But Balaam, in answer; said to the servants of Balak, Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to do anything more or less than the orders of the Lord my God.

And Balak did as Balaam had said; and Balak and Balaam made an offering on every altar of an ox and a male sheep.

And the Lord put words in Balaam's mouth, and said, Go back to Balak, and this is what you are to say.

Now Balak, the son of Zippor, saw what Israel had done to the Amorites.

Then Moab said to the responsible men of Midian, It is clear that this great people will be the destruction of everything round us, making a meal of us as the ox does of the grass of the field. At that time Balak, the son of Zippor, was king of Moab.

So the responsible men of Moab and Midian went away, taking in their hands rewards for the prophet; and they came to Balaam and said to him what Balak had given them orders to say.

And Balaam said to God, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent them to me, saying,

In the morning Balaam got up and said to the chiefs of Balak, Go back to your land, for the Lord will not let me go with you.

So the chiefs of Moab went back to Balak and said, Balaam will not come with us.

So Balak sent more chiefs, greater in number and of higher position than the others.

And they came to Balaam and said, Balak, son of Zippor, says, Let nothing keep you from coming to me:

And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men; but say only what I give you to say. Then Balaam went on with the chiefs of Balak.

Now Balak, hearing that Balaam had come, went to the chief town of Moab, on the edge of the Arnon, in the farthest part of the land, for the purpose of meeting him.

And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send to you, requesting you with all my heart to come to me? why did you not come? am I not able to give you a place of honour?

Then Balaam said to Balak, Now I have come to you; but have I power to say anything? Only what God puts into my mouth may I say.

And Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-huzoth.

And Balak made offerings of oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and the chiefs who were with him.

And in the morning Balak took Balaam up to the high places of Baal, and from there he was able to see the outer limits of the people.

And Balaam said to Balak, Make me here seven altars and get ready seven oxen and seven male sheep.

Then Balaam said to Balak, Take your place by your burned offering, and I will go and see if the Lord comes to me: and I will give you word of whatever he says to me. And he went to an open place on a hill.

And in the words which the Lord had given him he said, From Aram Balak has sent for me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East: come, put curses on Jacob for me and be angry with Israel.

Then Balak said to Balaam, What have you done to me? I sent for you so that my haters might be cursed, and see, you have given them a blessing.

And Balak said to him, Come with me now into another place from which you will not be able to see them all, but only the outskirts of them; and you will send curses on them from there.

Then he said to Balak, Take your place here by your burned offering, while I go over there to the Lord.

And the Lord came to Balaam, and put words in his mouth, and said, Go back to Balak, and this is what you are to say.

So he came to him where he was waiting by his burned offering with the chiefs of Moab by his side. And Balak said to him, What has the Lord said?

And in the words which the Lord had given him he said, Up! Balak, and give ear; give attention to me, O son of Zippor:

Then Balak said to Balaam, If you will not put a curse on them, at all events do not give them a blessing.

But Balaam in answer said to Balak, Did I not say to you, I may only do what the Lord says?

Then Balak said to Balaam, Come now, I will take you to another place; it may be that God will let you put a curse on them from there.

So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, looking down over the waste land.

And Balaam said to Balak, Make me seven altars here and get seven oxen and seven male sheep ready for me.

And Balak did as Balaam said, offering an ox and a male sheep on every altar.

Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.

Then Balaam said to Balak, Did I not say to the men you sent to me,

Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say?

Then Balaam got up and went back to his place: and Balak went away.