came unto Balaam and told him the words of Balak. ⁸ And he said unto them, "Tarry here all night and I will bring you word, even as the LORD shall say unto me." And the lords of Moab abode with Balaam.

⁹ And God came unto Balaam, and said, "What men are these which are with thee?"

¹⁰ And Balaam said unto God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, ¹¹ 'Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt and covereth the face of the earth: come now therefore and curse me them, that so peradventure I may be able to overcome them in battle, and to drive them out.'"

¹² And God said unto Balaam, "Thou shalt not go with them, neither curse the people: for they are blessed."

¹³ And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the lords of Balak, "Get you unto your land, for the LORD will not suffer me to go with you."

¹⁴ And the lords of Moab rose up and went unto Balak and said, "Balaam would not come with us."

¹⁵ And Balak sent again a greater company of lords, and more honorable than they. ¹⁶ And they came to Balaam and told him, "Thus sayeth Balak, the son of Zippor: 'Oh, let nothing let thee to come unto me, ¹⁷ for I will greatly promote thee unto great honour, and will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me! Come therefore I pray thee, curse me this people.'"

¹⁸ And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can go no further than the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. ¹⁹ Nevertheless tarry ye here all night: that I may know what the LORD will say unto me once more."

²⁰ And God came to Balaam by night and said unto him, "If the men come to fetch thee, rise up and go with them: but what I say unto thee, that only thou shalt do." ²¹ And Balaam rose up early and saddled his ass and went with the lords of Moab.