and this water that brings a curse enters your abdomen, making it swell and your thigh waste away.' "Then the woman is to say "Amen.'

"Wait while I hear what the LORD has to say about you," Moses replied.

Whenever the ark was ready to travel, Moses would say: "Arise, LORD, to scatter your enemies, so that whoever hates you will flee from your presence."

Whenever the ark was being readied to rest, he would say: "Return, LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel."

But the LORD responded to Moses, "Is the LORD short on power? You're now going to witness whether what I say will come to pass or not."

Then he told the two of them: "Pay attention to what I have to say! When there is a prophet among you, won't I, the LORD, reveal myself to him in a vision? Won't I speak with him in a dream?

But if you slaughter this people all at the same time, then the nations who heard about your fame will say,

Later, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom with this message: "This is what your relative Israel says: "You know all the hardships we've encountered.

Therefore the ones who speak in proverbs say: Come to Heshbon and let it be built! Let the city of Sihon be established!

In answer, Balaam told them, "Stay here for the night and I'll bring back a message to you, depending on what the LORD says to me." So the officers of Moab stayed with Balaam overnight.

who approached Balaam with this message: "This is what Zippor's son Balak says: "Don't let anything get in the way of your coming to me.

Meanwhile, stay here overnight so I may learn what the LORD might say to me."

Then the angel of the LORD asked him, "Why did you beat your donkey in the space of only three footsteps? I've come to oppose you, because I say that what you're doing is perverted.

Balaam answered Balak, "Well, I'm here now. I've come to you, but I can't just say anything, can I? I'll speak only what God puts in my mouth to say."

So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by the Moabite officials. "What did the LORD say?" Balak asked him.

"Didn't I tell you," Balaam responded to Balak, "that I'll say whatever the LORD tells me to say?"

A declaration from one who hears what God has to say, who saw the vision that the Almighty revealed, who keeps stumbling with open eyes.

"Even if Balak gives me his palace full of silver and gold, I won't double-cross the command of the LORD and do anything whether good or evil on my own initiative, because I'm going to say whatever the LORD says.'

A declaration from one who hears what God has to say, who knows what the Most High knows, who saw the vision that the Almighty revealed, who keeps stumbling with open eyes.