Numbers 23:1-12

Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven male sheep for me.” Balak did what Balaam asked, and they offered a bull and a male sheep on each of the altars. Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering and I will go. If the LORD comes to me, I will tell you whatever he shows me.” Then Balaam went to a higher place. God came to Balaam there, and Balaam said to him, “I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a male sheep on each altar.” The LORD told Balaam what he should say. Then the LORD said, “Go back to Balak and give him this message.” So Balaam went back to Balak. Balak and all the leaders of Moab were still standing beside his burnt offering when Balaam gave them this message: “Balak brought me here from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern mountains. Balak said, ‘Come, put a curse on the people of Jacob for me. Come, call down evil on the people of Israel.’ But God has not cursed them, so I cannot curse them. The LORD has not called down evil on them, so I cannot call down evil on them. I see them from the top of the mountains; I see them from the hills. I see a people who live alone, who think they are different from other nations. No one can number the many people of Jacob, and no one can count a fourth of Israel. Let me die like good men, and let me end up like them!” Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but you have only blessed them!” But Balaam answered, “I must say what the LORD tells me to say.”